One of the quieter coaching cycles in recent years seems close to shutting down.
Texas A&M's firing of Jimbo Fisher marked the first performance-related dismissal this season. Northwestern became the first program to fill its vacancy, promoting interim coach/defensive coordinator David Braun into the permanent role. On Thursday, Duke became the most recent to name a new head coach, hiring Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
Now it's time to rank all nine Power 5 conference jobs that have opened -- and closed -- since the summer.
The ranking below is based on the quality of the job through the eyes of coaches.
Jump to:
Duke
Houston
Indiana
Michigan State
Mississippi State
Northwestern
Oregon State
Syracuse
Texas A&M
1. Texas A&M Aggies
Former coach: Jimbo Fisher | Record: 45-25 (6-4 in 2023)
Fired: Nov. 12
New coach: Mike Elko, Duke's head coach
Job pros: Few programs have a better combination of location and financial clout than Texas A&M. Even the historic $76 million buyout Fisher received underscored just how much the school wants to win. Texas A&M has top-notch facilities, one of the country's most powerful NIL operations and a location near Houston and other talent hotbeds. Despite only one truly great season, Fisher signed the nation's No. 1 recruiting class in 2022 and other decorated classes in 2019 and 2020. Texas A&M still has a top-10 class for 2024 despite a team that quickly fell out of SEC contention this season. Few fan bases are as massive and as loyal as Texas A&M's -- the program has the ingredients to become a national contender. Texas A&M simply needs the right coach.
Job cons: No one wins big in College Station, at least not recently. Zero conference titles since 1998. Zero national titles since 1939. No back-to-back top-10 finishes since 1994. All the money and resources and recruiting clout haven't generated consistent success, and it's not only because of the coaches Texas A&M has hired. Texas A&M's fan and donor base can be an asset, but also an obstacle, as coaches must navigate and manage their expectations and get everyone on the same page. The school also has some distinct elements that, while embraced internally, can come off as bizarre to some coaches and could turn them off.
2024 recruiting class ranking: 10
2. Michigan State Spartans
Former coach: Mel Tucker | Record: 20-14 (2-0 in 2023)
Fired: Sept. 27
New coach: Jonathan Smith, Oregon State's head coach
Job pros: Any Big Ten program has appeal, and Michigan State is located in a football-obsessed state with a sizable fan base, strong long-term history and enough resources to compete occasionally for the 12-team CFP. The Spartans made the four-team playoff in 2015 and have shown, with the right coach and roster-building approach, that they can challenge in-state rival Michigan and other Big Ten programs with bigger brands and deeper pockets. From 2010 to 2017, the Spartans ranked 12th nationally in winning percentage (.736). Although Tucker's tenure ended in shame and his lucrative contract drew mockery, the situation also showed that MSU's biggest donors really want to win. This summer, MSU unveiled a $78 million project named after basketball coach Tom Izzo that includes a new locker room and weight room. Michigan State has shown it can recruit at a good clip and land notable transfers. The dissolution of divisions in the Big Ten means Michigan State won't have annual games with both Ohio State and Penn State.
Job cons: The program has endured several controversies and lacked the stability it enjoyed for most of coach Mark Dantonio's tenure. Dantonio's success also coincided with turbulence at Michigan, which has restored its program among the nation's elite. The Big Ten is only getting tougher with the West Coast additions, and Michigan State has gone from a top-five job in the league to more middle of the pack. Although MSU historically has capitalized on some national recruiting opportunities, it also must make a dent in the crowded Michigan-Ohio-Pennsylvania talent market, which has gotten tougher with the success at both Michigan and Ohio State. The canceled NIL deals with the school's official collective, SD4L, raised questions about the NIL strategy going forward.
2024 recruiting class ranking: Outside top 40
3. Houston Cougars
Former coach: Dana Holgorsen | Record: 31-28 (4-8 in 2023)
Fired: Nov. 26
New coach: Willie Fritz, Houston head coach
Job pros: Houston is the only major program in one of the country's biggest and best recruiting cities and has both the financial backing and conference affiliation to elevate its profile. The Big 12 move is the real plus, as few programs in the reshaped league have more direct access to talent and other resources. Houston has a super booster in Tilman Fertitta, an administration committed to winning and evidence of success, both in football and in other sports like men's basketball. Four of Houston's past six coaches have recorded seasons of 10 or more wins, and the team has three AP top-20 finishes since 2011. Last week, Houston broke ground on a new $130 million football operations center, to be completed in 2025, which will also include upgrades for TDECU Stadium. Houston also boasts tremendous NIL reach with the businesses in the city and region. The departures of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC create more possibilities for Houston in the Big 12, especially with the 12-team CFP arriving in 2024.
