Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is one of seven head coaches to have led their team to a National Championship in the College Football Playoff era (Alabama‘s Nick Saban, Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney, Georgia‘s Kirby Smart, Michigan‘s Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State‘s Urban Meyer and Ryan Day). Although Orgeron’s time in Baton Rouge didn’t last […]
Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is one of seven head coaches to have led their team to a National Championship in the College Football Playoff era (Alabama‘s Nick Saban, Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney, Georgia‘s Kirby Smart, Michigan‘s Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State‘s Urban Meyer and Ryan Day).
Although Orgeron’s time in Baton Rouge didn’t last much longer following the 2019 National Championship, Coach O has forever enshrined himself as a national title winning coach in the history books of college football.
Orgeron has not yet returned to coaching, but has been making rounds with programs much like Jon Gruden has been doing on his YouTube channel. During an appearance on the Aug. 18 edition of ‘Pardon My Take‘, Orgeron revealed a list of just a few college football coaches he’s fond of heading into the upcoming season.
“I think Lane (Kiffin) is a great coach,” Orgeron said. “I was at Ole Miss and didn’t have any success. For him to do what he’s doing at that school is phenomenal. And I love the coach at Notre Dame (Marcus Freeman). I’m friends with him and I’ve been there a couple of times. He’s a great guy and the players love him. He runs a tough practice and I’m gonna tell you now, Mario Cristobal has done a tremendous job.”
“The talent level that he’s brought (Miami) too right now is phenomenal. And then (Steve) Sarkisian. Sarkisian is one of the best offensive minds. He’s done a great job although I didn’t like his play calling against Ohio State (I’m a go forward guy not go sideways) but I think those guys are doing a great job. And the guy at Indiana (Curt Cignetti).”
Of the five coaches he mentioned, three brought their teams to the College Football Playoff last season. Marcus Freeman‘s Notre Dame Fighting Irish were the runner-ups to Ohio State in the National Championship game, while Sarkisian’s Longhorns lost in the Semifinals and Cignetti’s Hoosiers lost in the First Round.
Mario Cristobal‘s Miami Hurricanes likely would have made an appearance in the CFP as well had it not dropped its regular season finale to Syracuse in disappointing fashion. Lane Kiffin has also done a good job at Ole Miss, although he hasn’t quite broken through the College Football Playoff ceiling yet.
All five of these coaches’ programs open the season ranked inside the AP Top-25 this season.
Category: General Sports
