Better situation - Auburn, Florida, or Penn State?

Better situation for a new head coach?

  • Auburn

    Votes: 5 4.9%
  • Florida

    Votes: 37 35.9%
  • Penn State

    Votes: 61 59.2%

  • Total voters
    103

Dawgg

Heisman
Sep 9, 2012
10,535
10,793
113
With the coaching vacancies (or expected vacancies) at Auburn, Florida, and Penn State, which of the 3 is the best situation for an incoming head coach (fan support, NIL, storied history, expectations, highest ceiling)?
 

John Deaux VII

All-Conference
Jun 7, 2024
955
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Florida. 2nd to Alabama, they have to be the winningest program in the SEC since the 1992 expansion. Multiple national championships under different coaches.
 

vhdawg

All-Conference
Sep 29, 2004
4,429
1,905
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It's Penn State by a mile. Their fans are locked in, they basically have run of a whole state except for exclaves of Pitt and Temple, but the biggest thing is this....in the Big Ten, they have no protected rivalries, so it doesn't take much for them to get a fantastic schedule.

Next year they have Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, and Wisconsin at home, and Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, and Washington on the road. No Ohio State, no Oregon, no Indiana, no Illinois, no Iowa.

Sign. Me. Up.
 

HailStout

Heisman
Jan 4, 2020
5,300
14,940
113
It's Penn State by a mile. Their fans are locked in, they basically have run of a whole state except for exclaves of Pitt and Temple, but the biggest thing is this....in the Big Ten, they have no protected rivalries, so it doesn't take much for them to get a fantastic schedule.

Next year they have Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, and Wisconsin at home, and Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, and Washington on the road. No Ohio State, no Oregon, no Indiana, no Illinois, no Iowa.

Sign. Me. Up.
You aren’t wrong. Whoever coaches them next year would have to shiiite the bed to not make the playoffs
 

POTUS

Heisman
Sep 29, 2022
3,889
10,294
113
Florida: high risk of getting canned, high potential of winning big

Penn St: lower risk of getting canned, harder to win big because of recruiting footprint

Auburn: It all depends on how you do vs Bama, you do poorly and they can you, you do well and they make you governor
 
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Dawgg

Heisman
Sep 9, 2012
10,535
10,793
113
Florida. 2nd to Alabama, they have to be the winningest program in the SEC since the 1992 expansion. Multiple national championships under different coaches.
I was curious about this. I couldn’t find a conference breakdown since 1992, but I found one since 2003.

Taking Texas and Oklahoma out of the equation, since 2003, Florida is 4th in overall wins and conference wins behind Alabama, Georgia, and LSU. Auburn is 5th.

IMG_3136.jpegIMG_3137.jpeg
 
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CaptainFalcon

All-Conference
Apr 30, 2025
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It’s Penn State. They can own recruiting in the northeast (which has produced better players than given credit for) and also dip into Ohio and other parts of the Midwest.
 
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ClangaCrusader1

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May 29, 2025
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I voted Penn state , all 3 have tremendous fan support. All 3 have massive NIL funds , all 3 are pretty storied , Penn state wins with the expectations sector, they were ok with 9-3 , 10-2 for over 10 seasons with only 1 conference title and 1 playoff appearance in that time. That would get you fired at Florida , heck they gave Dan Mullen 4 seasons and he had 2 10 win seasons in his 1st 2 years with 2 NY6 bowl wins . 3rd year was a covid year where he won the sec east and lost to the best Nick Saban Alabama team in a all sec schedule and still made the sugar bowl. The next year they fire him in the middle of the season when he’s having a “ rebuilding “ year.

They are giving Napier the same amount of time as Mullen and he hasn’t done a quarter of what Mullen did. He hasn’t even come close to winning 10 games.

Auburn is a good job but with the addition of Oklahoma , Texas, Texas A&M to the sec starting in 2012, they have been moved down the sec job rankings.