Job cons: The potential of the Houston job has outweighed the actual results at times. Houston has won nine or more games in consecutive seasons just once -- under coach Tom Herman in 2015 and 2016 -- since John Jenkins had the program rolling from 1988 to 1990. The school's hiring of Holgorsen from West Virginia -- a Big 12 program when Houston remained in the AAC -- was justifiably celebrated as a coup. But Holgorsen delivered only one truly great season in 2021, and three losing seasons out of five. His team struggled in its Big 12 transition this fall, needing a Hail Mary against West Virginia to avoid going 1-8 in the league. Although Houston's commitment is undeniably strong, the school also can be tough on coaches, firing both Major Applewhite and Tony Levine despite winning seasons. The Cougars are still competing with more established Big 12 programs and must create a true identity in their new league.
2024 recruiting class ranking: Outside the top 40
4. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Former coach: Zach Arnett | Record: 5-6 (4-6 in 2023)
Fired: Nov. 13
New coach: Jeff Libby, Oklahoma's offensive coordinator
Job pros: Multiple coaches have shown the ability to win at a program with a loyal and passionate fan base and a location that, while remote, is still in the heart of SEC country. All three of Mississippi State's coaches before Arnett had teams that made the final CFP standings, and the Bulldogs have gone bowling every year since 2009. Between 2010 and 2022, Mississippi State had a team ranked in the top 20 of the AP poll in all but four seasons. Davis Wade Stadium is packed for games with cowbells clangin'. The school can easily recruit talent-rich Louisiana and Alabama, and has access to Mississippi's high schools and junior colleges. Mississippi State should benefit from the dissolution of divisions, as it had been forced to play Alabama, LSU and Auburn on an annual basis. After Mississippi State's third full head-coaching search since the end of the 2017 season, the school likely will be inclined to give its next leader a bit more leash/time.
Job cons: Mississippi State lacks the brand recognition, size and historical success of many of its SEC brethren. The school's sole SEC title came in 1941, and the Bulldogs have appeared in only one SEC championship game, in 1998 against Tennessee. The state lacks the talent depth of its neighbors, and Mississippi State has to take an aggressive approach toward the portal and the junior college ranks to keep pace. Mississippi State has an official NIL collective, the Bulldog Initiative, but will have a hard time outbidding most SEC schools for players, especially with Texas and Oklahoma entering the league. To use some F1 lingo, Mississippi State realistically should be seeking a spot in the midfield, but that could become harder in a league where the pedal is always down.
2024 recruiting class ranking: 39
5. Northwestern Wildcats
Former coach: Pat Fitzgerald | Record: 1-11 (in 2022)
Fired: July 10
New coach: David Braun, promoted to permanent head coach
Job pros: Northwestern has Big Ten perks without the pressure most jobs in the league have. Fitzgerald built a consistent winner from 2008 to 2020, following two coaches (Randy Walker and Gary Barnett) who lifted the program out of the dark ages and to Big Ten championships. Northwestern's on-campus football facility is one of the nation's best, and plans to rebuild decaying Ryan Field could be approved soon. The school is realistic about the challenges of an expanded Big Ten. Northwestern hasn't fired a coach for performance since Francis Peay in 1991. Other than Fitzgerald's final two years and the transition from Barnett to Walker, Northwestern has won at a decent clip. Although the recruiting pool is more limited because of academics, Northwestern can find players both regionally and nationally, and use its degree as a selling point.
Job cons: There are a lot of big-picture questions swirling, from the university/athletics leadership to where games will be played during the stadium rebuild to how Northwestern navigates the portal and NIL. Northwestern can't admit many non-graduate transfers and, while making some NIL gains through its TrueNU collective, still must catch up to other Big Ten schools. The portal may always be a net negative in Evanston. The hazing scandal damaged the program's stellar off-field reputation, and the fallout with various lawsuits involving the school will continue for some time. Northwestern also benefited from being in the Big Ten West, which disappears next season, and will have more matchups against larger programs with more resources and history.
2024 recruiting class ranking: Outside top 40
6. Duke Blue Devils
Former coach: Mike Elko | Record:16-9 (7-5 in 2023)
Fired: Left for Texas A&M on Nov. 26
New coach: Manny Diaz, Penn State defensive coordinator
Job pros: Duke is a low-pressure job in the ACC that, with the right approach with both scheme and player development, can generate success. The program has improved significantly since bottoming out in the early to mid 2000s. Coach David Cutcliffe reached six bowl games in seven seasons, winning 27 games from 2013 to 2015, and reaching an ACC title game. Elko took over in 2022 and improved Duke's win total by six in his first season. He had several solid players on both sides of the ball during a brief but notable tenure. Duke recognizes its limited history and inherent challenges and won't dump coaches after a down year or two. Athletic director Nina King provides stable leadership for the program and recognizes football's value. Although the school's academic restrictions limit the recruiting pool, Duke has picked up some key transfers in the portal era and should continue to do so under Elko's successor.
Job cons: Consistent winning is very difficult in Durham, which even Elko found out after a rash of injuries this season. Although Duke can make bowl games, a reasonable expectation for the program, taking the next step to truly challenge in the ACC has proved difficult. The history with the program is tough to overcome. Duke hasn't won a conference title since 1989 -- and none since 1962 before that -- and has just one AP Top 25 finish since 1960. The facilities and fan base aren't as strong as many in the ACC, and Duke can't recruit the same range of players (and transfers) as some of its top competitors. Duke's athletic brand will remain focused around the basketball program.
