The 2024 college football season has come to a close, and it’s time to evaluate the performance of some of the top third-year coaches in the sport. From impressive turnarounds to disappointing campaigns, we’re grading the likes of Dan Lanning, Marcus Freeman, and Brent Venables on their third year at the helm.
Let’s start with the standout performers. Dan Lanning, the head coach at Oregon, earns an ‘A’ grade for his outstanding work in Eugene. Lanning led the Ducks to a Pac-12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff, capping off an incredible season that saw his team win 12 games. Lanning’s ability to adapt and evolve his team’s identity has been impressive, and he’s established himself as one of the top young coaches in the sport.
Marcus Freeman, the head coach at Notre Dame, also earns an ‘A’ grade for his exceptional performance in South Bend. Freeman led the Fighting Irish to a 10-win season and a spot in the College Football Playoff, despite facing a brutal schedule. Freeman’s ability to motivate and inspire his team has been evident, and he’s proven himself to be a top-notch recruiter and developer of talent.
On the other hand, Brent Venables, the head coach at Oklahoma, earns a ‘C’ grade for his underwhelming performance in Norman. Venables’ Sooners finished the season with a disappointing 7-5 record, despite having a talented roster. Venables’ inability to get his team to gel and play consistently has been a concern, and he’ll need to make significant improvements in the offseason to get Oklahoma back on track.
Other notable third-year coaches, such as Joey McGuire at Texas Tech and Ryan Day at Ohio State, also had solid seasons, but didn’t quite reach the same level as Lanning and Freeman. As the college football landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these coaches adapt and grow in the years to come.
Overall, the 2024 season was a mixed bag for third-year college football coaches. While some, like Lanning and Freeman, excelled and established themselves as top coaches, others, like Venables, struggled to meet expectations. As the offseason approaches, these coaches will be hard at work, looking to make improvements and lead their teams to success in 2025.
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