Expectations For The New Head Coaches: 21 For 2021 College Football Topics, No. 16

21 for 2021 College Football Topics, No. 16: What are the reasonable expectations for the new college football head coaches this season?

2021 New College Football Head Coaches: You Get A Year, But … Win Now

Welcome to the family, coach. Now WIN RIGHT NOW OR ELSE. All four coaches are stepping into great situations and have to keep it all going.

Andy Avalos, Boise State

Top Lines of the Resumé: Oregon defensive coordinator for the last two seasons.
– Boise State assistant coach for eight years, defensive coordinator for the last three.

Realistic Expectations In Year One: Win the Mountain West championship. If you’re the Boise State head coach, that’s what you do.

Realistic Expectations Over Next Five Years: Win more Mountain West championships. Win at least three over the next five years with one appearance in a New Year’s Six game.


Charles Huff, Marshall

Top Lines of the Resumé: Assistant head coach and running backs coach at Alabama over the last two seasons.
– Assistant head coach at Mississippi State in 2018.

Realistic Expectations In Year One: At least come very, very close to winning the Conference USA championship. The team was right there last year but couldn’t finish it off.

Realistic Expectations Over Next Five Years: Win at least two Conference USA championships and get into a bowl game every season.


Gus Malzahn, UCF

Top Lines of the Resumé: Took Auburn to within a drive of winning the 2013 national title. Won the SEC West in 2017.
– Beat Alabama three times.

Realistic Expectations In Year One: At least get to the American Athletic Conference championship. Cincinnati might be the star of the conference, but UCF has to get there and take its cuts.

Realistic Expectations Over Next Five Years: Win at least two American Athletic Conference championships, make a big push one year to get into the College Football Playoff, and maybe make the program strong enough to get a serious look by a Power Five conference.


Steve Sarkisian, Texas

Top Lines of the Resumé: USC head coach for two seasons.
– Washington head coach for five seasons.

Realistic Expectations In Year One: Play for the Big 12 Championship and make Texas look like a program that could be a year away from getting into the College Football Playoff.

Realistic Expectations Over Next Five Years: At least two Big 12 Championships, at least three wins over Oklahoma, and at least one College Football Playoff appearance.

21 for 2021 College Football Topics 
21: 21 Thoughts, Wishes, Hopes
20: 5 Best Programs To Not Make CFP
19: 5 Teams That Will Rebound
18: 5 Teams That Will Take A Step Back
17: Every Power 5 Team’s Letdown Game

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Total rebuild with no instant expectations
Lowered expectations … but go bowling
Go bowling, and maybe do more