Dan Mullen, Will Muschamp among top coaches in first half; more mail

Hi Stewart, Urban Meyer (at Ohio State), his successor at Florida (Will Muschamp) and his two former coordinators (Louisville's Charlie Strong and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen) all currently have undefeated teams. In your opinion, which of the four men has done the best coaching job thus far with the talent and resources -- or lack thereof -- that he inherited?--Jason P, Woodbridge, Va.

First of all ... wow. Between Meyer, Strong, Mullen and the fact that 21 starters or major contributors from Florida's 2008 team currently play in the NFL, it's easy to see how the Gators won the national title that year -- while also completely inexplicable how they lost to Houston Nutt. And former Texas defensive coordinator Muschamp's success so far in Gainesville may help explain why Mack Brown finds himself in his current predicament.

As for comparing the four, Meyer is doing exactly what's expected of Ohio State's coach. We didn't necessarily think the Buckeyes would start 7-0, but you know with the right coach they're never going to be down for too long. I'd say much the same thing about Florida, though Muschamp and his staff have unquestionably had a profound impact on that team. In fewer than two years, they've completely reinvented the program and found a way to start 6-0 despite some obvious offensive limitations. If they keep this up, he's a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate. Strong has also done a tremendous job rebuilding Louisville's program from the depths of the Steve Kragthorpe era, and he has the Cardinals squarely in the hunt for a BCS berth. But that's also not unprecedented; Bobby Petrino did the same thing just six years ago.

My answer is Mullen. While acknowledging that Mississippi State hasn't played the strongest competition to this point (its best win was last week's victory over 3-3 Tennessee) and could well get exposed once it faces Alabama and LSU, the fact that the Bulldogs are 6-0 and no one's surprised is a testament to how dramatically Mullen has changed the culture in Starkville. Two years ago, in Mullen's second season, the Bulldogs won nine games for the first time in 11 years and just the fourth time since World War II. This year, his team seems headed for at least that many victories, particularly with remaining games against Middle Tennessee, Arkansas and Ole Miss.

Mind you, he's doing this at a time when the SEC has rarely been stronger. I loved those late '90s Jackie Sherrill teams, and you may recall the Bulldogs played in the 1998 SEC title game. But things were different then: Alabama was in between probations, LSU was a mess, Auburn had forced out Terry Bowden, etc. This Mississippi State team is not brimming with talent -- it's got a skilled quarterback (Tyler Russell) and a heck of a secondary (Johnthan Banks, Darius Slay) -- but top-to-bottom it's probably the league's eighth- or ninth-most talented team. Yet it could wind up having one of the best seasons in school history. Nice work, Mr. Mullen.

As a Texas fan, I'm almost ready to jump on the "Fire Mack Brown" bandwagon. What keeps me from jumping is uncertainty as to who would take his place. Several professional and college coaches are better than Mack Brown, but none of them will leave their current job for Texas. Plenty of coaches would leave their current team for Texas, but I'm not sold yet on any of them being better than Mack Brown. Am I overlooking somebody?-- Aaron Evans, Muskegon, Mich.

That's the rub, isn't it? It's easy to sit there and look at Brown's 5-9 record against Oklahoma, his 7-13 Big 12 record since 2010 and his nine straight losses to ranked teams and say, "We can do better than this." It may well be time for a change (though I'd like to see the rest of the season play out before making that conclusion), but even with all of Texas' considerable resource and clout, there's no guarantee the next coach will become the next Nick Saban or Bob Stoops. He could well be Texas' next John Mackovic. Lest we forget, 10-win seasons and top-five recruiting classes have not always been a Longhorn birthright. In fact, the program had only five double-digit win seasons in the 22 years between Darrell Royal's retirement and Brown's arrival.

Texas AD DeLoss Dodds knows this, which is why it would take an all-out implosion for him to fire Brown this year. He also knows that this year's likely market of candidates lacks a can't-miss big-namer like Meyer last year or a hot commodity like Brian Kelly in 2009 or Kevin Sumlin last year. It's interesting, because whether Texas jumps aboard the carousel or not, a whole bunch of other notable schools (Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee, possibly Cal) will likely be seeking just that type of coach. Someone's going to hire Bobby Petrino, but not an image conscious school like Texas. Someone's going to make a run at Chris Petersen, but to this point that's proved futile. Multiple people will make a run at Charlie Strong, but don't be surprised if he stays loyal to Louisville. However, I could see a major program like Texas or Tennessee hiring Iowa State's Paul Rhoads and being very happy with that decision a couple years down the road.

