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Which new college football hire in a major conference will win the most games in 2018?
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nca...ce-will-win-the-most-games-in-2018/ar-BBIq26K
This week’s Top 10 list asks: Which new hire in a major conference will win the most games in 2018?
1. Joe Moorhead, Mississippi State
Moorhead inherits a great situation from his predecessor, Dan Mullen, even if quarterback Nick Fitzgerald doesn’t make a full recovery from his ankle injury. Mississippi State brings back depth and talent on both sides of the ball, with enough athleticism on offense to fit the nuts and bolts of Moorhead’s explosive scheme. And the schedule gives the Bulldogs potential toss-up games at home, including Florida, Auburn and Texas A&M, so it’s fair to expect eight or nine wins during the regular season to go with top-25 contention.
2. Mario Cristobal, Oregon
The Cristobal era kicked off with a total dud in the Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State. It should be OK. The Ducks open 2018 with four home games in a row, the last a key one against Stanford, and in total get to play host to the Cardinal, Washington, UCLA and Arizona State. If quarterback Justin Herbert is healthy, this could be the second-best team in the Pac-12 North Division. If not … let’s not consider the worst-case scenario.
3. Kevin Sumlin, Arizona
There’s no way Sumlin could have turned down the opportunity at Arizona, which isn’t just smack in the middle of solid recruiting ground — an area Sumlin maximized during his tenure at Texas A&M — but also features a very solid roster, notably with quarterback Khalil Tate. Should Sumlin’s schemes take hold, Arizona has the talent to challenge for a national ranking.
4. Willie Taggart, Florida State
Having a healthy Deondre Francois in 2017 would have meant at least an additional win or two for FSU, so his return this spring is one factor pointing toward a rebound in the win column. After a year spent off the rails, Taggart also should breathe some life and energy into a sour and dismal locker room. But the schedule will be a bear: FSU takes on Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida at home, while drawing Louisville, Miami (Fla.), N.C. State and Notre Dame on the road.
5. Chip Kelly, UCLA
All Kelly did at Oregon was win, if under different circumstances. The game has changed. Defenses have adapted. Unlike at Oregon, there is no level of built-in familiarity with Kelly’s scheme. But Scott Frost’s success shows how the fears over Kelly’s ability to again shock and awe defenses are totally unfounded — Kelly will keep defensive coordinators awake at night, even if the Bruins probably won’t do more than win seven or eight games in his first year.
6. Dan Mullen, Florida
Here’s an interesting relationship to consider. Florida is impatient, and deservedly so. Expectations are immense. But given Mullen’s track record at Mississippi State, where he slowly and steadily built a winner without any shortcuts, is it fair to expect some sort of immediate bump into the top two of the SEC East Division? It might not be fair. But it’s also not crazy to think about a Florida team and program far, far better than its four-win finish of 2017 quickly rising up the standings to give Georgia a scare in the East.
7. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
The Aggies get Clemson and Alabama in September. Enjoy. It’s a good thing A&M is thinking long-term with Fisher, who needed three years to crack the top 10 at Florida State and will need just as long — if not more — to repeat that feat in College Station. Seven wins in 2018 will yield eight or more in 2019, double-digit wins in 2020 and so on down the line. But even if there’s total buy-in from the start, it’s hard to see how the Aggies navigate through a rowdy schedule this fall.
8. Herm Edwards, Arizona State
I’m looking forward to the day when Edwards’ tenure can be judged on wins and losses. (Football starts in about 215 days, give or take.) And just because he’s been Internet clickbait since taking the job doesn’t mean Edwards couldn’t conceivably be a big hit come Saturdays in the fall, especially when taking over a program in better shape than one may be lead to believe. The biggest issue is September dates with Michigan State and San Diego State and crossover matchups with Stanford, Oregon and Washington, the latter pair on the road.
9. Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee
The latest to try his hand at resurrecting Tennessee, Pruitt takes over a program fresh off its worst SEC season in history — zero wins and eight losses as Butch Jones’ final parting gift. Anyone who says Pruitt is an upgrade is playing a guessing game, though the signs are there: he worked under Nick Saban, has a solid reputation and has even in a short span laid out the framework for remaking UT into its former self. It’s enough to make you look past the fact that Pruitt’s lack of asparagus awareness.
10. Scott Frost, Nebraska
Frost will get Nebraska back into the national mix, just not in 2018. For his debut, the Cornhuskers should focus on reaching six wins and bowl eligibility — which may not sound like much, but don’t forget that this program felt short of six wins during the regular season twice in Mike Riley’s three seasons. It also switching offensive schemes. The future is bright. The present may take some lumps.
