Pat Forde: Stock watch on USC coaching search

Sports Ilustrated’s Pat Forde offered an update on how an eventful week three in college football changed the standing of the presumed list of candidates for the USC head coaching vacancy.

Penn State head coach James Franklin’s stock rose the most with the Nittany Lions’ primetime win over Auburn in a battle of ranked opponents last week.

Forde mentioned Urban Meyer as a candidate who’s stock has risen, not for on-field performance, as the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach is 0-2 early in his first season as head coach in the NFL. Meyer’s early-season struggles leaves the door open that the former Florida and Ohio State head coach could return to the college ranks.

Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell, Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell’s have seen their stock for the USC head coaching vacancy rise as all three head coaches have led their respective teams to wins entering Week 4. Fleck led Minnesota to a dominant win over a Pac-12 opponent in Colorado is especially notable. Fickell led Cincinnati to a double-digit win over Indiana, despite the Bearcats trailing by two touchdowns at one point in the first half.

Forde also mentioned USC interim head coach Donte Williams as a candidate who’s stock has risen, after Williams led USC to a come from behind 45-14 win over Washington State in his first game as interim head coach. Forde did add that the “idea of USC replacing a guy who got his start as an unproven interim coach (Clay Helton) with an unproven interim coach” is unlikely.

Former Washington head coach Chris Petersen and Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal’s stock has not changed as Petersen cannot do anything to change his standing for the job save declaring his interest in returning to coaching. Cristobal has Oregon on the path to a second-straight Pac-12 championship and potentially the College Football Playoff, as the Ducks sit 3-0 on the season with a statement win over Ohio State on the road.

According to Forde, only one candidate’s stock has gone down: Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott. Clemson’s offense has struggled in a post-Trevor Lawrence world. The Tigers have scored a total of 17 points in two games against FBS competition this season.

USC fired Clay Helton after a week two loss to Stanford at home. Helton went 46-24 in just over six seasons at USC. Since 2018, the Trojans went 19-15 under Helton and have not won the Pac-12 since 2017.