On3 Power Five conference coordinators of the week for Week 8
Each week, On3 selects coordinators of the week from each Power Five conference.
Our choices for Week 8:
ACC — Des Kitchings, Virginia OC
Kitchings’ offense was key in Virginia beating No. 10 North Carolina, 31-27, and securing the Cavaliers’ first-ever road win over a top-10 opponent. After North Carolina took a 10-point lead during the third quarter, Virginia scored 10 straight points to tie the game and then took the lead with 8:51 remaining in the fourth quarter on a touchdown that capped a seven-play, 73-yard drive.
Big Ten — Jim Knowles, Ohio State DC
Knowles’ defense led the way for Ohio State during the Buckeyes’ 20-12 win over No. 7 Penn State. If not for a late Nittany Lions touchdown, Ohio State would have been the first defense since 2014 to hold Penn State without a single touchdown. Before the late touchdown drive, the Buckeyes held the Nittany Lions to an average of 2.98 yards per play and 0 of 16 on third and fourth downs.
Big 12 — Kasey Dunn, Oklahoma State OC
Behind Dunn, Oklahoma State scored four fourth-quarter touchdowns against West Virginia in pulling out a 48-34 win. The Cowboys had trailed 24-20 entering the quarter. Oklahoma State finished with 491 yards of total offense, which included 282 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns from its emerging star at running back, Ollie Gordon.
Pac-12 — Brian Ward, Arizona State DC
Despite Arizona State losing to No. 5 Washington, Ward’s defense held Michael Penix and the high-powered Huskies offense without a single offensive touchdown during that 15-7 Washington win. The only touchdown for the Huskies, who trailed midway through the fourth quarter, came on a pick-six that gave Washington the lead with 8:11 remaining. The Huskies finished with just 288 yards, were only 3 of 11 on third downs and had four turnovers.
SEC — Matt Brock, Mississippi State DC
Mississippi State beat Arkansas despite only getting seven points from its offense. During the 7-3 win, the Bulldogs limited the Razorbacks to 200 yards, posted two takeaways and had three fourth-down stops.
SEC — Blake Baker, Missouri DC
Missouri held South Carolina to a season-low point total in a 34-12 victory over the Gamecocks. The Tigers tallied six sacks and prevented South Carolina from scoring any touchdowns.
