ESPN Greg McElroy Ranks Top 12 Open College Football Jobs Nationwide

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy ranked the remaining open FBS head-coaching jobs on his YouTube show, placing SEC powers LSU and Florida at the top with Penn State as the best Big Ten option and listing other openings such as Virginia Tech, Arkansas, UCLA, Oklahoma State and Stanford further down the board. He cited recent volatility at Florida and LSU’s recent national success as key differentiators and noted that several schools will be chasing the same top candidates like Lane Kiffin. In a separate segment McElroy identified hot-seat candidates, naming Auburn’s Hugh Freeze—4-4 overall and 6-15 in the SEC—as vulnerable but someone he would likely keep for another year if Freeze can secure wins over Vanderbilt and/or Alabama, while also pointing out the large buyouts programs are paying (e.g., LSU and Penn State). In the NFL, reporting credits Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with a major role in New England’s 6-2 start and Drake Maye’s breakout by calling creative, effective plays, including a decisive seven-play, 77-yard touchdown drive versus Cleveland. Commentators argue McDaniels’ impact underscores that his best role may be as an offensive coordinator rather than a head coach after two unsuccessful head-coaching stints in Denver and Las Vegas, and that his third stint in New England is proving highly productive for both him and Maye.