So what do you think are the odds that Tennessee will hire Sonny Dykes next season to clean up Derek Dooley's mess the same way that Dykes has cleaned up the mess that Dooley left at Louisiana Tech?--Keary Floyd, Lawrenceville, Ga.

So who wins the Sonny Dykes derby: Cal or Arkansas?--K. Preston, Castle Rock, Wash.

I stand corrected. There's at least one hot mid-major candidate out there.

Stewart, I know the ACC is a joke, but WOW! Clemson and Florida State both have BCS computer averages of 0.000. That is comedy. Is this downturn a natural ebb and flow of college football or is the ACC in trouble for the long run? Adding Syracuse and Pitt seems to shift the recruiting away from the South. In South Carolina, we see most top-notch (especially defensive) recruits going to the Gamecocks over Clemson. This whole thing just looks like the ACC is falling apart to me. Any thoughts?--John, Liberty, S.C.

Full confession: When I first started seeing e-mails like this, I assumed there was some sort of glitch on SI.com's BCS standings page. Then I went back and opened the official release and, welp, sure enough, .000. That's a product of both teams finishing outside of the Top 25 in average computer rating (they tied for 28th), in which case they're credited with zero points out of a possible 100. (Alabama, by comparison, which was credited with four No. 2 rankings after removing its outliers, earned 96 out of 100, or .960). Florida State and Clemson suffered not only from their mediocre ACC competitors but also from their nonconference schedules. The 'Noles have played two FCS foes (because West Virginia dropped out) and 2-4 South Florida, while the Tigers have played 1-5 Auburn, 4-3 Ball State and FCS Furman.

This does seem like a particularly bad year for the ACC with Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech down, Miami rebuilding, North Carolina on probation and former contender Boston College just truly dreadful. But to suggest the league is having a downturn would suggest it was ever "up" to begin with. The ACC is in much the same place it's been for most of the BCS era, fighting with the Big East to avoid the No. 6 label (in Jeff Sagarin's ratings it's actually seventh, behind the Big East and independents) and perpetually waiting for the return to prominence of FSU and Miami. (By the way -- did you know those two play this week?) Of course, it's hard to compete with the SEC for recruits, but Florida State, Miami and Clemson all had top-15 classes last year. Attracting talent hasn't generally been the problem for the ACC as much as coaching and university commitment have. Perhaps that will change with all that new ESPN money coming in.

Good for you, Stewart. You are actually saying some good things about Notre Dame. I used to think you held a grudge against the Irish. No longer.--Joe Reardon, Columbus, N.J.

It's interesting that my apparent grudge disappeared at the exact same time the Irish started winning every week.

How can Notre Dame fans not notice the credit you give to Notre Dame??--Collin Mapp, Valencia, Calif.

Well, at least one did. Progress.

Do you think that Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel should be considered as one of the top-10 candidates for the Heisman at this point in the season?-- Scott Jackson, Cordoba, Argentina

As of right now, absolutely. Manziel is producing more offense (392.7 yards per game) than all but one player nationally (Baylor's Nick Florence), and, in fact, more than 47 FBS teams. He's 10th in the country in pass efficiency. He's leading the SEC in rushing (112.7 yards per game). For two straight weeks, he's led his team on fourth-quarter drives to either pull ahead (against Ole Miss) or help stave off the Aggies' opponent (against Louisiana Tech). Both games were headlined by long Manziel touchdowns: He had a 29-yard run against the Rebels to draw within one score and a 72-yard run against the Bulldogs to go up by 15 points with 2:04 left, though that still almost wasn't enough.

That being said, I wouldn't jump fully onboard on the Johnny Football bandwagon just yet. He's still a freshman prone to freshman mistakes, like his three turnovers against Ole Miss. More notably, he's only faced one top-40 defense to date. That was Florida's, which held him in check during the second half. He'll face three such defenses (LSU, Alabama and Mississippi State) over his next six games, so I'd be surprised if Manziel is still in the top 10 come season's end.

But again, he's only a freshman. There could well be trips to New York in Manziel's future.

People think 'Bama fans hate everything not coated in crimson and white. I'm here to prove that wrong. Is Steve Spurrier one of the greatest college football coaches of all-time? I think he is. He has taken two mediocre programs and built them from the ground up, and made them into national powerhouses. I'd put him up there with Bear Bryant and my friends think I am crazy.--Michael Ashley, Seattle

Michael: It's a good thing you're secluded out in Seattle, not living in Birmingham, because I'm pretty sure that Bear comparison will get you barred from most local barbeque joints. Bryant won six national titles at Alabama and conference titles at Kentucky and Texas A&M. He's in a class unto himself. But I've heard it said that besides Bryant, Spurrier is the best coach in SEC history, and I tend to agree. Florida had never won the SEC before Spurrier got there. He did it six times in 10 years, and he revolutionized offensive football in the process. The winningest coach in South Carolina history, Rex Enright, had 64 wins -- and it took him 15 years to do it (he went 64-69-7). Spurrier, 61-36, will eclipse that mark in merely eight.

