Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado BuffaloesDustin Bradford/Getty Images
As the 2024 college football season is winding down, the seasons attention turns to Rivalry Week, conference championship weekend, the College Football Playoff and bowl season.
But there is one other thing upcomingthe AP coach of the year award, handed out each season to the nations top head coach. This year like every season, there are several worthy guys on the list of potential winners. This year, the list includes names like Indianas Curt Cignetti, Colorados Deion Sanders, Vanderbilts Clark Lea, among several others.
While the choices are subjective, historical factors help determine the group. Team success is the awards key consideration, especially relative to a programs recent history.
Lets run through the biggest names that could take home the coach of the year award.
Non-Power Conference School Coaches to Know
Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon SumrallMark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jeff Monken, Army: The Black Knights had back-to-back 6-6 seasons before getting off to a 9-0 start this season. Army has a chance to enter the playoff conversation this weekend, with a game against No. 6 Notre Dame on the docket.
Even if Army doesnt beat the Fighting Irish on Saturday, its still a huge season for Monken. The Black Knights will also play for a first-ever AAC title, facing Tulane in the conference title game on Dec. 6.
Spencer Danielson, Boise State: The reason Army isnt a lock for the CFP this year? Because Boise State in the Mountain West is standing in its way. The Broncos are 9-1 and in first place in the MWC. What Danielson has done in just one season is quite impressive.
He was named Boise States interim head coach last season after the school fired Andy Avalos after three seasons. He led the Broncos to a 3-1 record over four games, and was named Boises permanent head coach following the end of the 2023 season. It also helps when you have a Heisman candidate on your rosters in running back Ashton Jeanty.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane: Jon Sumrall wasted no time replacing head coach Willie Fritz. In his first season as the Green Waves head coach, Sumrall has Tulane at 8-2, and is set to take on Army in the AAC title game.
But Tulanes season didnt get off to the smoothest start. The Green Wave dropped back-to-back out-of-conference losses to Oklahoma and Kansas State early in the season. But Tulane hasnt lost a game since.
Bob Chesney, James Madison: Chesney had the tough task of replacing Curt Cignetti at JMU this season, who youll hear about later on. But Chesney has the Dukes sitting at 8-2, with a chance to reach double-digit wins. JMU also has a chance to make it to the Sun Belt title game, if Georgia Southern, in front of JMU in the divisional standings, can stumble.
Power Conference Names to Know
Head Coach Kenny Dillingham of the Arizona State Sun DevilsBruce Yeung/Getty Images
Mike Elko, Texas A&M: The Aggies have never made an appearance in the SEC title game or playoff. In Mike Elkos first season in College Station, he has a chance to do both in 2024. The Aggies are tied with rival Texas, whom TAMU will face during Rivalry Week, atop the SEC standings. Even if the Aggies lose to Texas, theres still a chance for Texas A&M to get into the playoff. Regardless of how it shakes out, its been a great first season for Elko and company.
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State: The turnaround that Kenny Dillingham has had in his second season with the Sun Devils has been fun to watch. Following a 3-9 finish last season, Arizona State is 8-2, and tied for third in the Big 12 standings. Arizona State, led by 1,000-yard rusher Cam Skattebo, also has a chance at the Big 12 title game. If the Sun Devils upset BYU on Saturday, ASU can make it to the conference championship on Dec. 7.
Kalani Sitake, BYU: Speaking of turnarounds! Following a 5-7 finish last year, Sitake has led the Cougars to a 9-1 season so far, guiding BYU through its second season in the Big 12. Yes, BYU was upset last week by Kansas, but the Cougars still can make it to the Big 12 title game with wins over Arizona State and Houston to close out the season.
Rhett Lashlee, SMU: Lashlee has been a home-run hire for the Mustangs so far. In just his third season, he led SMU to a 9-1 start, and a real shot at both an ACC title and playoff berth. Most impressive, hes done it while his team has had to compete in the new, expanded ACC this year.
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
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You probably thought that with the legendary Nick Saban retiring meant that we no longer had to hear about the Crimson Tide making the playoff. Well head coach Kalen DeBoer seems to be picking up right where Saban left off, as the Tide are still very much alive in both the playoff and SEC title race.
But Alabamas 2024 season hasnt come without its fair share of ups and downs. For starters, there was the embarrassing upset suffered at the hands of Vanderbilt, followed up with an uninspiring 27-25 win over South Carolina and a loss to Tennessee.
But how things can change over the course of a season. Since then, Alabama has a 34-0 win over Missouri, a 42-13 dominating victory over LSU. Depending on what happens the rest of the regular season with Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri, the Tide even can make the SEC title game.
Sure, DeBoer inherited a ton of talent from the team Saban left behind, including Jalen Milroe, Ryan Williams and Malachi Moore, among others. But theres no doubt that an 8-2 start to a season replacing college footballs greatest coach of all time is one hell of a start.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
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Going 9-4 and 10-3 would be two great first seasons for any head coach. But for Marcus Freeman, anything less than a playoff berth in South Bend just isnt going to cut it. It seems like 2024 is finally the year that everything is coming together for the Fighting Irish.
