Haugh's honor, coaching hot seats and the playoff debate

Photos by Chris Spears, GatorBait Media. Photo collage prepared by GatorBait Media.

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning:

When the Associated Press named its preseason All-America basketball team Wednesday, Florida’s Tommy Haugh was on the first team, named on 56 of the 58 ballots cast. Only Jeremy Fears of Michigan State received more votes (57) than Haugh, predicted to be the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and a firm candidate for national player of the year.

Haugh went from a valuable reserve on Florida’s 2025 NCAA championship team to leading scorer (17.1 per game) last season when he made second team All-America. He scored 20 or more points 13 times.

The Gators, the consensus preseason No. 1 in the nation, play Stetson Tuesday night in an exhibition game and then open the regular season November 2 in Tampa with No. 14 Miami.

AP Preseason All-America: Jeremy Fears, Michigan State; Tommy Haugh, Florida; Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt; David Mirkovic, Illinois; Montiejus Krivas, Arizona

WALTER CLAYTON JR. TO DALLAS

Two days after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies, Walter Clayton Jr. signed with the Dallas Mavericks on a two-way contract that will see him playing both in the G-League and with the Mavericks. Getting out of Memphis is the equivalent of a call from heaven saying it was a clerical error that sent you to Hell and that you are free to go where you choose. He made the smart choice to go to Dallas where former Florida assistant and Michigan head coach Dusty May is now in charge.

There isn’t the logjam on the perimeter in Dallas, which is open for business and ready to do some deals to get some front court players to complement Cooper Flagg. As the roster fluctuates Walt should get his opportunities to make it to the NBA roster. He can shoot and that will keep him in the league.

Walt still gets the third year money that was guaranteed in his rookie contract ($4.19 million) which was paid by Memphis, plus as a two-way player he will make an additional $678,882. Every game he’s on the NBA bench he makes $16,000+.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: OCTOBER 22, 2026 EPISODE

EXTINCT SPECIES LIST

Mike Locksley, Maryland:

The loss to Rutgers was an elimination game. Greg Schiano won, therefore he survived. Locks lost and got canned.

ON LIFE SUPPORT

Mike Norvell, Florida State:

He can complain all he wants about the holding call and the call on the Hail Mary jump ball at the end, but that isn’t going to make anyone happy. Seminole fans are asking how the hell did we get into a situation like this in the first place? Of course, all fingers point to Norvell, 10-21 since 2023. Three wins in the last five games might save his job. Nobody likes break even but it beats the alternative of paying a buyout of $51.4 million. Waiting to December only saves $5 million.

Dave Doeren, North Carolina State:

A 3-3 record at midseason which probably means another 6-6 regular season. So, same verse same as the first and fans are wanting to sing something new. If he gets to eight wins he probably survives even though the fan base won’t be happy. The buyout is only $10 million so it won’t cost an arm and a leg to send him packing.

Greg Schiano, Rutgers:

This season is not going to end well for Schiano and the Scarlet Knights, who have a win over D1AA Howard and Maryland to show at midyear. Rutgers will be serious underdogs in the six remaining games. He’s on a pathway to get fired, but could they find a better coach? Hardly. This is Rutgers the flagship university of the state where America dumps its toxic waste.

Bill O’Brien, Boston College:

The Eagles shocked the world, not to mention their own fan base, with their win over Pittsburgh last week. They are 3-3 now and it’s hard to find more than one win in the last six.

Joe Moorhead, Akron:

The Zips are 1-6. Figure they’ll be 2-10 at best when the season comes to a merciful end. Will they fire Moorhead? They’ve been saying this will be the year for a long time now but there is no money.

Steve Sarkisian, Texas:

He can coach his way off this list, but he’s got to get the team to cooperate. One more loss and he can kiss the College Football Playoff good-bye, not to mention his job. They spent more money than some Third World Countries to upgrade the roster but it hasn’t helped. The Longhorns have lost twice and they still have to play Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU among others.

ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST

Shane Beamer, South Carolina:

Still riding the high of beating the Gators in The Swamp, Beamer could get a hall pass for the season if he can figure out a way to knock off No. 11 Tennessee Saturday at Willy Brice. The next three games – (at) Oklahoma, Texas A&M and (at) Arkansas – are all winnable. Bowl eligibility will get him back for one more year.

Deion Sanders, Colorado:

You know a coach is feeling the heat when he starts talking about how unified his team is while in the middle of a four-game losing streak. Since last season the Buffaloes have lost 11 of their last 13 games and the euphoria of Prime Time has all but worn off. He probably won’t get canned this year but it’s possible if the Buffs can’t find a way to eke out a win or two.

