There is no shortage of good college football coaching jobs that will be available at the end of the season. Each presents its own set of challenges and rewards. With that in mind, I've ranked each job by attractiveness.
1. USC
The Buzz: It's a no-brainer to rank USC as the top job among this group. The Trojans have the tradition -- thanks to the 11 national championships and seven Heisman Trophy winners -- not to mention the location to be an attractive destination for just about any coach or player. The young talent on the roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball, only adds to the appeal.
2. Minnesota
The Buzz: Most of the Big Ten openings here will have "some assembly required" when it comes to turning the programs into consistent winners. That's not the case here with Minnesota. Everywhere Jerry Kill coached, he left the program in a better place. The same goes is true at Minnesota, where his fundraising efforts have been unmatched and a new athletic administration will make this a prime job to land.
3. Virginia Tech
The Buzz: Frank Beamer's decision to retire means the school will be looking for a new head coach for the first time in almost three decades. Don't underestimate the impact of that kind of stability on a program. Expect to hear longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster mentioned as a possible replacement. Whoever gets the job will inherit a program that's won more than 70 percent of its games since 1990, but the Hokies have fallen out of the national spotlight recently.
4. South Carolina
The Buzz: Much like with George O'Leary at UCF, Steve Spurrier leaves the South Carolina program in a lot better shape than when he first got there. The Gamecocks are only five short years removed from playing for the SEC Championship and have been a factor up until 2014. There is talent in the state and an influx of new revenue from SEC Network makes this a win-win situation.
5. Miami
The Buzz: This was a prime job back in the early 2000s, but since then the program has quickly been relegated to a second-tier opportunity. Facilities have been upgraded, but the school still lacks an on-campus stadium. Nonetheless, South Florida is one of the most talent-rich areas in the country. A solid recruiter is a must and so is a thick skin since Hurricanes fans and alumni accustomed to competing for national titles are quick with criticism.
6. UCF
The Buzz: Say what you will about O'Leary, he left the program in a lot better shape than when he arrived. Brand name recognition nationally is at an all-time high thanks to a 2013 Fiesta Bowl win and prominent prime-time games on ESPN. The facilities are good and Central Florida has plenty of talented high school talent to recruit within a 45-mile radius of campus.
7. Maryland
The Buzz: Maryland is a school in transition and that extends beyond the head coaching job. The university recently made the jump from the ACC to the Big Ten with hopes of expanding its brand and capitalizing on the influx of revenue. The football facilities are being upgraded, but whoever takes this job will have to win in a division that features Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State and Michigan.
8. Illinois
The Buzz: The messy divorce between Illinois and Tim Beckman a week before the start of the season continued the struggles of a program that has had only four winning seasons since 2000. Illinois ranks among the bottom schools in the Big Ten in terms of athletic budgets. However, it competes in the wide-open Big Ten West Division, which means success is not out of the question for a young coach.
9. Hawaii
The Buzz: Aloha truly does mean hello … and goodbye. Norm Chow's firing leaves the school looking for its 23rd head football coach. For a school located in sunny Hawaii, you would think this would be a dream job, but budgetary issues coupled with the expenses associated with travel makes this a difficult job for anyone.
10. North Texas
The Buzz: North Texas has struggled to get any traction landing recruits and standing out in the state of Texas. Clearly, competing against nearby schools Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, Houston, SMU and Rice is rough. Recording just four winning seasons since 2000 doesn't help. That said, it seems the perfect place for a young, first-year coach to make his mark.
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