Apparently, The Athletic did a survey of 100 people working in various capacities in college football and came up with this ranking of top coaching gigs
https://theathletic.com/2827321/2021/09/15/what-are-the-top-5-jobs-in-college-football-we-polled-over-100-coaches-and-staffers-to-find-out/
1. Bama
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Clemson
8. Oklahoma
9. ND
10. Florida
Michigan, Texas A&M, Miami, Oregon, FSU, Penn State were the next few.
Those top 6 seem right to me, although I'd probably move USC up to #3-if USC's NIL opportunities dont become a massive draw for recruits, someone is messing up badly.
Not a subscriber. That said, while most of that list looks fine I'm puzzled by a couple of things. First, why is Clemson considered such a great gig? I'd put several schools behind it ahead. My list goes like this:
1. UGA
2. OSU
3. LSU
4. Bama
5. ND
6. Texas
7. Florida
8. USC
9. Oregon
UGA gets top spot by virtue of being in a talent-rich area with minimal competition, in the lucrative SEC. Dawgs are by far the most popular draw in town from what I can tell. OSU gets a close second, for mostly the same reasons. Big 10 money is less than SEC money, but competition is less, so pretty darn close IMO. LSU slots in third for most of the same reasons as above. Slight ding for being SEC West. Bama comes in number 4 because Auburn is a legit second in-state program--good luck to whoever follows Saban. ND's unique independence, national draw, and coast-to-coast following earns it this big spot. I had a lot of trouble ranking the next 5, but here's why I have it the way I do. Texas has a lot of in-state competition and OU to deal with, but when the program is doing well almost every Texas kid still wants to go there. They also have to compete with the Cowboys for following. Florida comes in next because it's the SEC program of Florida (the State). Lots of competition for talent and attention from FSU, Miami, and UGA, but when Florida calls kids listen, and when Florida plays people watch. USC comes in next because of the relative weakness of the PAC 12. Oregon comes next because of the same reason, plus the unique Nike connection.
The schools that didn't make the list above (OU, Michigan, PSU, FSU, Miami, TAMU) are all dealing with legit in-state competition (N.B. for OU, I'm considering Texas an in-state recruiting competitor). This group includes 3 conferences and varying levels of in-state talent, but I think the conference money and local talent by and large balance them out. In other words, FSU and Miami have much better access to talent than the others, but also compete in the ACC which holds them back. OTOH, OU and TAMU play in the SEC, but are clearly behind Bama, LSU, UGA, and arguably Florida. Michigan and PSU have in-state rivals picking off some talent but also get good Big 10 money.
Not sure where I put Clemson. If I had to say, I'd put OU, Michigan, PSU, and FSU a notch ahead of Clemson, Miami, and TAMU.
