Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, July 22, 2015
Who is the best coach in college football today?
It's the million dollar question, one that doesn't necessarily have one correct answer. But while numerous college football minds argue their points, I'm going to settle this the old-fashioned way and let the numbers do the talking.
I considered a list of the guys who many believe to be the top coaches in college football and calculated numbers based on five important categories (1. winning percentage; 2. first-place finishes; 3. bowl record; 4. 10-plus win seasons; 5. national championships). I based those categories over the past FIVE seasons (2010-14), for the purpose of trying to find the best coach "today." To get to five seasons for Urban Meyer, we included the 2009 season due to him sitting out 2011.
Here's a look, in alphabetical order, at the coaches' resumes over the last FIVE seasons, and where each ranks among the eight coaches considered.
Art Briles, Baylor
Winning percentage: 47-18 (72 percent) – Ranks 8th
First-place conference/division finishes: 2 (2013, 2014) – Tied for 5th
Bowl record: 2-3 – Ranks 8th
10+ win seasons: 3 (2011, 2013, 2014) – Tied for 5th
National championships: 0
***
Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
Winning percentage: 53-14 (79 percent) – Ranks 3rd
First-place conference/division finishes: 3 – Tied for 2nd
Bowl record: 4-1 – Tied for 1st
10+ win seasons: 4 – Tied for 2nd
National championships: 0
***
Urban Meyer, Ohio State
Winning percentage: 59-8 (88 percent) – Ranks 1st
First-place conference/division finishes: 4 (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014) – Ranks 1st
Bowl record: 4-1 – Tied for 1st
10+ win seasons: 4 (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014) – Tied for 2nd
National championships: 1st – 2nd
***
Gary Patterson, TCU
Winning percentage: 47-17 (73 percent) – Ranks 7th
First-place conference/division finishes: 3 – Tied for 2nd
Bowl record: 3-2 – Tied for 5th
10+ win seasons: 3 – Tied for 5th
National championships: 0
***
Chris Peterson, Washington
Winning percentage: 51-14 (78 percent) – Ranks 4th
First-place conference/division finishes: 2 (2010, 2012): – Tied for 5th
Bowl record: 4-1 – Tied for 1st
10+ win seasons: 3 (2010, 2011, 2012) – Tied for 5th
National championships: 0
***
Nick Saban, Alabama
Winning percentage: 58-9 (87 percent) – Ranks 2nd
First-place conference/division finishes: 3 (2012, 2013, 2014) – Tied for 2nd
Bowl record: 3-2 – Tied for 5th
10+ win seasons: 5 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) – Ranks 1st
National championships: 2 – Ranks 1st
***
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
Winning percentage: 49-17 (74 percent) – Ranks 6th
First-place conference/division finishes: 1 (2010) – Ranks 8th
Bowl record: 4-1 – Tied for first
10+ win seasons: 3 (2011, 2012, 2013) – Tied for 5th
National championships: 0
***
Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
Winning percentage: 51-15 (77 percent) – Ranks 5th
First-place conference/division finishes: 2 (2010, 2012) – Tied for 5th
Bowl record: 3-2 – Tied for 5th
10+ win seasons: 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) – Tied for 2nd
National championships: 0
***
Summary: If you're going by these numbers, it's hard to argue against Meyer. He has more wins (59), bowl victories (4) and first-place conference/division finishes (4) than any other coach on this list over the past five seasons.
His 10+ win seasons (4) and national championships (1) are second only to Saban, but keep in mind that Meyer is 13 years younger than Saban. While Meyer finished in the top 2 in all five categories on this list, Saban tied for fifth with a 3-2 bowl record over the past five seasons.
If Ohio State doesn't win a national championship this past season, I'm not sure we're having this debate. But the Buckeyes took down Saban's Alabama team in the Sugar Bowl, which was part of what can be argued as the greatest three-game span in college football history. Meyer's Buckeyes outscored Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon by a combined score of 143-55 en route to winning the first College Football Playoff National Championship. Yes, much of that can be attributed to OSU's 59-0 walloping of Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, but keep in mind that Wisconsin was 10-2 going into that game and featured the nation's best rusher in Melvin Gordon, as well as the No. 2-ranked defense in the Big Ten. That was also Cardale Jones' first career start, and yet, as good as the Buckeyes were with Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett calling the shots, they were even better with Jones, the former third string QB, under center. That's a credit to great coaching.
The numbers don't lie; Urban Meyer is the best coach in college football today, and he returns a loaded roster that should compete for another national title this upcoming season.
Enjoy it, Ohio State fans.
