We ranked all the SEC head coaches, from Georgia football’s Kirby Smart, to Arkansas’ Sam Pittman, to Florida’s Dan Mullen.
The SEC is loaded with head coaching talent as we head into the 2020 college football season.
You have your usuals – Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Gus Malzahn, Ed Orgeron, etc.
But then you have your familiar, or in some cases not-so-familiar, yet new faces: Lane Kiffin, Mike Leach, Sam Pittman, Eli Drinkwitz.
Ranking the SEC head coaches heading into the 2020 season is as hard as it’s ever been, and that’s because of all these new hirings. But it’s also because Jeremy Pruitt waited until October to start winning games in Tennessee last year. It’s because Ed Orgeron took a loaded roster and won a national title. Because Gus Malzahn and Auburn always have the talent but can’t seem to win the big ones. Or because, despite a 4-8 season, Will Muschamp was able to knock off Kirby Smart and Georgia.
With all of this taken into consideration, here’s our SEC head coaching power rankings for the 2020 college football season:
14. Sam Pittman, Arkansas
I would have loved to get Pittman into a higher spot on this list, but what is there to go off of? His last head coaching job came in 1992 and 1993 when he led Hutchinson Community College to an 11–9–1 record over two seasons.
I am 100% rooting for Pittman to succeed in his first season as head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. It won’t be easy, and this is a team that will likely finish with at least five losses for the first few years, but that’s not necessarily a terrible thing as long as they play hard.
Arkansas may not field the most talented teams in the SEC, but if there’s one thing I’m certain of it’s that the former UGA O-Line coach will make sure his guys fight harder than anybody.
13. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Drinkwitz gets the No. 13 spot because of what he was able to do at App State last year. In his first season as a head coach, he led the Mountaineers to a 12-1 record and a Sun Belt championship.
But that’s not the SEC. It’s going to be a rocky road ahead for Drinkwitz, as Mizzou will definitely not be one of the more talented teams in the league for a few years.
12. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt
I often find myself rooting for Vanderbilt and Mason.
He took over at Vandy when James Franklin left for Penn State, and though it’s been tough at times, you get the feeling that Commodore fans actually look forward to their seasons.
11. Will Muschamp, South Carolina
If Muschamp had not beaten Georgia last year, he maybe would not even be on this list at all.
But he won and that probably saved his job. He coaches up a good defense, but South Carolina will need to crank up its recruiting efforts if it wants to start contending in the SEC East. Another season with no bowl game may put an end to Muschamp’s head coaching career with the Gamecocks.
10. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Kiffin is a good football coach, there’s no denying that. No. 10 is pretty low for an offensive genius like him. But this conference is simply loaded.
Kiffin did a great job at Florida Atlantic, but I still need to see him win consistently at a Power 5 school.
“I thought it was a perfect spot for him system-wise”
Second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham from Auburn could very possibly be the New England Patriots next starting quarterback.
He sat under Tom Brady for one season and started off with one of the best rookie preseason outings in the past two decades under Bill Belichick. The Patriots had the opportunity to find a reliable starter in free agency or select a top-rated prospect from the NFL Draft — they passed on both. Stidham and Brian Hoyer will compete for the starting role and Hoyer’s history as a backup will likely keep him there.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn had Stidham for two seasons and spoke with ESPN.com about his future with the Patriots.
“It definitely helped him to learn under the best and see what that looks like, but he’s the kind of young man, too, this is what he’s been waiting on. I’ll tell you, the moment won’t be too big for him. He’ll be up to the challenge, that’s what I expect,” Malzahn said.
“Even when he got here, before he played his first game, you could just kind of tell he was a mature young man. Like a gym rat, always at the complex trying to learn, study film. When he got drafted by the Patriots [in 2019], I thought it was a perfect spot for him system-wise — spreading the field. He’s so good with protections, changing protections, and scheme-wise everything that goes with it, and just the flexibility the scheme gives him. I think that really applies to his strength.”
“He’s a people person, too. He has the ability, right off the bat, to develop relationships. People rally around him,” Malzahn said. “When he first got here, he had spent one-on-one with the coaches, one-on-one time with the players. He just has that ability that people want to follow him.”
New England needs a leader to step up and embrace the role they’re getting into — because the shoes to fill are enormous. Stidham has earned rave reviews from former teammates, coaches, scouts — and Belichick seems to share that same belief.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn praised Tua Tagovailoa during an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio .
Although the rivalry runs deep in the state of Alabama between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn praised Tua Tagovailoa during an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio .
“If you watch enough film on him…the more film you watch on him, the more you’re impressed with him. He’s unbelievably accurate. He can really extend pays. He protects the football. He throws a great deep ball. He’s scary. When you try to game plan around that guy, it’s really scary because he’s so…he gets the ball out quick, he doesn’t take sacks and I’ve always been a big fan of him and I think he’s going to be a good pro too.”
Coming from Malzahn, that has to mean alot.
After enduring a devastating season ending injury against Mississippi State last season, Tagovailoa went from being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft to becoming the most questioned player in the draft.
