Florida State’s coaching search gets a spotlight of its own in a packed Week 11 slate, with several names from the Seminoles’ Hot Board 2.0 scattered across the schedule.
The biggest stage belongs to Bob Chesney and No. 4 UCLA, which puts its undefeated record on the line Friday night against Illinois at the Rose Bowl.
The Bruins are 9-0 overall and 6-0 in Big Ten play, and they’ve done it with a defense that has been a nightmare for opponents. UCLA leads the nation with 27 takeaways and also owns one of the country’s best run defenses.
Illinois arrives at 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten after bouncing back from a 2-3 start. Chesney is also expected to get a contract extension from UCLA soon, so Friday’s nationally televised game could be a convenient place to make that news public.
Saturday opens with another candidate connection when Manny Diaz and Duke head to Miami Gardens to face No. 7 Miami at noon on ABC.
Duke is 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the ACC, and the Blue Devils will try to hand the Hurricanes their first conference loss. Miami is coming off its first defeat of the season, a loss to highly ranked Notre Dame last week, and now has to regroup without Heisman Trophy candidate Malachi Toney.
Duke brings a run game powered by Nate Sheppard and a defense allowing just 13 points per game, which makes for a real test against one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. For Diaz, beating a primary rival of Florida State and his former employer would look good on the résumé.
There’s also a pair of ACC teams that may not move the coaching board much at all. No.
13 Wake Forest heads to SMU at noon on ESPN in what might as well be called the Fade Bowl for coaching candidates. Wake Forest announced a contract extension for Jake Dickert on Thursday, while SMU appears secure with Rhett Lashlee.
Still, the game in Dallas has plenty of conference intrigue, especially if Wake Forest gets quarterback Gio Lopez back for a matchup with SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings.
Later in the afternoon, No. 22 Missouri visits No.
1 Georgia at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, and the Bulldogs have one of the top non-head coaching names on the board in defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann. Missouri, led by Eli Drinkwitz, comes in at 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC and will try to pull off the upset in Athens.
Georgia is 8-1 overall and 6-1 in league play, and its defense has been stingy all season, allowing just 14.0 points per game. A key matchup will be Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons and running back Jamal Roberts against Schumann’s unit.
New Mexico’s game against UNLV at 7:30 p.m. on the CW gives Jason Eck another chance to keep the Lobos rolling in Mountain West play. New Mexico is 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the MWC, riding a six-game winning streak.
UNLV, meanwhile, is 5-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play and needs a win to secure bowl eligibility. The matchup to watch is the Rebels, led by offensively minded head coach Dan Mullen, against a New Mexico defense that has been elite by every measure: 240.2 yards allowed per game and 10.9 points per game, both best in the nation.
The Lobos also rank third nationally against the run at 71.6 yards allowed per game and 10th against the pass at 168.7.
The night ends with a Big 12 game that could turn into a track meet. No.
12 Texas Tech visits No. 25 Oklahoma State at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN, with Eric Morris and quarterback Drew Mestemaker having sparked a major turnaround in Stillwater.
The Cowboys are averaging 43.9 points and 533.6 yards per game, and they’ll face a Red Raiders team that can score in bunches too, with former FSU quarterback Thomas Castellanos leading the offense. If this one delivers what the numbers suggest, it should be a shootout.
In Other News...
Florida State Coaching Search Just Took A Dramatic New Turn
Florida States coaching search has a fresh layer of intrigue after the school hired Jeff Purinton as its new athletic director, a move that could shape how the next head coach is chosen. Purintons arrival matters because he is expected to have a significant voice in the process, and that immediately shifts the focus from speculation to who he trusts to lead the Seminoles forward.
One name that has gained traction is Glenn Schumann, Georgias defensive coordinator, whose connection to Purinton gives him a built-in familiarity as the search unfolds. Schumanns background under Kirby Smart only adds to his profile, while another previously linked option, Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert, appears to be off the board for now after signing an extension with the Demon Deacons. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Coaching Search Just Got Clearer After One Early Candidate's Move
Florida States coaching search is moving into a more defined phase, with the school still working to replace Mike Norvell and new athletic director Jeff Purinton now in the middle of the vetting process. The list of names tied to the job has included Wake Forests Dave Clawson, Dukes Manny Diaz and Georgias Glenn Schumann, a mix that underscores how broad the search has been as the Seminoles weigh both recruiting chops and on-field results.
One early candidates move has helped narrow the picture a bit, even if nothing official has been decided yet. For Florida State, that matters because the next hire is being judged on more than just rsum appeal - Purinton is clearly looking for someone who can stabilize the program quickly and keep the Seminoles competitive in the recruiting battles that shape the ACC race. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A Bad Matchup Problem At The Worst Time
Florida State heads into its meeting with Pittsburgh dealing with a thinner offensive backfield than it would like, with three running backs sidelined and true freshman Amari Thomas expected to get the start after a strong showing in the previous game. It is not the kind of setup the Seminoles wanted heading into a matchup like this, especially with Duce Robinson also set to miss his second straight game.
The timing is rough because Pittsburgh brings one of the nations best run defenses into the matchup, ranking second nationally against the run. For Florida State, the challenge is not just replacing bodies, but finding enough balance to keep the offense from becoming predictable against a front built to take away the ground game. [Read more 🡒]