But it didnt come without a scare. Earlier in the season, ND suffered an embarrassing home loss to Northern Illinois. In fact, it marked the second loss to a Group of Five school in two seasons. Notre Dame lost 26-21 to Marshall during Freemans 2022 season.
Since the loss to NIU, the Irish have rattled off eight straight wins, including signature wins over Louisville and Navy. If Notre Dame can close out the regular season with wins over Army and USC, itll guarantee a spot in the playoff. Itll mark NDs first playoff appearance since 2020.
The first step to doing so will be to best Army, which they play at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night. Notre Dame hasnt lost to Army since 1965, so the Irish are heavy favorites. The last time ND played an undefeated service academy, the Irish defense smothered Navy, winning 51-14 earlier in the season.
Mario Cristobal, Miami
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Its taken a little while for Mario Cristobal to build in Coral Gables, but it looks like he finally has the Canes in a great spot. After going a combined 12-13 over his first two seasons, Miami has finally found its stride in his Year Three of running the program.
Entering Week 13, the Canes are 9-1, and sitting tied for second in the ACC Championship game. If Miami wins its last two games against Wake Forest and Syracuse, the Canes will go to the ACC title game for the first time since 2017. If the Canes can win in Charlotte, itll mark a first-ever ACC title and CFP berth in program history.
The Canes have built a strong roster while heavily utilizing the transfer portal this offseason. Miami quarterback Cam Ward currently leads the nation in passing yards, with 3,494 along with 32 touchdowns and six interceptions. Transfer running back Damien Martinez from Oregon State has 676 yards and eight touchdowns so far. Miamis offense leads the nation in scoring, passing and total offense, too.
Sure, theres still a long way to go for this Miami team. But it sure feels like this time, the Canes national relevancy will hold up. So far, Cristobal has Miami on-track for its best finish since going 10-3 in 2017.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
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Vanderbilt hired Clark Lea with hopes that a Commodore alumnus could help steer the program in the right direction. Lea played fullback for Vandy from 2002-04.
Leas first few seasons in Nashville didnt go great, going a combined 9-27, and the head coach entered 2024 squarely on the hot seat. But during his year Four, it seems as though hes figured things out in 2024.
Through 13 weeks, Vanderbilt is 6-4, and bowl eligible for the first time since 2018. The Commodores also had by far the biggest win in program history with an upset win over then-No. 1 Alabama. The win marked Vandys first win over the Tide since 1984. Vanderbilt also hung tough with No. 5 Texas earlier this season, losing just 27-24.
Leas team has a chance to finish out the regular season with wins over LSU and Tennessee. If Vanderbilt can win a bowl game, itll be the first time since 2013, the last time the Commodores finished with a winning season.
Deion Sanders, Colorado
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You might be sick of hearing about Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. But the season Sanders has put together is massively impressive.
Following a 3-0 start to the 2023 season, the Buffaloes fell apart at the end of the season, limping to a 4-8 finish. But during the 2023 offseason, Sanders rebuilt both his offensive and defensive lines, overhauled his coaching staff, and was determined to start translating the off-field swagger to on-field success.
It looks like hes started to do just that. Despite losing to Nebraska earlier in the season and falling on the road to Kansas State last month, Colorado is peaking at just the right time. Not to mention he has two of the most electric players in the country in quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter. Hunter is a legitimate Heisman candidate, and Sanders already has serious top-five pick potential in the 2025 NFL draft.
Since the loss to the Wildcats, the Buffs have won four straight games to get to 8-2, and sit at second place in the Big 12. If Colorado wins its last two games against Kansas and Oklahoma State, itll play for a Big 12 title and playoff berth, presumably against BYU. What a rebound in just one season for Prime Time.
Curt Cignetti, Indiana
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Indiana is having a dream season under first-year Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti. Since his hiring in December 2023, Indiana is 10-0 for the first time in school history, and ranked fifth in the CFP. Last week, Indiana gave Cignetti a new contract that pays him $8 million annually.
The undefeated start is impressive, but its even more so when you consider just how bad Indiana has been historically. Dating back to 1994, Indiana had just three winning seasons over the last 30 years.
Cignetti has also had immediate success at Indiana thanks to him utilizing the transfer portal. He brought 13 players with him from James Madison, including running back Ty Son Lawson and leading tacklers Aiden Fisher and Jalin Walker. Starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke came from Ohio, and he landed leading rusher Justice Ellison from Wake Forest.
The Hoosiers have their biggest test of the 2024 season on Saturday, when Indiana travels to Columbus Ohio to take on the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. Even if Indiana falls to OSU, the Hoosiers still have a legitimate shot at making it into the playoff.