Many teams seemed concerned with his healing process and recovery and wonder if he’s truly 100% and ready to go, and some other teams have questioned if he’s injury prone. Some mock drafts even had him slipping outside of the top 10.
But majority of the NFL Mock Draft have Tagovailoa going in the top 5, specifically to Miami.
“I think staying focused and, you know, controlling the things you can control. You can’t control what everybody is saying, you can’t control what everybody thinks. But, you can control your rehab. You can control the things that the medical staff is telling you to do day in and day out. And, you know, be smart, be upfront you. The last advice that I gave him was, you know, you’re not going to be able to do a medical recheck, so make sure you get rechecked and send it to all of the teams so at least they’re getting that information from somebody that they have faith, trust and confidence in. I think he’s done a good job of managing this and a good job in handling this. He’s worked really hard on his rehab and I do think he’s in a position where he’s ready to start playing football again.”
Although there seems to be a lot of questions regarding Tagovailoa, it’s safe to say, he’s a very respected and admired quarterback in the state of Alabama.
For the season, Tagovailoa threw for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
In his career at Alabama, Tagovailoa racked up 7,442 yards passing, 87 TDs and 11 INTs.
The NFL draft will take place from April 23-25.
Roll Tide Wire will keep you up to date on the very latest.
ESPN’s Booger McFarland talks which SEC coaches are in elite status. Did Georgia football HC Kirby Smart make the cut?
While on the Paul Finebaum show, ESPN analyst Booger McFarland was asked about the job that Dan Mullen is doing at Florida.
In response, he said that Mullen deserves to be considered as one of the league’s elite coaches and then went on to name other SEC coaches who he’d put in that top-tier.
McFarland included Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Ed Orgeron and Mullen as the coaches who are at the top of the conference at the moment.
“I think if I had to rank the top four right now,” McFarland said, “I would go Saban, and in some order, you can sway me in this order — it would be Saban, it would be Kirby, it would be Ed and it will be Dan Mullen, and I think there’s a line of delineation right there and then there’s a second-tier.”
Sorry Gus Malzahn and Auburn, Booger does not think you’ve done enough to be included in that top-tier of coaches. Three 8-5 seasons, one 7-6 year and one at 9-4 just will not cut it.
Also left off the list is former national championship winning coach Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M) and Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, who has recently turned the Wildcats program into a headache for some of the league’s top contenders.
Georgia football expert picks and predictions for UGA vs Auburn. Stats, score, betting predictions.
The Georgia Bulldogs have a chance to go the their 3rd straight SEC Championship game with a win over Auburn this Saturday.
They have already proven that they control their own destiny, winning three straight SEC East games following an overtime loss to South Carolina.
Many counted Georgia out, saying its season was over with that loss, but the Dawgs kept barking and scrapped their way back into the top 4 and in perfect position to make a trip to the SEC Championship, likely against LSU.
But first, Georgia’s focus is on Auburn. A win, and the Dawgs not only secure a trip back to Atlanta, but can start thinking College Football Playoff – though Kirby Smart would never admit that.
This Saturday in Auburn is going to be a bloodbath, as these are two of the most physically dominant teams in college football.
UGA Wire compiled a list of staff predictions, including the game score, spread, over/under, stat lines and more to get you ready for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.
Here are the picks:
The money makers:
#4 Georgia (-2.5) @ #12 Auburn: Against The Spread
(Game pick: If you think Georgia will win and cover, Georgia. If you think Georgia will win, but not cover, Georgia*. If you think Auburn will win and cover, Auburn. If you think Auburn will win, but not cover, Auburn*)
UGA football is banged up heading into the Georgia vs Auburn football game.
The No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs are coming off of a 27-0 smackdown of Missouri, as well as a massive win over Florida the week prior. The Dawgs have been rolling with a three game win streak since the hiccup of South Carolina.
Approaching week 12 comes Georgia’s biggest game thus far, a chance to secure its 3rd straight trip to the SEC Championship.
Auburn is currently ranked No. 12 with a record of 7-2, 4-2 in SEC. Its two loss season is not to be overlooked as the Tigers lost close games at No. 10 Florida and No. 1 LSU.
Last weekend vs Missouri, Georgia won, but it came at cost. The Dawgs lost a few players to injuries throughout the game, but for the most part nothing looks too serious.
Here’s a look at the Dawgs injury report prior to the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.
Full injury report:
Probable: WR Lawrence Cager
Cager aggravated his shoulder last game and did not return. The Dawgs leading receiver has been practicing this week and is expected to play on Saturday. Having Cager against Auburn will be crucial, as he has become Fromm’s favorite target this season.
Probable: WR Tyler Simmons
Simmons’ shoulder has been bothering for a majority of the season but he should be good to go.
Probable: OL Cade Mays
Mays left the Missouri game with a hurt ankle but has indicated that he is fine.
Probable: CB Tyson Campbell
Campbell missed a significant chunk of the season with turf toe but played vs Missouri and said he felt great out there.
Coaching search discussions, contract negotiations, job opportunities for Gus Malzahn, Bill Clark and Rush Propst.
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Arkansas is in the process of hiring a new head coach. The Razorbacks are a 2020 opponent for Tennessee. The Vols will travel to Arkansas on Oct. 31, 2020.
KNOXVILLE — Arkansas fired head coach Chad Morris one day following the Razorbacks’ 45-19 loss to Western Kentucky in Week 11 of the 2019 season.
Morris finished his Arkansas tenure with a 4-18 record in two seasons.
Now a coaching search is taking place and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn is at the forefront of Arkansas’ vacancy. Malzahn served as the Razorbacks’ offensive coordinator in 2006 and has a long history in the high school ranks throughout the state.
Gus Malzahn’s coaching career in Arkansas
Hughes High School (1991, DC)
Hughes High School (1992–1995, HC)
Shiloh Christian High School (1996–2000, HC)
Springdale High School (2001–2005, HC)
Arkansas (2006, OC/WR)
Arkansas State (2012, HC)
Gus Malzahn’s playing career in Arkansas
Arkansas (1984–1985)
Henderson State (1987–1989)
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
Former quarterback Mitch Mustain and tight end Ben Cleveland played for Malzahn at Springdale High School and Arkansas. Both discussed their former coach on Fox Sports Knoxville’s radio show ‘Tennessee Two-A-Days’, providing their thoughts if Malzahn would leave Auburn and return to Arkansas as the Razorbacks’ next head coach.
“Obviously that is going to be the state’s number one choice is trying to get coach Malzahn back home,” Cleveland said. “At the end of the day, he gets to dictate what he wants to do. He has done a phenomenal job at Auburn, but I know everyone in the state, or even with the Arkansas program, would love to have coach Malzahn back.”
Cleveland also mentioned that the timing for Malzahn to return to Arkansas is more realistic now compared to two years ago when the Razorbacks courted the Auburn head coach.
“Circumstances need to be lined up for him to take it,” Cleveland said of Malzahn. “Do I think circumstances are more lined up now than they were two years ago, before we offered him that crazy amount, yes.”
Mustain also discussed Arkansas’ head coaching vacancy now compared to two years ago.
“It seems like we have that talk every couple of years when Arkansas decides to flip something over,” Mustain said. “One-hundred percent last time it was not a good move for him at the time. I’m not so sure this time, some things have changed.
“Having a close relationship with Gus, at least a close working relationship in the past, I would be hard-pressed to tell him to jump for it and go. Auburn, obviously he has his issues at Auburn, and there’s a lot of question as to how long he could hang onto that if he doesn’t make some serious changes. We have seen him make some changes in play-calling, taking back some of that role, and we saw a lot of improvement I think with it, and that was a criticism I even had where he was handing that off.”
‘Tennessee Two-A-Days’ co-host and former Hoover and Colquitt County High School head coach Rush Propst discussed on the show how someone “can stay at a place too long.”
“Because we’re competitors, we’re fighters, we are going to fight you tooth and nail on everything,” Propst said. “When you tell us we should go, or when you feel that maybe you are not as popular as you were two years ago, you dig into even more so to show people that you can still run this ship.
“Eventually it comes a point in time that you have to look at retirement and where do you want to end up as a human being – not as a coach but as a human being. You get to retire doing what you love, coaching football, in your home state.”
If Malzahn does leave for Arkansas, then a head coach opening would need to be filled at Auburn.
Cleveland calls UAB head coach Bill Clark “a hot name” throughout college football for any vacancy.
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
Propst has a longtime relationship with Clark. The former Hoover and Colquitt County head coach has been doing consultant work this season with various schools including UAB.
The seven-time high school state champion and 2015 national championship head coach has fielded college coaching discussions recently, while breaking down the game with the likes of Troy Calhoun, Trent Dilfer, Tony Franklin, Hugh Freeze, Todd Graham, Tyson Helton, Mike Leach, Hal Mumme, Jake Spavital and George Quarles.
With Clark being a candidate for head coaching vacancies at Florida State and Arkansas currently, he is also in-line for contract negotiations with UAB following three consecutive seasons of reaching a bowl game and winning the 2018 Conference-USA championship in as many years following the program’s reinstatement.
“They’re probably going to renegotiate his contract closer to $2 million,” Propst said of Clark.
Propst continued to discuss Clark’s historic achievements following UAB’s shutdown during the 2015 and 2016 seasons and him being considered for multiple Power 5 jobs.
“Nobody has done anything in the history of college football to what he did at UAB – even remotely close,” Propst said. “If Gus decided not to come (to Arkansas), he (Clark) would be a great choice because he has been able to take a program that was given the death penalty – the real death penalty – where football was taken completely away for two years. He goes back and not only brings it back to a good level, he wins the conference. He knows how to recruit. Like Gus, he is a high school coach at heart. He knows what high school coaches want to hear.”
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
The entire discussion of Malzahn and Clark being part of head coaching searches on ‘Tennessee Two-A-Days’ with Propst, Mustain and Cleveland can be listened to below that include the Blazers’ coach to also receive a hard look from Mississippi State if the Bulldogs’ job were to open.
