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Alabama’s lucky.
Master planner Nick Saban can continue to focus on the details, comforted by the fact his defensive coordinator, Kirby Smart, will continue in his role throughout the Crimson Tide’s championship quest.
Only after Alabama’s season ends will Smart switch hats — and seats — and take over the daily grind as Georgia’s head football coach.
It’s much more of a circus act at several other SEC programs, where coaches are juggling jobs while preparing for their bowl.
A team-by-team look at those most impacted:
Auburn vs. Memphis (Birmingham Bowl, Dec. 30): Auburn will be without its defensive coordinator: Will Muschamp was introduced Monday as South Carolina’s next head coach. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has not decided which assistant coach will direct the defense during the bowl game, but it won’t be defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson. Muschamp reportedly hired Robinson as his defensive coordinator at South Carolina.
Memphis will be without its head coach: Justin Fuente accepted the same position at Virginia Tech, where he replaces Hokies legend Frank Beamer. Memphis interim head coach Darrell Dickey, a former head coach at North Texas, will coach against Auburn. Dickey was Memphis’ co-offensive coordinator this season.
Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma State (Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1): Hugh Freeze’s biggest concern is whether his star-laden junior class is preparing for its final game before bolting for the NFL draft. But OSU offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich reportedly is a finalist for the Tulane head coaching job.
Florida vs. Michigan (Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1): Jim McElwain has his coordinators and no doubt appreciates the extra weeks and reps for embattled QB Treon Harris. No doubt, too, that Gators OC Doug Nussmeier will be motivated. He was Michigan’s OC last year and joined McElwain’s staff shortly after Michigan fired Brady Hoke.
Arkansas vs. Kansas State (Liberty Bowl, Jan. 2): Smart reportedly was interested in talking to Razorbacks offensive coordinator Dan Enos about joining him at Georgia, but Enos has a no-compete clause in his contract that precludes him from jumping to another SEC school, DawgNation.com reported. That’s good news for the Razorbacks, who are trying to win bowl games in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.
Georgia vs. Penn State (TaxSlayer Bowl, Jan. 2): Mark Richt led the Bulldogs to a bowl game for the 15th consecutive season and was prepared to coach them too, even after he was fired. That changed when Miami hired the former Canes backup quarterback to be its next head coach.
Bryan McClendon will coach the Bulldogs in the bowl game. He will be the fourth interim coach Penn State has faced. Coordinators Brian Schottenheimer (offense) and Jeremy Pruitt (defense) will continue in their roles.
Penn State, meanwhile, will have a new play-caller as well after head coach James Franklin fired John Donovan. QB coach Ricky Rahne will direct the Nittany Lions offense, which has been as inconsistent as its quarterback, NFL prospect Christian Hackenberg.
Texas A&M vs. Louisville (Music City Bowl, Dec. 30): Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin denied reports in mid-November that OC Jake Spavital would be fired after the season. Sumlin told the Houston Chronicle there was “nothing factual about that report.” The Aggies scored just one touchdown in their regular-season finale against LSU.
LSU vs. Texas Tech (Texas Bowl, Dec. 29): This could have looked a lot different had Joe Alleva not come to his senses at some point — was it halftime, third quarter? — during LSU’s closing win over Texas A&M. Les Miles is, indeed, back to coach the Tigers to his 11th consecutive bowl game.
South Carolina and Missouri also replaced their head coach and will have completely revamped staffs around them, but neither team is playing in a bowl.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