2024 recruiting class ranking: Outside the top 40
7. Indiana Hoosiers
Former coach: Tom Allen | Record: 33-49 (3-9 in 2023)
Fired: Nov. 26
New coach: Curt Cignetti, James Madison head coach
Job pros: Indiana's Big Ten affiliation and relative patience with coaches are its biggest selling points. Coaches see where college football is headed, and being aligned with any Big Ten or SEC job has its perks in this environment. Indiana's last 14 full-time head coaches left the school with losing records, but the school typically gives its coaches some time to attempt program-building before pulling the plug. Indiana's decision to pay Allen's $20.8 million buyout indicates a desire for winning and greater financial commitment, although what follows will be critical. Allen showed that Indiana can attract talent from different regions, as he had success in Florida. The dissolution of divisions in the Big Ten should help IU, which had annual games against Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.
Job cons: IU is a basketball-first school with no Big Ten football championships since 1967 and just one AP Top 25 finish since 1988. The school's overall commitment to football has been repeatedly questioned, and Allen's lament about NIL and other lacking areas is very real, according to sources. Indiana must decide whether it wants to compete in a deeper and tougher Big Ten or just take the big revenue checks from the league. The state has a more limited recruiting pool than surrounding ones, and Indiana lacks some of the bells and whistles to attract coveted high school players and transfers. IU has tried so many different types of coaches, including several with ties to the school and the region, and still has not strung together consistent postseason appearances.
2024 recruiting class ranking: Outside the top 40
8. Oregon State Beavers
Former coach: Jonathan Smith | Record: 34-35 (8-4 in 2023)
Left: Nov. 25 for Michigan State
New coach: Trent Bray, Oregon State defensive coordinator
Job pros: Oregon State has a loyal and devoted fan base, recently upgraded facilities and a blueprint that, if executed correctly, can lead to consistent success. Smith showed what was possible in Corvallis, as a player and as a coach, and the right approach with the development of high school players and transfer portal selections can work. His successor will inherit a team coming off of consecutive Top 25 appearances. Oregon State isn't going to fire coaches for the occasional down season, especially with a bumpy road ahead. Athletic director Scott Barnes is a veteran administrator who has supported the program well. If Oregon State can maintain a Power 5-like budget, it can appeal to Group of 5 coaches or top coordinators seeking the resources necessary to compete. Oregon State's NIL program, Dam Nation, has held its own so far in brokering deals for players such as star running back Damien Martinez.
Job cons: The program's future is murky after the Pac-12 dissolved, and despite some legal wins, there's no guarantee Oregon State will operate like a power-conference program beyond the immediate future. How many firm answers can Oregon State give coaching candidates and their agents? The Beavers likely will be playing a Mountain West-heavy schedule, and even the Oregon series has been put on pause. Oregon State's location isn't helpful for recruiting, especially with a larger brand-name school (Oregon) less than an hour away. Although a renovated Reser Stadium is a plus, Oregon State likely will have to rethink its approach toward NIL and the types of players it targets. Although Smith had recent success and Mike Riley built a consistent program, Oregon State can go downhill quickly, as we saw from 2014 to 2020, when the team went 21-58.
2024 recruiting class ranking: Outside top 40
9. Syracuse Orange
Former coach: Dino Babers | Record: 41-55 (5-6 in 2023)
Fired: Nov. 19
New coach: Fran Brown, defensive backs coach Georgia
Job pros: Syracuse is one of the nation's toughest power-conference jobs, but its ACC affiliation still has appeal, especially for coaches who haven't worked at that level before. The program carries less pressure than many others, as Babers had just one season with more than seven wins but almost made it through Year 8. Syracuse boasts strong long-term history with a national title in 1959, four conference titles (outright or shared) from 1996 to 2004, a Heisman winner in Ernie Davis (1961) and a Pro Football Hall of Famer in Jim Brown (1953-56). The team can recruit the New Jersey-New York-Pennsylvania area and has the most direct access to Canada's recruiting pool, which can be helpful with the right selection. In May, Syracuse announced it would begin construction of a new football operations building. Babers showed in 2018 (10-3) that when Syracuse has a strong quarterback and enough well-developed players, it can make a run in the ACC.
Job cons: The job has become significantly tougher since the Paul Pasqualoni heyday of the 1990s, especially with the arrival of name, image and likeness, and the transfer portal. Syracuse has lost good players to the portal, and also lost assistant coaches to other programs (coordinators Robert Anae and Tony White left last winter for NC State and Nebraska, respectively). As Babers lamented in October, "Schools like us, we're not going to have a lot of depth because it gets bought away." In September, Orange United launched as Syracuse's preferred NIL collective, although the school has had some bumps in the NIL space, as top donor Adam Weitsman disengaged from brokering NIL deals after his approach received pushback from the administration. Syracuse ultimately is a basketball school with only two bowl appearances since 2013 and only three seasons of eight or more wins since 2001. The school's location also creates some recruiting challenges that most ACC schools don't worry about.
2024 recruiting class ranking: Outside top 40