Penn state will have a MUCH easier year to year schedule than Florida and Auburn and have less competion in the north east for recruits. They also can come down south to Texas , Florida , Georgia , South Carolina and get a few recruits occasionally that they need.

they also have the highest total team talent rankings of the 3

Florida and Auburn have to also defend their backyards from Alabama , Georgia , Florida state, Miami, Tennessee, LSU, etc.

Penn state will get the best recruits in Pennsylvania and the only real competition will be Ohio state and Michigan .
 

paindonthurt

All-Conference
Apr 7, 2025
3,795
2,750
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With the coaching vacancies (or expected vacancies) at Auburn, Florida, and Penn State, which of the 3 is the best situation for an incoming head coach (fan support, NIL, storied history, expectations, highest ceiling)?
I said penn state bc Florida is in a crappy spot.

yall can be butt hurt all you want about Stricklin but that athletic department is a mess.

is Stricklin on charge?
is spurrier?
Boosters?

Being the boss but not being the boss is never a good situation for anyone.
 

Xenomorph

All-American
Feb 15, 2007
15,341
9,031
113
Florida by far is the easiest to recruit. All three have money.
I’m not sure I agree. Auburn has decades of experience in doing anything and everything to land recruits. Meanwhile it’s felt like Florida has been too proud of their rise to academic prominence to really get dirty.

But… maybe that’s all a moot point now with NIL
 
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johnson86-1

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
14,301
4,814
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Auburn’s meddling alumni keep them from being a consistent contender IMO
I don't know. Why should Auburn be a consistent contender? I think Auburn's crazy alumni make them unstable but raise the ceiling of the program. I think out of the three Auburn is the least desirable and UF the most desirable, but I honestly don't know how to rank PSU. I think of them as a tier below OSU and Michigan (really two tiers below OSU because I view Michigan as below OSU), but I suspect the average person thinks of them as higher status than I do.
 
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dickiedawg

All-Conference
Feb 22, 2008
4,250
1,073
113
I’ll say Penn State and it’s not particularly close.
They’ve got a pre-built playoff caliber team. They obviously have plenty of money, and I think it’s going to be easier to consistently win big in the Big 10 than the SEC.
The Big 10 is very competitive at the top- arguably ahead of the SEC right now- but there are still only a small handful of programs capable of playing at that level. Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State. USC if they ever get their 💩together.
Compare that with the SEC- there are at least 9 teams who are going to expect to be playoff contenders in a given year. And that’s not counting Ole Miss or Missouri, who are in contention right now.
 
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CaptainFalcon

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Apr 30, 2025
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I realize Penn State just fired their coach but they have by far shown the most ability to compete in recent years out of these teams. They have six Top 15 finishes since 2016, five of them being Top 10 finishes.
 
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ClangaCrusader1

All-Conference
May 29, 2025
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I’ll say Penn State and it’s not particularly close.
They’ve got a pre-built playoff caliber team. They obviously have plenty of money, and I think it’s going to be easier to consistently win big in the Big 10 than the SEC.
The Big 10 is very competitive at the top- arguably ahead of the SEC right now- but there are still only a small handful of programs capable of playing at that level. Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State. USC if they ever get their 💩together.
Compare that with the SEC- there are at least 9 teams who are going to expect to be playoff contenders in a given year. And that’s not counting Ole Miss or Missouri, who are in contention right now.
Yep , sec expansion was a bad decision in my opinion. It’s going to lead to endless firings . You have 12-13 programs that are all in on football.
In the big 10 you maybe have 5 maybe 6 ?

rutgers , Maryland , Purdue, northwestern , aren’t real.

there’s a few programs there that are doing more than I’ve ever seen them like Indiana and Illinois.

At the end of the day they aren’t serious national title threats because their recruiting classes are worse than Tulane and UTSA.

there sec has 1 program below 27th in total talent rankings and that’s Vanderbilt.

meanwhile , the big 10 has 11 programs below 27th…… that’s insane .

the sec has 8 of the top 15 .
14 of the top 25 ………..
 
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GloryDawg

Heisman
Mar 3, 2005
19,360
16,369
113
If you are a good coach and recruiter, it doesn't matter. Go with the biggest paycheck. Other than that, I think Florida. They don't have the little brother complex that Auburn and Penn State have. Auburn is always trying to keep up with Bama with all the stupid choices they have made. Penn State since they joined the Big 10 has been doing the same with Michigan and Ohio State.
 
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dickiedawg

All-Conference
Feb 22, 2008
4,250
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Yep , sec expansion was a bad decision in my opinion. It’s going to lead to endless firings . You have 12-13 programs that are all in on football.
In the big 10 you maybe have 5 maybe 6 ?

rutgers , Maryland , Purdue, northwestern , aren’t real.

there’s a few programs there that are doing more than I’ve ever seen them like Indiana and Illinois.

At the end of the day they aren’t serious national title threats because their recruiting classes are worse than Tulane and UTSA.

there sec has 1 program below 27th in total talent rankings and that’s Vanderbilt.

meanwhile , the big 10 has 11 programs below 27th…… that’s insane .

the sec has 8 of the top 15 .
14 of the top 25 ………..
I don’t think it was a bad decision at all. If the SEC had let Texas and Oklahoma join the Big 10 along with the others, the Big 10 would be head and shoulders above the SEC in perception.
 

Maroon Eagle

All-American
May 24, 2006
17,982
7,796
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Yep , sec expansion was a bad decision in my opinion.

I don’t disagree with you but accepting Texas & Oklahoma’s offer to join was much better than saying no…

They would have gone to the Big 10 and the SEC would have become more irrelevant and that would be even worse than the current situation…
 
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Nov 16, 2005
27,484
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I’m not sure I agree. Auburn has decades of experience in doing anything and everything to land recruits. Meanwhile it’s felt like Florida has been too proud of their rise to academic prominence to really get dirty.

But… maybe that’s all a moot point now with NIL
I don’t disagree with that. I would have Auburn right behind them just because of what you’ve said.
 

Dawgg

Heisman
Sep 9, 2012
10,535
10,793
113
I realize Penn State just fired their coach but they have by far shown the most ability to compete in recent years out of these teams. They have six Top 15 finishes since 2016, five of them being Top 10 finishes.
It seems like a lifetime ago, but Penn State was a fallen defender and one flukey interception away from playing for the National Championship last year. They had a lead in the 4th quarter against Notre Dame in the semifinals last year and TWO defenders fell down on a play, allowing ND to tie it up. They had the ball in a tie game with about 40 seconds and 2 timeouts. Started off with a big run, then the QB got hit as he threw and ND picked it off around midfield. A couple plays later, ND was in FG range and put one through to win it.

Now, they’re getting beaten by 17ing Northwestern.
 
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ClangaCrusader1

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May 29, 2025
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I don’t disagree with you but accepting Texas & Oklahoma’s offer to join was much better than saying no…

They would have gone to the Big 10 and the SEC would have become more irrelevant and that would be even worse than the current situation…
Im just looking out for state and I don’t want to bring extra losses to our schedule more than likely.
 

dickiedawg

All-Conference
Feb 22, 2008
4,250
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I don’t disagree with you but accepting Texas & Oklahoma’s offer to join was much better than saying no…

They would have gone to the Big 10 and the SEC would have become more irrelevant and that would be even worse than the current situation…
I suppose one could argue that the SEC expansion is the domino that set in motion the Big 10 expansion that led to this chaos, but I don’t think standing pat was a real option.
 

Maroon Eagle

All-American
May 24, 2006
17,982
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I suppose one could argue that the SEC expansion is the domino that set in motion the Big 10 expansion that led to this chaos, but I don’t think standing pat was a real option.

Agreed…

Given the situation, the SEC’s best choice was to accept Texas & Oklahoma’s offer…
 
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Perd Hapley

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
5,803
6,856
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Florida by a damn mile.

Here’s a list of schools with 3+ natties in the past 30 years:

Alabama (6)
Ohio State (3)
LSU (3)
Florida (3)

Thats it. The whole list. Here’s another list of schools that didn’t make that cut: Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, Clemson, Texas, USC.

