After last week’s results, maybe the road to success goes through James Madison University. With so many hotshot coaches hired away from Football Bowl Subdivision schools struggling, the return on your investment in hiring a coach from James Madison has been off the charts.
Start with Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who spent five seasons at James Madison when it was an Football Championship Subdivision team, won the national championship in just his second year, is 33-2 to date and is undefeated this year (6-0). His successor, Bob Chesney, coached at Division III Salve Regina in Newport, Division II Assumption and FCS Holy Cross (both in Worcester) before taking the James Madison job. In two seasons, he was 21-6 and UCLA took a leap of faith in hiring him. Chesney’s team plays with chip on its shoulder, an edge similar to Cignetti's, and the Bruins (5-0) are in the thick of the Big Ten title race after upsetting Oregon, 17-15. They did have some help from Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was unrecognizable, completing just 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards with two interceptions and a fumble before being pulled by head coach Dan Lanning.
The other significant development for Chesney is that starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava is problably out for the season as a result of a knee injury. If Chesney gets the Bruins to the College Football Playoff, he’s the unanimous choice for coach of the year. Who’s the new James Madison Dukes' head coach, Billy Napier — yes, the same Billy Napier who failed miserably at Florida in four seasons. He’s off to a 6-0 start, so it must be asked — what is in the water at Harrisonburg, Virginia? Whatever it is, James Madison has become a model program for successful coaches at the FCS and FBS levels.
Quick hits
∎Another demoralizing loss at Nebraska, 20-17, to Indiana. Another sellout. Another collapse. An entire decade has passed without the Huskers defeating a Top 25 team (0-32).Head coach Matt Rhule is not the right guy. Still, the best fans anywhere.
∎So, No. 1 Texas loses to unranked Oklahoma and drops to No. 7 but Alabama loses at home to No. 2 Georgia and stays at No. 6. Got to hand it to the AP, which is filled with uneducated and uninformed voters. By the way, how about Texas QB Arch Manning throwing a last-minute interception resulting in a game-winning Sooner field goal as we predicted here long ago? He’s just too inconsistent.
∎The CFP and ESPN extended their exclusive negotiation period regarding expanding the playoff to 24 teams. Why? Because both want to see it happen next year and neither will walk away without a deal. The real question is why even have a deadline for something that is imminent (wink, wink).
∎I am so sick and tired of the so-called analytics, which offer a percentage as to a team's chances of reaching the CFP. They’re worthless. Florida was over 60% to qualify for the CFP after defeating Ole Miss and being 4-0. Two losses later and they’re not even ranked. The lesson? Ignore the accolades and distractions and do it on the field. Those analytics are statistics to avoid and should have no place on your television screen.
∎Will Stein is doing something special at Kentucky as the Wildcats won a thrilling 35-34 OT victory over LSU after converting a two-point conversion. Stein was brought over from Oregon and given his first head head coaching job. So far, he has shown a propensity to press the right buttons to allow Kentucky to compete against the SEC elite. Is LSU having buyer’s remorse after opening the bank for Lane Kiffin? Probably not yet but they are in College Station, where the Aggies played another uninspiring game at Missouri, losing. If Jimbo Fisher can be fired and collect more than $70 million left on his contract, Mike Elko could be next. You know we advocate here for assistant coaches and FCS coaches to be promoted to FBS schools. They’re hungrier and more appreciative. Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham, Penn State’s Matt Campbell and Kiffin so far have not panned out. It’s early but the lesson is the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Top 25 predictions
No. 5 Ohio State (5-1) -3 at No. 4 Indiana (6-0): A top-five matchup. Perhaps the biggest game Indiana has ever hosted. After a trap game comeback at Nebraska, the environment will be electric. Is there a better coach than Cignetti? When all looked lost against Nebraska, down, 17-6, in the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers responded with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to prevail, 20-17. These are the Buckeyes, loaded with NFL talent, starting with quarterback Julian Sayin and self-proclaimed “best player in college football” in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Last year, the Hoosiers won the Big Ten championship game against OSU, 13-10, with similar disparity in talent with one exception. Their quarterback was a guy named Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner. He’s moved on to play for the Las Vegas Raiders on Sundays and been replaced by a guy named Hoover, Josh not Herbert. Hoover is good but he’s no Mendoza. And while I love tall and lanky wide receiver Charlie Becker, Hoover will see pressure from all directions. Even with the home-field advantage and Cignetti, the Buckeyes roll.
No. 6 Alabama (5-1) -1 at No. 14 Tennessee (5-1): It must be the third Saturday in October. The Vols are having issues at quarterback and 'Bama is legit. Roll Tide.
No. 16 Mississippi State (4-1) +13 at No. 22 LSU (4-2): Must-win game for the Tigers. Don’t sleep on the Bulldogs, who have an electric quarterback in Kamari Taylor. Take the points in a close game.
No. 18 Oklahoma State (4-1) +6 at No. 20 Houston (5-1): A key Big 12 matchup featuring high powered offenses. The last team with the ball wins.
No. 13 Mizzou (5-1) at No. 9 Ole Miss (4-1) -5: Trinidad Chambliss! Rebels run it up as Mizzou is exposed.
No. 2 Notre Dame (6-0) at No. 8 BYU (5-0) +11: Only the biggest game in Provo — ever. The Cougars are good, starting with quarterback Bear Bachmeier (yes, that's his first name), who wears the number 47. Their head coach, Kalani Sitake, has elevated BYU to perennial Big 12 contenders but this is Notre Dame. CJ Carr has looked great at quarterback and the Irish defense yields just 11 points per game. This is a chance for the Big 12 to have a national stage against America’s national team. It’s not convicts vs. Catholics but it is Mormons vs. Catholics. That theme has not taken shape because nobody thinks the Cougars can compete with the Irish. I think they can and a chance to see that atmosphere at iconic Levell Edwards Stadium surrounded by three mountains (Wasatch, Y mountain and Mount Timpanogos). The game and atmosphere will be incomparable and we’ll make the 2,300 mile trip to Provo to see if it lives up to all the hype. Take the Cougars in a classic.
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: College football’s hottest coaching pipeline might start at FCS schools