Based on the current College Football Playoff rankings, Urban Meyer and Nick Saban are on a collision course for a second straight postseason meeting. Not surprisingly, their paths are crossing on the award circuit as well.
The Maxwell Football Club Friday announced the semifinalists for its George Munger Coach of the Year Award, with the head coaches of Alabama and Ohio State being two of the 18 FBS coaches up for the honor. Meyer’s conference, the Big Ten, has five semifinalists, the most of any league.
The SEC, with Saban and first-year Florida coach Jim McElwain, accounts for just two of the 18. In fact, one Group of Five conference, the AAC, has three -- Houston’s Tom Herman, Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo and Temple’s Matt Rhule. The Pac-12 has three as well.
The ACC and Big 12 have two semifinalists apiece. The AAC is the only Group of Five league represented.
Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen was the 2014 winner of the award. The finalists for this year’s award will be announced Dec. 8, with the winner revealed Dec. 21.
Below is the complete list of semifinalists for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award:
Mark Dantonio - Michigan State
Larry Fedora - North Carolina
Kirk Ferentz - Iowa
Pat Fitzgerald - Northwestern
Mike Gundy - Oklahoma State
Jim Harbaugh - Michigan
Tom Herman - Houston
Brian Kelly - Notre Dame
Mike Leach - Washington State
Jim McElwain - Florida
Urban Meyer - Ohio State
Ken Niumatalolo - Navy
Matt Rhule - Temple
Nick Saban - Alabama
David Shaw - Stanford
Bob Stoops - Oklahoma
Dabo Swinney - Clemson
Kyle Whittingham - Utah