Dave Aranda, Baylor:

The Bears are 4-2 but they end the season with (at) BYU, Texas Tech and (at) Houston, not exactly conducive to giving the fan base the warm and fuzzies. The fans aren’t happy, especially with QB DJ Lagway whose bad mechanics cause him to miss way too many open receivers. They should give a call to Florida fans who can tell them what’s ahead. He survives with two more wins and bowl eligibility.

Brent Venables, Oklahoma:

Sooner fans love the guy and they love his defense, which is world class. Who they hate is the offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle who they blame for John Mateer’s ability to complete passes to the other team. Venables signed a long term extension earlier in the year so he will survive this year especially if he requests Arbuckle seeks gainful employment someplace else.

Butch Jones, Arkansas State:

Three straight winning seasons and four straight bowl seasons are on the line for the Red Wolves, who have no money and are filling only half of a 30,000-seat stadium. The people who sign the checks would be very pleased if Butch would do them a solid by winning three more games to preserve the bowl streak while preventing them from writing a buyout check.

Fran Brown, Syracuse:

The glow of that 10-3 first season in 2024 has worn off. The Orange went 3-9 last year and they’re 2-4 at midseason. There is a good chance they don’t win again. He probably won’t get fired this year. Next year is a different story if he doesn’t produce some wins.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson:

The Tigers are 4-2, heading for 7-5 or 8-4. Fans don’t like it. They remember when Clemson was a championship contender. They would love to see Dabo retire but they won’t force the issue. At least not this year.

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama:

Alabama has lost two games this season and the way the playoff picture is shaping up, three losses and you’re out. That means DeBoer has to run the table in the regular season to get there. LSU is standing in the way, otherwise the schedule is manageable. Stumble against the Fighting Kiffins and it will be 11 losses in three years. That never happened to Nick, not even after a 6-loss first season on the job in 2007.

THE RECYCLE BIN

To paraphrase the late, great General Douglas MacArthur, “Old coaches never die, they just find a new gig somewhere.” Here are current and former coaches whose names will be dropped into every conversation once a firing or retirement takes place.

Brian Kelly:

He’s been lobbying for a new coaching gig ever since he got canned at LSU. He has a career record of 297-109-2 with two Division II championships at Grand Valley State. His success has all come in the Midwest. Maryland isn’t Midwest but it is in the Big Ten, probably a better fit than LSU ever was.

Dan Mullen:

He’s out in Las Vegas where he has a QB who can’t throw and a defense that can’t defend. But he does know how to put points on the scoreboard. Syracuse would be a good landing spot for him since he was once an assistant for Paul Pasqualoni back when the Orange actually won football games.

Jimbo Fisher:

Everybody in Tallahassee and the FSU hinterlands knows he’s poised and ready to take over. He works cheap since he got that $75 million buyout from the Aggies.

Billy Napier:

If he’s smart he’ll stick to where he is. There is a reason he’s called Sun Belt Billy. Beyond that it’s The Peter Principle all over again. The Maryland folks have an interest just the same.

Chip Kelly:

Do you ask how is it that Northwestern is suddenly making waves in the Big Ten? It’s the Chipster’s offense that is doing all sorts of funky things making the Wildcats one of the more interesting teams in the country. He would like one more time to prove he’s capable of winning at the highest levels as a head coach. If Sark survives he would be smart to make Chip an offer he couldn’t refuse to take over the offense.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT:

In the rush to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, nobody has yet to figure out what to do about the lost revenue of cancelling out the conference championship games. It is true the regular season will become less meaningful as college football attempts to parrot the NFL, but in the eyes of the folks pushing expansion, that’s just another minor consequence of progress.

If a less meaningful regular season and a loss of the SEC Championship Game are minor consequences of progress then I want to return to the Stone Age of college football. I was content with the 10-team SEC and while Arkansas and South Carolina weren’t at the top of my list when the league expanded to 12 teams, their 34 years in the league have been productive. And, by moving to a 12-team league we got the SEC Championship Game.

I’ve dealt with losing Auburn as an every-year opponent. I’ve dealt with adding Missouri and Texas A&M. I’ve dealt with further expansion to bring in Texas and Oklahoma. I’m dealing with a nine-game SEC schedule, largely because it means all the creative scheduling in the world can’t prevent Georgia from having to play every team in the league home and on the road.

I’m not handling the loss of the SEC Championship Game very well. What’s going to replace the revenue and the tradition? Getting to Atlanta is a VERY big deal and now that’s going to be gone? I’m also not handling the fact that expanding the playoff to 24 teams will mean three and four-loss teams will get into the playoff. Who are they fooling? In any given year there aren’t more than seven or eight teams capable of winning four straight playoff games and now we’re adding extra layers to the championship process? Oh please.

This is supposed to be progress but when three and four loss teams can get into the playoff that is embracing mediocrity. The only real accomplishment will be to spare athletic directors from firing coaches who can win eight games, sometimes nine, but are incapable of winning championships.

Return me to the Stone Age please.