College Football Coaching Carousel: CBS Sports ranks open head coach jobs

We might be in late October but the coaching carousel is in full swing. Multiple power conference head coaches have already been fired, setting up for an entertaining offseason.

To be exact, seven jobs are currently open after Billy Napier got let go following a win over Mississippi State. CBS Sports decided to rank those on Monday from top to bottom, beginning in Gainesville.

From there, the rest of the rankings get interesting. With that being said, let’s check out the full list.

1. Florida Gators

One of two SEC jobs currently open, Florida takes the top overall spot on the list. The Gators are right in the middle of a recruiting hotbed while playing in an elite conference. CBS Sports appears to have some pause on the overall attraction but of the jobs open, it takes the cake.

CBS Sports: “On paper, Florida is close to an ideal job… This job is less turnkey than many may assume, but the championship ceiling is still (probably) there.”

2. Penn State Nittany Lions

While there was plenty of frustration with James Franklin, making the move possibly came as a surprise. After over a decade, Penn State is now going through a coaching search. Plenty of big-time names are already linked to this one.

CBS Sports: “For the right candidate, Penn State could be the best job on the market, if not one of the best in all of college football.”

3. Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas always brings a ton of intrigue, no matter where the program stands. Moving off of Sam Pittman did not come as much of a surprise, though, needing a fresh breath of air.

CBS Sports: “The next Arkansas coach will have to establish an identity for this program, but the fan support is rabid.”

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Fully embracing the modern times of college football is likely top priority in Stillwater. CBS Sports points out how Mike Gundy is an Oklahoma State legend and then some. However, utilizing NIL and the NCAA transfer portal is a must to compete today.

CBS Sports: “Gundy was a legend, but there’s plenty of reasons to also believe that a new coach could have better success in utilizing the transfer portal and player compensation than Gundy ever did.”

5. Virginia Tech Hokies

Level of investment, from a monetary standpoint, is the biggest key with Virginia Tech at the moment. Consistently underfunded, the goal is to finally pump some resources into the program. Coming up with a plan might be able to attract a good hire.

CBS Sports: “If the money can come around, the Hokies can get back into the ACC conversation. If not, this isn’t a great job. Which will it be?”

6. UCLA Bruins

The upside of the UCLA job is not high, according to CBS Sports. Still, location and conference affiliation still matter for coaches out there. Of the seven power conference spots currently open, the Bruins slot in at No. 6

CBS Sports: “UCLA may be a Big Ten program, but the Bruins are a true bottom-feeder as currently constructed… This job is an uphill battle, but certainly one with intrigue.”

7. Stanford Cardinal

Seven games into his college career, Frank Reich owns three wins. Three more and Stanford is back in a bowl game for the first time since 2018. But looking big picture, there are still a ton of questions surrounding the program in CBS Sports’ eyes.

CBS Sports: “Getting Andrew Luck involved in the program is good news — he will try to scrape together any advantage he can find. But how many advantages can there really be, especially as Stanford plays nearly all of its conference games across the country?”