As the season gets rolling, the coaching carousel is ready to start spinning. A few Week 1 surprises could send some major programs into a search, and the names waiting in the wings may already be taking shape. Three coaches stand out as possible answers when the next big job opens up.
Jedd Fisch has already surfaced in multiple major searches, including Michigan and Florida, and his stock looks plenty healthy after the quick turnaround he delivered at Arizona and a solid season at Washington. In a sport where offense sells, that kind of profile tends to travel well. Coaches with that kind of flash are going to stay in demand in a financial era where points help sell tickets and drive attention.
Florida State could be one job to watch for Fisch. He graduated from Florida and coached at Miami, which makes that opening an especially interesting fit.
But he would not be limited to the state of Florida. A west coast vacancy could also put him in the mix.
Mario Cristobal’s arrival at Miami may have changed the outlook there, but Mike Elko’s rise at Duke has made Manny Diaz look like a coach whose path is trending upward again. Diaz went from losing the Miami job after three seasons to helping get Duke moving in the right direction, and his 18-8 record in Durham sends a clear message about what he can do.
He has also built a résumé as an assistant in the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC, which only strengthens the sense that athletic directors know exactly what kind of coach they’d be getting. That kind of track record tends to keep a name in circulation when bigger jobs open.
Kalani Sitake belongs in the conversation for a different reason, but the result is the same: athletic directors know him. He has been an excellent match at BYU, where he is both an alum and a Mormon. Even so, a job at a school without the same character requirements the Cougars face could make him an even more attractive hire.
Sitake is 84-45 at BYU and has posted four double-digit win seasons in the last six years. Because most of his coaching career has been on the west coast, he could be a natural fit if Lincoln Riley leaves USC or if Washington needs to replace Fisch.
In Other News...
USC Is About To Get An Early Test Up Front
USC is getting a useful measuring stick early, and it comes in the form of a Fresno State defense that was the best unit in the Mountain West a year ago. The Bulldogs held opponents to just 286 yards and 19 points per game, and the strength starts up front under defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto, who brought his system over from Northern Illinois and has plenty of experience to lean on in the trenches.
The matchup should tell plenty about where the Trojans are on the line of scrimmage, especially against a front that has made life hard on the run game. Fresno State went 9-0 last season when it kept opponents under 140 rushing yards, and linebacker Tytus Khajavi is expected to be one of the key players helping set the tone. Against a USC offense that wants to establish itself early, that kind of resistance can reveal a lot quickly. [Read more 🡒]
USC Already Has One Clear Strength And One Growing Concern
USCs season opener against San Jose State offered an early look at what this roster might already do well, and which parts still need work. Jayden Maiava handled his first game of the year with plenty of positives, while defensive tackle Jide Abasiri also stood out in a performance that gave the Trojans something to build on. There were encouraging contributions, too, from wide receiver Trent Mosley and running back King Miller, suggesting the offense has multiple pieces ready to matter right away.
The concern showed up on the other side of the ball, where the secondary and some individual defenders had a rougher time keeping things clean. Kam Crawford was among the players who struggled, and that mattered because USCs defense is still trying to sort out its identity as the schedule moves forward. One game does not settle the bigger picture, but it did give the Trojans a pretty clear snapshot of where the strength is and where the questions are likely to linger. [Read more 🡒]
USC Depth Chart Puts Pressure On Two Trojans Fighting To Stay Relevant
USCs updated depth chart heading into Week 1 against Fresno State did more than set the opening lineup. It also offered a clearer look at the crowded competition around several players returning from absence, with the roster now forcing a few Trojans to prove they belong in the rotation rather than simply waiting for their turn. For some, thats a healthy sign of depth. For others, it is a reminder that opportunity in college football can disappear quickly if reps start going elsewhere.
Among the players under the most pressure are redshirt-freshman running back Riley Wormley and redshirt-junior linebacker TaMere Robinson, both of whom need to carve out more meaningful roles to stay relevant. Their paths have already been shaped by limited chances and a roster that keeps adding competition, and with playing time at a premium, the next stretch could matter a great deal for how they fit into USCs plans going forward. [Read more 🡒]