The Broyles Award announced five finalists Monday, with the honor to be presented to the nation’s top assistant coach Dec. 9:
Alabama OC Lane Kiffin
Mizzou DC Dave Steckel
Ohio State OC Tom Herman
Oregon OC Scott Frost
TCU OC Doug Meacham
Herman and Frost are both rumored candidates for the Nebraska job -- Bovada gave Frost 5/2 odds to get the gig while putting Herman at 4/1.
Kiffin has thrived running Alabama’s offense, helping mold Blake Sims into a strong quarterback and Amari Cooper into a Heisman candidate. Meanwhile, it feels like Kiffin’s tenure at USC ended about a decade ago.
Under Meacham’s watch, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin went from afterthought to the guy who’s powered the Horned Frogs’ playoff bid. TCU, if you remember, hung 84 -- 84! -- on Texas Tech earlier this year.
Steckel’s the only defensive coach on this list, but it’s well-deserved. Shane Ray and Markus Golden may be the nation’s best defensive end 1-2 punch as Mizzou, in the span of about four years, has transformed from an offensive-oriented program to one that’s made back-to-back SEC title games thanks in large part to a much-improved defense.