Mario Cristobal, James Franklin, and the Coaches with the Worst Gameday Reputations

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mike Farrell | Last updated 1/16/24

If you’re a college football coach and you get hit with the “bad gameday” label you’re screwed right? Why? Because the only way to live that down is to win big, arguably win it all. These coaches need to do just that to offset that reputation, fair or not.

1. Mario Cristobal, Miami

— This became obvious when we wrote he could be building a juggernaut , but this has been the reputation for a while. But between a conservative offense with Justin Herbert in Oregon and head-scratching losses like the Georgia Tech debacle this season have fans convinced he’s a bad game coach. But with two Pac-12 titles, a Rose Bowl win, and a win at Ohio State, was his Oregon stint bad? Not at all. But he’ll need to win huge at Miami to shake the title.

2. James Franklin, Penn State

— Franklin did an amazing job at Vanderbilt, and he wins 10 games often. He also got robbed of a playoff berth in 2016. But loss after loss after loss to Michigan and Ohio State has him stuck in the bad game coach narrative. And he needs to beat those teams and win a few playoff games to shake it.

3. Brian Kelly, LSU

— His Notre Dame playoff appearances didn’t go well, and we all remember the drubbing at the hands of Alabama in the title game. He’s been labeled as a guy who can’t win the big game and can’t adjust during games, and the defense this season at LSU didn’t help. In the SEC, it’s win it all or go down as a bad game coach.

4. Ryan Day, Ohio State

— Day is 56-8 and nearly beat Georgia in 2022 in the playoff but he’s being labeled as a bad game coach who can’t coach up defense and doesn’t adjust on offense. It’s dumb, but until he beats Michigan AND wins it all, he’s going to hear this.

5. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss

— Lane’s record against teams with nine or more wins in a season is horrible, and he can’t beat UGA or Alabama, so he’s not a good schemer. Even though I think he’s a great in-game coach, he has this reputation and needs to shake it. And next year could be the year.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: