When UConn announced Sept. 6 that coach Randy Edsall would step down immediately, it opened the first FBS job of the cycle, and among the least desirable.
A week later, USC dumped coach Clay Helton, opening one of the most coveted college jobs in the country.
Since September, 12 other FBS schools have made changes and four -- UConn, Georgia Southern, Texas Tech and UMass -- already have hired new coaches. Two more jobs opened Sunday, including another Tier 1 gig in Florida. There are 10 current coaching vacancies, spanning the spectrum from most to least desirable.
Every FBS job offers advantages and drawbacks in categories such as location, on-field history, resources and administrative support. Those who followed my offseason coaching job comparisons, including Alabama vs. Ohio State and Oregon vs. Washington, understand the way coaches and their agents evaluate opportunities.
Here's a ranking of each current coaching vacancy based on appeal, which includes a desirability rating (1-10 scale). Also, some notes from an increasingly active carousel.
1. LSU
2021 record: 4-6
Most recent national title: 2019
Most recent conference title: 2019
What the job offers: A combination of location, access to recruits, resources and high-level success that is matched by few programs around the sport. LSU's team isn't always in the top five but always has the capability to get there quickly. The past three Tigers coaches -- Ed Orgeron, Les Miles and Nick Saban -- all won national titles in Baton Rouge. LSU never struggles to attract talent or produce NFL draft picks. Tiger Stadium offers one of the best home-field advantages in the sport, and LSU has strong support for facilities and staff. Athletic director Scott Woodward is a football-focused administrator with deep roots at the school and within the state. Unlike the other top SEC programs, LSU is the only Power 5 program in its state and the preferred destination for almost all of the top in-state recruits.
Biggest drawbacks: Baton Rouge is a different place, and drama seems to follow the LSU program even when things are going well. Coaches who have worked at LSU and other Tier 1 college programs note that there are more politics to navigate because LSU is the sporting hub of the state and region. LSU can be especially tough on coaches, as both Miles and Orgeron were fired, the latter less than two years after a 15-0 season. Although the state's recruiting pool is an advantage, coaches unfamiliar with Louisiana might struggle to navigate the high school scene and the expectations of LSU. The university's recent Title IX scandal could turn off some candidates about the administration.
Desirability rating: 10
2. USC
2021 record: 4-6
Most recent national title: 2004
Most recent conference title: 2017
What the job offers: No program on the West Coast comes close to matching the tradition of USC, which claims 11 national titles and 39 conference titles, and boasts seven Heisman Trophy winners. USC is located in the middle of the fertile Los Angeles-area recruiting scene, and can pull top talent from around the region. The school has made overdue upgrades to facilities and, perhaps more important, its recruiting and support staff. Mike Bohn has brought a level of competency and professionalism to the athletic director's office. The Pac-12 is incredibly vulnerable and seemingly waiting for USC to take control. USC shares the Los Angeles market with UCLA, which has underachieved for a generation. Fans wanted Helton out for years and likely will be a bit more patient than normal with his successor to get the roster and culture right.
Biggest drawbacks: Pete Carroll is the only coach in the past 40 years to maximize all that USC has to offer for a sustained period. While insular thinking has doomed USC with its recent hires, coaches might be concerned about why USC can't consistently win despite so many inherent advantages. The Pac-12's downturn also could turn off candidates who have opportunities in stronger Power 5 conferences. The league is as weak as it has ever been, and while getting USC on track is a huge priority, other programs also must elevate. Fan support can be fickle in a market with many other sporting and entertainment options. Coaches and their families accustomed to the lifestyle of college towns -- big houses, often low taxes -- also could struggle with living in the Los Angeles area and the costs that come with it.
Desirability rating: 9
3. Florida
2021 record: 5-6
Most recent national title: 2008
Most recent conference title: 2008
What the job offers: Florida is the only SEC program in arguably the nation's best state for recruits, and boasts three national titles and eight conference titles since 1991. The combination of location, conference and track record makes Florida a top-10 job for many coaches, even though only two -- Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer -- achieved elite-level success in Gainesville. Even less successful Gators coaches such as Dan Mullen, Jim McElwain, Will Muschamp and Ron Zook won or shared SEC East Division championships. Florida has a long history of top quarterback play and has produced three Heisman Trophy winners and 33 consensus All-Americans. After years of letting facilities lag, Florida is making progress on an $85 million football training center that Mullen had a hand in designing. Athletic director Scott Stricklin is facing scrutiny for his handling of ex-women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer's tenure, and will be making his second football hire, but he's still well regarded in the industry.
Biggest drawbacks: The expectations at Florida are skewed by the success of both Spurrier and Meyer, and should be a concern for some candidates. Spurrier dominated the SEC in the 1990s, while Meyer won two national titles in three seasons (2006, 2008). But McElwain and Mullen both were fired a year after reaching the SEC title game, and if Florida falls to Florida State this week, it will have more losing seasons (3) than AP top-10 finishes (2) since 2013. Mullen recorded consecutive AP top-seven finishes in 2018 and 2019 and still was fired less than two years later. Florida must deal with two Power 5 programs in the same state (Florida State, Miami) who both have won multiple national titles. The Gators also must fend off many other schools for the state's top players. While the facilities push is finally happening, Florida has been behind top-tier programs in that area for quite some time.
Desirability rating: 9
4. Washington
2021 record: 4-7
Most recent national title: 1991
Most recent conference title: 2018
What the job offers: A nice mix of location and history, as the program has held powerhouse status before and surged under coach Chris Petersen from 2015 to 2018. Seattle is the biggest city and top recruiting area in the Pacific Northwest, and Washington is a great school with an incredible stadium, strong overall facilities and a solid resource base. The Huskies own 17 Pac-12 titles and dominated the league in the early 1990s. Washington football matters when the wins are coming, and the right coach will quickly enhance the program's regional and national profile. In addition to a local recruiting base, Washington has historically accessed California for recruits and has a long history of recruiting and developing Polynesian players. Washington has money and will spend it on staff and other areas of the program. Recent assistants Jimmy Lake and Pete Kwiatkowski both earned seven figures.
Biggest drawbacks: Washington has slipped behind rival Oregon in many areas, including recruiting and overall branding/marketability. Things are simply too quiet around UW's program, which is what Petersen liked but doesn't help when Oregon is thriving and the Pac-12 overall lacks eyeballs. Recruiting recently slipped sharply, and Washington needs an influx of players on offense to improve (although a new scheme will help). Athletic director Jen Cohen has been with the university since 1998 but has come under increased scrutiny for the Lake situation, as well as a struggling men's basketball program. Washington's urban location might turn off some coaches and their families, and while there's a good local recruiting base, top players such as J.T. Tuimoloau haven't picked the Huskies.
Desirability rating: 8
5. TCU
2021 record: 5-6
Most recent national title: 1938
Most recent conference title: 2011
What the job offers: I nearly put TCU ahead of Washington, which is a testament to how the job/program has improved in the past 20 years under future Hall of Fame coach Gary Patterson. When Patterson took over in 2000, TCU was in the WAC, which no longer plays FBS football. The program is now set to be one of the top jobs in the reworked Big 12. TCU is the only Power 5 program in the recruit-rich Dallas-Fort Worth area, and its coaches rarely need to leave the area to fill out a formidable roster. The program also could be a destination for DFW-area transfers looking to return. Patterson's success also activated a wealthy group of donors to step up, as TCU has made upgrades to its stadium and support facilities. There's not as much pressure or attention in a pro market, although TCU will expect to compete for championships regularly in the new Big 12. Athletic director Jeremiah Donati has been with the program since 2011 and is a talented fundraiser.
Biggest drawbacks: The next coach will be following a legend in Patterson, who has his own statue on campus and is the biggest reason TCU resides in the Big 12. Although some fans wanted a change, Patterson's successor could be judged on an incredibly high standard. The program has fallen off, though, recording just one season of more than seven wins since 2015. Although the Big 12 loses perennial power Oklahoma, the middle/top of the league could get even stronger with Cincinnati, BYU, Houston and UCF arriving. TCU is a private school with a smaller enrollment and following, which could be an adjustment for coaches coming from large state universities. Although TCU's location is hard to match, the Horned Frogs often will be the third or fourth choice for top players from the state.
Desirability rating: 8
6. Virginia Tech
2021 record: 5-6
Most recent national title: None (made BCS title game in 1999)
Most recent conference title: 2010
What the job offers: A football-focused school in a winnable league where most programs prioritize success in basketball. Virginia Tech has a strong fan following and a great home-field setting at Lane Stadium. Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer showed that Virginia Tech can win consistently -- seven Big East or ACC titles from 1995 to 2010 -- and bring in high-level recruits who can be developed into NFL draft picks. Virginia is a good state for recruiting and the program also can access the Washington, D.C., area, as well as Tennessee and North Carolina. The Hokies play in the wide-open ACC Coastal Division, which has been won by six different teams since the 2013 season. Whit Babcock is a respected athletic director who in August received a five-year contract extension, providing some stability for his next coaching hire.
Biggest drawbacks: Other than Beamer, Virginia Tech hasn't had a coach who consistently won at a high level. The program had just one AP Top 25 finish between 1954 and 1993. The patience Virginia Tech showed Beamer, who had losing records in three of his first five seasons, simply doesn't exist in the current climate. While Virginia Tech has made some recent facilities upgrades, it's not quite in the top tier in many resource/budget areas. Blacksburg also is somewhat remote, and ACC competitors such as Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and NC State have more direct access to talent.
Desirability rating: 7
7. Washington State
2021 record: 6-5
Most recent national title: None
Most recent conference title: 2002
What the job offers: A Pac-12 designation in a good but not overwhelming division, at a football-centric school with a loyal and passionate fan base. Washington State has proved that with the right coach, especially those with offensive backgrounds, success is quite possible on the Palouse. Mike Price led Washington State to two conference titles and three AP top-10 finishes between 1997 and 2002. Mike Leach recorded a top-10 finish in 2018 and guided the Cougars to bowls in five consecutive seasons. WSU made important facilities investments during Leach's tenure and has continued to add under athletic director Pat Chun, a strong fundraiser. The program that has done more with less is starting to close the gap in resources.
Biggest drawbacks: The location, while charming to Leach and others who have coached at WSU, presents significant challenges. There are other remote campuses in the Power 5, but Washington State is in a region that is especially hard to access. Pullman is south of Spokane, near the Idaho border, about 275 miles from Seattle and about 350 miles from Portland. Washington State is traveling far for nearly all of its recruits, and must make smart choices about where to spend time and money. While the transfer portal helps, Washington State often needs a system to recruit to or other reasons to sell players on going far from home. The team plays in cozy Martin Stadium (capacity: 32,952), and Washington State's fan and donor base is smaller than those of most major state schools. WSU has been prone to extended down periods, like from 2007 to 2012. Even Price endured eight losing seasons at the school.
Desirability rating: 6
8. Troy
2021 record: 5-6
Most recent national title: 1987 (Division II)
Most recent conference title: 2017
What the job offers: A program with a long history of success in the football-loving state of Alabama. Troy rose from the NAIA to Division II to FCS and then to the FBS, where it transitioned well under longtime coach Larry Blakeney. The Trojans beat Mississippi State in their first year in the FBS (2001), made their first FBS bowl in 2004 and in 2006 won their first of five consecutive Sun Belt titles (outright or shared). Although the program fell off from 2011 to 2016, coach Neal Brown revived it with three consecutive 10-win seasons. Troy has invested in facilities and other areas of the program, and has a respected athletic director in Brent Jones.
Biggest drawbacks: The Sun Belt has improved substantially since Troy dominated the league, and is set to get even better after the recent round of realignment. Troy's remote location in the southeast part of the state isn't ideal, especially when competing with two other Group of 5 programs (UAB, South Alabama) located in more densely populated areas.
Desirability rating: 5
9. Florida International
2021 record: 1-10
Most recent national title: None
Most recent conference title: 2010
What the job offers: The location in Miami is the biggest selling point, as FIU has direct access to one of the nation's densest recruiting markets. Although FIU isn't beating out Power 5 programs who recruit Miami, there are enough local players with whom to build a solid roster. Although the program moved to the FBS only in 2005, it has had success under coaches Mario Cristobal (now at Oregon) and Butch Davis. The Panthers won a Sun Belt championship in 2010 and made five bowl games between the 2010 and 2019 seasons.
Biggest drawbacks: Davis ripped the administration on his way out, telling The Action Network that he had been sabotaged in recruiting and from a lack of resources that encompassed even basic essentials such as uniforms. It wasn't the first administrative controversy at FIU, as longtime athletic director Pete Garcia fired Cristobal two years after the Sun Belt title. Garcia recently announced he's stepping down, so there's a degree of uncertainty for FIU's candidates. FIU also got left behind in Conference USA rather than getting a chance to return to the Sun Belt, a league better positioned for the future.
Desirability rating: 3
10. Akron
2021 record: 2-9
Most recent national title: None
Most recent conference title: 2005
What the job offers: A favorable location in football-loving northeast Ohio, and at a program that has made some investments in facilities and other areas. Akron has one of the MAC's nicer setups, between InfoCision Stadium and the Stile Athletics Field House, which has a full-length indoor practice field. Although Akron has had its share of low points on the field, coaches who are given time there (Lee Owens, J.D. Brookhart, Terry Bowden) generally produce teams around .500. The MAC is always wide open for teams to rise up.
Biggest drawbacks: Despite nice facilities, Akron doesn't pay coaches particularly well and makes annual debt payments of about $5 million on its stadium. Although Akron is located in an area that loves football, there are also many other colleges in the area, including a Kent State program just miles away that is on the rise under Sean Lewis. Akron also has bottomed out with two of its past three coaches in Tom Arth (3-24) and Rob Ianello (2-22).
Desirability rating: 2
Coaching carousel notes
• Keep an eye on the "Bills" for the two vacant SEC jobs: Bill O'Brien and Billy Napier. LSU athletic director Scott Woodward still wants Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher for the Tigers job, and will continue to make runs at Fisher. "He's Scott's white whale," an LSU source said recently. But if Fisher remains firm in staying at Texas A&M, LSU could pivot toward O'Brien, the Alabama offensive coordinator and former Houston Texans and Penn State coach. O'Brien's next stop likely will be as a major college head coach. Florida, meanwhile, could soon target Napier, the Louisiana coach, for its vacancy. Napier's name has been mentioned for all the SEC openings in recent years, as well as Baylor two years ago and both TCU and Virginia Tech this year. But his patience could pay off in landing a true Tier 1 job at Florida. Napier is 31-5 the past three seasons at Louisiana. "Napier played this thing beautifully, it seems," a Power 5 administrator said Monday.
• The Washington coaching search is getting really interesting. Former coach Chris Petersen is heavily involved and, according to some sources, is the most important influence in the search. As I reported on College GameDay, Petersen really likes Baylor coach Dave Aranda and Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. Aranda is on the radar for both Washington and USC, and could return closer to his roots in the Los Angeles area. But sources say he feels incredibly loyal to Baylor, which gave him his first head-coaching job, and would be torn about leaving after only two years. The wild card at Washington remains Auburn coach Bryan Harsin, who likely would have been the top choice when he was still at Boise State. Auburn athletic director Allen Greene could soon be on the move, and Harsin, who has lost two straight and faces Alabama this week, might want a job more suited to his background, such as Washington. A subplot is Harsin's vaccination situation, both at Auburn -- where employees must be vaccinated by Dec. 8 -- or at Washington, which has a state mandate. Washington also has plenty of intriguing regional options: Cal's Justin Wilcox, Oregon State's Jonathan Smith, Fresno State's Kalen DeBoer and BYU's Kalani Sitake.
• Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell is on the short list for every major opening right now, but he might be the least movable of the top candidates, for several reasons. The biggest is Cincinnati's historic bid to reach the CFP. If the Bearcats made it, Fickell would be untouchable until early January, which is likely too long to wait for programs such as USC, Florida and LSU. "Fick's off the table for everybody," an industry source said. He also doesn't have the same urgency to move. He's in a great situation at Cincinnati, which soon will join the Big 12. Unlike most nomadic coaching families, the Fickells have never had to leave Ohio. The jobs Fickell is best suited for, Notre Dame and Ohio State, likely aren't opening this year unless NFL teams start courting Buckeyes coach Ryan Day. Things could change dramatically if Cincinnati falls to East Carolina this week, Houston next week or is left out of the top four. Fickell has a direct connection to USC through athletic director Mike Bohn, and likely would be open to a job like Florida. But don't be surprised if he stays at UC.
• While Fickell could soon be in the CFP, two coaches whose teams fell out of contention are Oregon's Mario Cristobal and Wake Forest's Dave Clawson. Both have done great work at their respective programs, and both could be courted in this cycle. But they are also in great situations and due enhanced contracts, which would keep them in place. Cristobal seemingly is what Florida wants, an A-list recruiter with deep roots in the state who has been in the SEC before. But would Florida pay a $9 million buyout in addition to paying $12 million to Mullen? If Miami moves on from Manny Diaz, Cristobal would be the dream candidate to return to his alma mater. Virginia Tech is very interested in Clawson, especially if Napier ends up at Florida. I've also heard Petersen and Washington would have interest in Clawson, who has never coached west of Ohio. Nike co-founder Phil Knight doesn't want Oregon to lose Cristobal, and Wake Forest also has an emerging super booster in Bob McCreary, and will invest to retain Clawson if it can.
• One candidate whose status is expected to be settled very soon is Penn State's James Franklin, who should remain in State College with an enhanced contract, according to sources. Franklin had been connected to the USC job since it opened, and also had been mentioned for LSU. But the idea of a roster redux isn't overly appealing for Franklin, who turns 50 in February and has an excellent recruiting class coming into Penn State. Despite the Nittany Lions' 7-4 record, there's a sense Penn State could break through in 2022 or 2023. Enhanced contracts for both Franklin and presumably Michigan State's Mel Tucker are a significant win for the Big Ten, which never lacks in financial clout but hasn't always been as bold about its coaching salaries.
• TCU could be the next Power 5 job to fill, and all signs continue to point toward SMU coach Sonny Dykes taking the job. Although TCU has looked at other candidates, including Napier, Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and Jackson State coach Deion Sanders, Dykes always was the front-runner and would surprise many if he doesn't make the short move from Dallas to Fort Worth. SMU has dropped three of its past four games, continuing a somewhat troubling late-season pattern under Dykes, but the overall profile and fit factor remain strong. Expect Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to be a top candidate at SMU, where he served as OC under Dykes. Current Mustangs offensive coordinator Garrett Riley could be an interesting internal option.