A year after an unprecedented wave of coaching change, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg takes stock of the first-year coaches now leading Power 4 programs. The 2026 season has brought a mix of early results, with some new bosses making immediate impacts and others still searching for their footing.
The spotlight is brighter than ever. Curt Cignetti showed what is possible at Indiana in 2024, when the Hoosiers reached the College Football Playoff in his first season and won the national championship in his second. An active coaching cycle in late 2025 brought new leaders to LSU, Michigan, Penn State, Florida, Auburn, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Utah and UCLA, among others.
Some of the biggest early splashes have come from unexpected places. UCLA and Kentucky recorded historic wins in the first half of the season and remain in the playoff discussion. Bob Chesney has been a standout at UCLA, delivering a strong offseason and an on-field turnaround that includes wins over Cal, Purdue and Maryland. The Bruins have also forced seven takeaways against Oregon, but the team must overcome the season-ending injury to starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Other new coaches have had a rougher start. Michigan's Kyle Whittingham and Penn State's Matt Campbell met last week, both still searching for their first Big Ten win. Meanwhile, Utah's Morgan Scalley, who replaced Whittingham, has kept the Utes undefeated at 6-0, with the offense ranking No. 8 nationally in scoring at 40.2 points per game.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing