While there have been plenty of negative storylines when it comes to teams underachieving, there is also a handful of teams that have really exceeded expectations and thrived early on. Coaching is one of the most important aspects of a team’s success at the college football level and as we approach the halfway mark of the season, we have already narrowed down the list of the top coaching performances in the game so far this season. Here is a look at the top four Coach of the Year candidates so far this college football season.
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Gary Patterson, TCU
TCU has plenty of talent but if it wasn’t for their head coach, they might not have come out on top in a couple of close games against pretty good Big 12 opponents early on. The Horned Frogs survived in a 55-52 shootout win over Texas Tech and then beat up on Texas the following week before another close call against Kansas State in which they rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to pull out the 52-45 win. That’s kept them undefeated at 6-0.
Patterson doesn’t get the credit he deserves but TCU has won 14 straight games dating back to last season, which is the second-longest winning streak in the nation. They’ve had to deal with a ton of defensive injuries but have leaned more on the offense as a result, registering a school-record of five straight games with 50 points or more. He definitely deserves to be on this list.
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Harbaugh was going to be talked about a lot regardless of how Michigan performed this season but after opening the year with a loss to Utah, the Wolverines have strung together five straight wins while climbing to No. 12 in the country. Michigan has dominated its opponents defensively with a ridiculous three straight shutout wins – including last week’s 38-0 blowout win over a Northwestern side that was No. 13 in the country at the time.
The schedule is about to get a lot tougher with Michigan State and Ohio State ahead but Harbaugh-mania will reach a whole new level if the Wolverines can somehow find a way to upset the Spartans or Buckeyes.
Jim McElwain, Florida
McElwain came under fire for getting in to the face of one of his players and really letting them have it but the Gators have been one of the pleasant surprises of the season overall.
They’re the lone undefeated team remaining in the SEC East at 6-0. Florida has recorded impressive wins over Ole Miss and Missouri, but the schedule is about to get a lot tougher in the SEC. It will be interesting to see how they perform. The Gators have the potential to be a serious playoff contender if they can continue to find ways to win games but they will have to survive a visit LSU this week while breaking in a new quarterback following the suspension of starter Will Grier. Beyond that, they still have games against Georgia and Florida State, so we will take a wait-and-see approach with McElwain.
Dabo Swinney, Clemson
He might not be talked about as much as the first two names on this list but Swinney’s tactics, attitude and the success that Clemson has had early on are the three biggest reasons why he is in this conversation right now. The Tigers survived close calls at Louisville and then at home against Notre Dame to stay undefeated, and given what’s in front of them, they could go undefeated. At least on paper, the schedule appears to get easier the rest of the way.
The one exception would be a home date with No. 11 Florida State in early November but they’ll be favored in that contest. Right now, Swinney’s football team is undefeated and that is not something that most college football experts would have predicted before the season.