Auburn has 1 natty in the past 30 years, on the back of the most physically dominant player in college football history. Penn State has zero.

Florida is objectively a Top 5 job by just about any criteria imaginable. Penn State and Auburn aren’t anywhere close to that.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
56,705
26,040
113
Florida by a damn mile.

Here’s a list of schools with 3+ natties in the past 30 years:

Alabama (6)
Ohio State (3)
LSU (3)
Florida (3)

Thats it. The whole list. Here’s another list of schools that didn’t make the cut: Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, Clemson, Texas, USC.

Auburn has 1 natty in the past 30 years, on the back of the most physically dominant player in college football history. Penn State has zero.

Florida is objectively a Top 5 job by just about any criteria imaginable. Penn State and Auburn aren’t anywhere close to that.
And boom goes the dynamite. This debate is over.
 
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greenbean.sixpack

All-American
Oct 6, 2012
8,781
8,067
113
Florida by a damn mile.

Here’s a list of schools with 3+ natties in the past 30 years:

Alabama (6)
Ohio State (3)
LSU (3)
Florida (3)

Thats it. The whole list. Here’s another list of schools that didn’t make that cut: Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, Clemson, Texas, USC.

Auburn has 1 natty in the past 30 years, on the back of the most physically dominant player in college football history. Penn State has zero.

Florida is objectively a Top 5 job by just about any criteria imaginable. Penn State and Auburn aren’t anywhere close to that.
UF's last natty was what, 17 years ago? The entire landscape of CFB has changed since then. They dominated a weak eastern division and an up and down SEC (until Saban got Bama rolling). Today Penn State is in a better position than UF.

A young Saban could turn either into a program that collects nattys.
 

rdnkkicker

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
121
24
18
It's gotta be PSU, Florida appears to have issues far deeper than the head coach, and Auburn will always be second fiddle in their own state.
 

OG Goat Holder

Heisman
Sep 30, 2022
12,247
11,320
113
Rhule to Penn State, Kiffin to Florida, Auburn won't open up this year - they are about to go on a run the next 4 games, then have Alabama at home. 8-4 or 9-3, they aren't firing Brother Hew.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
56,705
26,040
113
UF's last natty was what, 17 years ago? The entire landscape of CFB has changed since then. They dominated a weak eastern division and an up and down SEC (until Saban got Bama rolling). Today Penn State is in a better position than UF.

A young Saban could turn either into a program that collects nattys.
Penn St’s last was 39 years ago, when they feasted on a weak independent schedule.
 

Perd Hapley

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
5,803
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UF's last natty was what, 17 years ago? The entire landscape of CFB has changed since then. They dominated a weak eastern division and an up and down SEC (until Saban got Bama rolling). Today Penn State is in a better position than UF.

A young Saban could turn either into a program that collects nattys.
When were Penn State and Auburn’s last NC’s?

Penn State is only in a better position currently due to the work of the guy that they just fired…for some reason. They were nowhere close to their current tier for 20+ years before Franklin showed up, and likely will have a hard time getting back there.

That’s not even to mention that they also have the biggest institutional black mark in all of American sports (college or pro) hanging over their heads. But the biggest issues are the geographic and demographic advantages of UF. No proven good coach that they have hired there has failed to win a NC there. Even just about all the average to bad ones except Napier (Mullen, Zook, Muschamp, McIllwain) were able to at least win the SEC East there.
 

Drebin

Heisman
Aug 22, 2012
21,490
25,034
113
With the coaching vacancies (or expected vacancies) at Auburn, Florida, and Penn State, which of the 3 is the best situation for an incoming head coach (fan support, NIL, storied history, expectations, highest ceiling)?
Auburn's job has to suck. Too many cooks in the kitchen and a massive inferiority complex because they're constantly comparing themselves to Alabama.

Penn State has historically been a good job. Easy to recruit there, great fan support, but always seem to come up short in the BIG GAME. They usually have a favorable schedule and I think that hurts them when they have to play a big boy.

Florida is the best of the three. I think they've had culture issues down there but there is no ceiling for that program.