Best jobs available. Ranking the college football coaching openings

Best jobs available. Ranking the college football coaching openings.

Key points

• 10 in the US LBM Coaches Poll after losing to unranked USC, raising questions regarding the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff hopes.
• Baylor, Maryland, and North Carolina State are additionally seeking new coaches, with each job offering unique financial and competitive advantages.
• Before being fired late last month, second-year coach Phil Longo posted two Bowl Subdivision wins and only four single-digit losses.
• Thirty-one Bowl Subdivision programs had coaching changes last season, including seven that fired their coaches before the middle of October.
• Five FBS programs, including four from Power Four conferences, have already fired their head coaches this season.

US LBM Coaches Poll: Ohio State drops to No. 10, raising CFP reservations.

Ohio State drops to No. 10 in the US LBM Coaches Poll after losing to unranked USC, raising questions regarding the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff hopes.

Florida State is at present ranked as the most attractive coaching vacancy, despite financial matters within the athletic department.

Things on this year's coaching front stayed quiet until the past two weeks. Four Power Four schools and five programs overall have since sent their coaches packing in Baylor, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Sam Houston State.

These early firings put these programs at the front of the line in what could be another frantic cycle of coaching moves. With more changes projected in the coming weeks, USA TODAY Sports ranks the current FBS openings.

For now, Florida State is the best opening in the Power Four. That will change when schools in the SEC and Major Ten produce coaching moves afterwards this month. On one hand, the Seminoles can offer almost unmatched history, a solid recruiting base and an easier path to the 24-team playoff out of the ACC. On the other, there are serious financial problems plaguing the athletics department, the ACC is the weakest of the Power Four leagues and multiple coaches have tried and failed for a decade to deliver a winning product except for a blip before an injury to Jordan Travis knocked the Seminoles out of the CFP. Basically, this is a particularly good job but no longer a great one.

WHO'S NEXT?: Florida State coaching candidates after Mike Norvell fired.

Though it hasn't quite embraced the open-checkbook style of roster management that has turned Texas Tech into the league's top program, baylor has the financial backing to be a major player in the Sizeable 12. With a little more spending, Dave Aranda's replacement might be able to build a roster that could immediately compete for the conference title and a playoff berth. The chance for a quick turnaround is one major positive for this opening. Ultimately, look for Baylor to center its search on in-state candidates who can recruit the region and bring along players from their current program.

WHO'S NEXT?: Baylor candidates from Lincoln Riley to Dabo Swinney.

Major Ten capital and the chance to obtain into the conference rise Maryland's appeal. That's since there isn't much more there: The Terrapins are multiple steps behind the middle chunk of the Sizeable Ten and miles behind the league's best, and not even an established Power Four coach can be projected to manufacture an Indiana-style turnaround from the start. But funds negotiations in college football; the athletics department has Major Ten capital and Under Armour funds. It combined should attract a caliber of candidate that belies the program's recent run of pitifulness.

WHO'S NEXT?: The seven candidates Maryland should consider. 4. North Carolina State.

Dave Doeren proved that N.C. State can be a consistent winner and ACC contender even as the end of his tenure came down to an inability to take the next step. This is one program that would've created multiple playoff berths under Doeren had the 24-team model been in place, even so. While a stronger program overall than Maryland and in a much better place in the moment, N.C. State trails that opening since of its place in the ACC. One benefit to a midseason firing is that it gives the program a headstart in a coaching cycle that may additionally come to include North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest, should the Tar Heels change course with Bill Belichick while Manny Diaz and Jake Dickert leave for other Power Four jobs.

WHO'S NEXT?: NC State candidates include Philip Rivers, Scott Satterfield. 5. Sam Houston State.

Before being fired late last month, second-year coach Phil Longo posted two Bowl Subdivision wins and only four single-digit losses. While Longo's offensive scheme was a flop, Sam Houston won't be scared away from hiring an offense-first coach who can rapidly maximize a fragile roster. The program's new hire will need to be more familiar with the area and have a firmer plan for talent development and retention in one of the tougher places to win in the Group of Six. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around best jobs available. Ranking the college football coaching openings point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.