Which new college football hire in a major conference will win the most games in 2018?
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nca...ce-will-win-the-most-games-in-2018/ar-BBIq26K
This week’s Top 10 list asks: Which new hire in a major conference will win the most games in 2018?
1. Joe Moorhead, Mississippi State
Moorhead inherits a great situation from his predecessor, Dan Mullen, even if quarterback Nick Fitzgerald doesn’t make a full recovery from his ankle injury. Mississippi State brings back depth and talent on both sides of the ball, with enough athleticism on offense to fit the nuts and bolts of Moorhead’s explosive scheme. And the schedule gives the Bulldogs potential toss-up games at home, including Florida, Auburn and Texas A&M, so it’s fair to expect eight or nine wins during the regular season to go with top-25 contention.
2. Mario Cristobal, Oregon
The Cristobal era kicked off with a total dud in the Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State. It should be OK. The Ducks open 2018 with four home games in a row, the last a key one against Stanford, and in total get to play host to the Cardinal, Washington, UCLA and Arizona State. If quarterback Justin Herbert is healthy, this could be the second-best team in the Pac-12 North Division. If not … let’s not consider the worst-case scenario.
3. Kevin Sumlin, Arizona
There’s no way Sumlin could have turned down the opportunity at Arizona, which isn’t just smack in the middle of solid recruiting ground — an area Sumlin maximized during his tenure at Texas A&M — but also features a very solid roster, notably with quarterback Khalil Tate. Should Sumlin’s schemes take hold, Arizona has the talent to challenge for a national ranking.
4. Willie Taggart, Florida State
Having a healthy Deondre Francois in 2017 would have meant at least an additional win or two for FSU, so his return this spring is one factor pointing toward a rebound in the win column. After a year spent off the rails, Taggart also should breathe some life and energy into a sour and dismal locker room. But the schedule will be a bear: FSU takes on Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida at home, while drawing Louisville, Miami (Fla.), N.C. State and Notre Dame on the road.
5. Chip Kelly, UCLA
All Kelly did at Oregon was win, if under different circumstances. The game has changed. Defenses have adapted. Unlike at Oregon, there is no level of built-in familiarity with Kelly’s scheme. But Scott Frost’s success shows how the fears over Kelly’s ability to again shock and awe defenses are totally unfounded — Kelly will keep defensive coordinators awake at night, even if the Bruins probably won’t do more than win seven or eight games in his first year.
6. Dan Mullen, Florida
Here’s an interesting relationship to consider. Florida is impatient, and deservedly so. Expectations are immense. But given Mullen’s track record at Mississippi State, where he slowly and steadily built a winner without any shortcuts, is it fair to expect some sort of immediate bump into the top two of the SEC East Division? It might not be fair. But it’s also not crazy to think about a Florida team and program far, far better than its four-win finish of 2017 quickly rising up the standings to give Georgia a scare in the East.
7. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
The Aggies get Clemson and Alabama in September. Enjoy. It’s a good thing A&M is thinking long-term with Fisher, who needed three years to crack the top 10 at Florida State and will need just as long — if not more — to repeat that feat in College Station. Seven wins in 2018 will yield eight or more in 2019, double-digit wins in 2020 and so on down the line. But even if there’s total buy-in from the start, it’s hard to see how the Aggies navigate through a rowdy schedule this fall.
8. Herm Edwards, Arizona State
I’m looking forward to the day when Edwards’ tenure can be judged on wins and losses. (Football starts in about 215 days, give or take.) And just because he’s been Internet clickbait since taking the job doesn’t mean Edwards couldn’t conceivably be a big hit come Saturdays in the fall, especially when taking over a program in better shape than one may be lead to believe. The biggest issue is September dates with Michigan State and San Diego State and crossover matchups with Stanford, Oregon and Washington, the latter pair on the road.
9. Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee
The latest to try his hand at resurrecting Tennessee, Pruitt takes over a program fresh off its worst SEC season in history — zero wins and eight losses as Butch Jones’ final parting gift. Anyone who says Pruitt is an upgrade is playing a guessing game, though the signs are there: he worked under Nick Saban, has a solid reputation and has even in a short span laid out the framework for remaking UT into its former self. It’s enough to make you look past the fact that Pruitt’s lack of asparagus awareness.
10. Scott Frost, Nebraska
Frost will get Nebraska back into the national mix, just not in 2018. For his debut, the Cornhuskers should focus on reaching six wins and bowl eligibility — which may not sound like much, but don’t forget that this program felt short of six wins during the regular season twice in Mike Riley’s three seasons. It also switching offensive schemes. The future is bright. The present may take some lumps.