Obviously, the guy's a Hall of Famer even if he stopped coaching tomorrow. But one might contend that this season -- and in particular, Saturday's game against Florida -- will go a long way toward defining his legacy. He's obviously improved the Gamecocks tremendously and I still believe, even after last week's LSU loss, they've got national title-caliber talent. But they definitely got the short end of the scheduling stick, visiting Death Valley and The Swamp on consecutive weeks. Win this Saturday and they're in good shape to get to Atlanta, where, if Spurrier were to win South Carolina's first SEC title (and first conference title since 1969), his résumé becomes that much more impressive. If the Gamecocks lose, Florida or Georgia likely wins the East, South Carolina possibly winds up back in the Capital One Bowl and history barely remembers his 2012 team. No pressure.

Who has had a better 2012 than Tommy Tuberville? The coach some Auburn administrators wanted instead of him, Bobby Petrino, has scandalized himself right out of the game. The coach that Auburn hired to replace him, Gene Chizik, has driven the program to the bottom of the SEC. Meanwhile, Tubs has his team in contention for a conference championship and just knocked off another top-five opponent.--Jim Savage, Orlando, Fla.

Tommy is having a great year, all right, but mostly because his team is finally playing defense. I'm sure he's getting a small kick out of the other stuff.

Stewart: As part of a running joke with my friends a few years back, we created a fictitious "award" for the offensive/defensive coordinator who seems to get mentioned incessantly by TV announcers, studio analysts, etc. It originated in the NFL (inaugural winner was Steve Spagnuolo in 2008) and has moved to college football, where past winners include Will Muschamp in '09, Gus Malzahn in '10, and John Chavis in '11. Would love your input for an official name for the award, and your favorites for the 2012 winner.--Troy, West Islip, N.Y.

Oh, that's easy. It's the Jesse Palmer Award. You could do a Thursday night drinking game based on every time he says, "When I talked to defensive coordinator ..." And this year's runaway favorite is Texas' Manny Diaz. Analysts (myself included) spent the entire offseason talking him up, and now we can't stop talking about how drastically his defense has imploded.

The press is saying (unfairly) that Louisiana Tech is out of the BCS picture after its two-point loss to Texas A&M. Ohio is still undefeated, but they're not looking like a BCS-caliber team after several close calls against inferior competition. So what are the odds that we'll be treated to a Bulldogs vs. Bobcats "battle of the BCS busters" in the postseason?--Chris Stvartak, Charleston, Ill.

It's only unfair if you think there should be a non-AQ team in the BCS every year no matter what. Louisiana Tech is the best of the bunch this year, no question. I think we can safely say that last weekend's A&M game will prove more exciting than the Big Ten championship game. But if your best nonconference wins came against Illinois and Virginia, both currently 2-5, you probably don't belong in a BCS game.

In fact, that's what bugs me about Boise State this year. The idea that this year's Broncos team, which lost its showcase game against what's proving to be an underwhelming Michigan State squad, might get in (quite plausible if they win out) when the 2010 team (which beat 11-3 Virginia Tech) and 2011 team (which beat 10-4 Georgia) did not feels like kicking Kellen Moore in the stomach all over again.

As for a Bulldogs-Bobcats postseason tilt, there is one pre-designated MAC vs. WAC bowl game: The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Dec. 15. Who's coming with me to Boise? ... Actually, that's depressing. There's still the chance Frank Solich's mighty Bobcats can go 13-0. Mind you, they, unlike Boise, are undefeated, and they, unlike Boise, did beat their Big Ten foe -- yet are ranked lower. Why? Either way, if Ohio is 12-1 and Louisiana Tech 11-1, maybe ESPN can broker some sort of deal to move them up the pecking order.

Please spare us all the Notre Dame talk. There is no way Stepfan Taylor didn't get into that end zone on second down or fourth down. Replay the tape if you don't believe me. I absolutely hate the homer calls Notre Dame gets simply to make them relevant again. It's amazing the way money can change the game, and even the outcome of games. Just pathetic.--Jason, Atlanta

Now that's a grudge. I'm Touchdown Jesus by comparison.