College Football Playoff expansion in 2024 means entry into the national championship conversation next season just became more favorable for programs equipped with elite rosters and stellar coaches. For the second straight campaign, are we in position to see another first-time national title winner in the profession this fall?
After Nick Saban left Alabama in January, the sport was left with only three active coaches with a national championship under their belts — Georgia’s Kirby Smart, UNC’s Mack Brown (at Texas) and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney. That’s it. The transfer portal and NIL era has given way to a fresh crop of leaders capable of getting there and a few of them are leading blueblood programs in 2024.
What does it take to be the last coach standing in college football’s new era? In short, talent, schedule favorability and an impactful staff of assistants are three facts that all recent champions have seemed to have.
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Here are 12 college football coaches who could be in the mix to win their first national championship this season: