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Bob Chesney’s revival of UCLA headlines a striking split among first-year college football coaches this season, while Matt Campbell’s tenure at Penn State stands out as one of the more worrying turnarounds. Midseason results show clear rapid successes, several steady rebuilds and a handful of programs that look deeply troubled.
Midseason check on first-year head coaches
We’re well into conference play, and the outcomes for new coaches could not be more varied. Some hires have produced immediate improvement; others are still searching for traction. Below is a selective update on coaches making the most noise one way or the other.
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Standouts
Bob Chesney (21), UCLA: 7–0 overall, 5–0 in conference. One season after a 3–9 finish, Chesney has overseen UCLA’s best start since 2005. Even a season-ending injury to the Bruins’ starting quarterback has not derailed the run so far.
Morgan Scalley (22), Utah: 7–0, 4–0 in the Big 12. Promoted from within after Kyle Whittingham’s departure, Scalley’s offense has clicked under coordinator Kevin McGiven. Retaining key playmakers such as quarterback Devon Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker has helped power Utah’s unbeaten start; upcoming games at Cincinnati, vs. BYU and at Arizona will be telling.
JaMarcus Shephard (23), Oregon State: 5–2, 3–0 in the Pac-12. After a 0–7 stretch at the same point last year, the Beavers have surged under Shephard. Freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree and quarterback Braden Atkinson have energized Oregon State’s attack, which ranks fourth nationally in scoring at 42.7 points per game. Legree’s decision to remain in Corvallis despite interest from Power 4 programs has been a major boost.
Will Stein (24), Kentucky: 7–1, 5–1 in the SEC. Stein’s return to Kentucky has produced the best eight-game start for a first-year coach there since 1909. The Wildcats’ turnaround has been a prominent storyline in the SEC.
Eating well
James Franklin (25), Virginia Tech: 6–2, 3–2 in the ACC. Franklin has quickly made the Hokies more competitive. A road win at Clemson was the program’s first over the Tigers since 2007 and the first in Death Valley since 2006. Close losses elsewhere have left Tech tantalizingly close to an even stronger record.
Pete Golding (26), Mississippi: 5–2, 3–2 in the SEC. Golding has kept Ole Miss operating at a high level, including a key win over LSU. A heavy loss at Florida and a near-comeback at Texas show a team capable of both highs and lapses.
Alex Golesh (27), Auburn: 4–3, 2–3 in the SEC. Auburn’s season has swung between inconsistency and a historic high—the Tigers’ upset of Georgia was one of college football’s biggest surprises this year.
Eric Morris (28), Oklahoma State: 5–2, 3–1 in the Big 12. After a rough opening upset, Morris has steadied the Cowboys. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker ranks among national passing leaders, and Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 in scoring at about 40 points per game.
Jon Sumrall (29), Florida: 5–2, 3–2 in the SEC. Florida’s season has included both lopsided losses and a signature road upset at Texas, placing the Gators back in broader playoff conversation discussions.
Appropriate portions
Scott Frost (30), Central Florida: 4–3, 2–2 in the Big 12. UCF’s profile shifted dramatically after a victory over No. 2 BYU—the program’s first win over a top-five opponent. The Knights have alternated expected results with flashes of high-level performance.
Tavita Pritchard (31), Stanford: 4–4, 2–3 in the ACC. The Cardinal have picked up encouraging home wins but have also suffered heavy defeats to stronger foes. Earning a first bowl bid in eight years would mark meaningful progress for the rebuild.
Jimmy Rogers (32), Iowa State: 3–4, 1–3 in the Big 12. Rogers inherited a severely depleted roster after major staff turnover. Losses have mostly come against high-performing opponents, and expectations for this season remain tempered.
Ryan Silverfield (33), Arkansas: 3–4, 1–3 in the SEC. The Razorbacks have matched modest preseason expectations but already have more SEC wins than they did last year. Competitiveness in losses suggests a few more wins may be possible down the stretch.
One plate only
Lane Kiffin (34), LSU: 5–2, 3–2 in the SEC. Kiffin’s team remains in contention, but narrow margins and a difficult November stretch loom large. Given program expectations and the staff payroll, anything short of a strong finish would be viewed as underachieving.
Collin Klein (35), Kansas State: 4–3, 2–3 in the Big 12. The Wildcats have faced setbacks, including a quarterback injury that blunted offensive momentum. Kansas State’s conference hopes are diminished for now.
Struggling starts
Not every new hire has gone to plan. A few programs that expected an immediate lift are instead underperforming.
Famine
Matt Campbell (36), Penn State: 3–4, 0–4 in the Big Ten. For a second consecutive season, Penn State is several games into the year without a Power 4 victory. Large-scale transfer additions from Iowa State have not produced the hoped-for turnaround, and the team has failed to capitalize on what was viewed as an easier conference schedule.
Pat Fitzgerald (37), Michigan State: 2–6, 0–5 in the Big Ten. The Spartans look headed for a fifth straight losing season, with injuries and roster limitations compounding the challenge. An upcoming open date may help, but results through eight games have been hard to watch.
Tosh Lupoi (38), California: 3–5, 2–3 in the ACC. After a promising offseason recruitment and efforts to keep quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, the Golden Bears have suffered lopsided defeats in recent weeks. Significant staff changes after the season appear likely.
Kyle Whittingham (39), Michigan: 4–3, 1–3 in the Big Ten. Michigan’s defense remains strong, but the offense has struggled, ranking near the bottom nationally in total offense and scoring. The decision to start anew in a different environment at this stage of a coaching career has produced more questions than answers so far.
