Bill Barnwell wrote a scathing, deep, fact based financial takedown of the Dallas Cowboys and their broken strategy for resigning star players. Barnwell is ESPN’s best NFL writer and his pieces are usually paywalled (this one isn’t). If you have 12 minutes, give it a read. Then remember that Jerry Jones owns .3% of ESPN.

The Brewers rocked Paul Skenes yesterday and have now won 26 of their last 30.

The Portland Trailblazers are now owned by Tom Dundon. Dundon is the owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. He’s a billionaire who built his fortune in subprime auto lending. If you wanna eat with the Classes, sell to the Masses.

I remember when USC poached Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma to replace Clay Helton. Helton is currently the head man at Georgia Southern but he’s only 20-19 in his time there. Hiring Riley put USC squarely back on the map, but cost them $90m guaranteed, a private jet, and a $13m LA mansion. I’m not an SC fan, but the team can capture the city when it plays well. The Reggie Bush-Pete Carroll era isn’t that far away. Riley’s move kicked off an interesting coaching carousel that also saw Brian Kelly leave Notre Dame for LSU. Lifetime jobs at blue-chip schools now seemed vulnerable and subject to change. I dig it! College Football Coaches matter. Coaches in football control such an outsized proportion of the game that their movements have as much impact as an NBA star trading teams.

We’re going to breakdown the Coach Map of the pre-season top 25 and try to spot opportunity for coaches to either move up or down the ladder.

#4 Clemson, Dabo Swinney

Dabo. Always helps to have a singular recognizable name. Swinney has his Tigers ranked in the top 5. They made the Playoffs last season. Is he SAFE? Not in this guy’s mind. Clemson hasn’t finished in the top 10 since 2020. Start a season this high in the rankings (even if they’re very fake), and you better see results. A fifth straight disappointing year is tough to swallow for any program. Swinney is the new Steve Spurrier. He’s taken a program all the way to the top. He’ll always be rehired somewhere else. But, can find a second peak, or should he look elsewhere?

#10 Miami, Mario Cristobal

Mr. Miami. Cristobal signed a 10yr contract to leave Oregon and return to the Canes. Hell yeah. Job security. Remember what I said about these pre-season rankings. They’re wildly inaccurate. You get all the Expectations. The fanbase gets fired up, but maybe half the top 10 will actually finish in the playoffs. Cristobal hasn’t won a bowl game in Miami. He’ll be here next year. I’m just calling him out for his absurd contract, and the fact that he lost the Pop-Tart Bowl last year.

#11 Arizona State, Kenny Dillingham

New Lane Kiffin. Dillingham is young (35) and a radically sharp offensive mind. He’s coaching his alma mater. He’s done well to energize the booster base. He steered ASU from the Pac 12 to the Big 12. Coming off a playoff appearance, can Dillingham repeat last year’s magic without Cam Skattebo? Win a playoff game this year and some big jobs will come knocking. Maybe even the NFL’s Cardinals will take a peek at the local kid if Jonathan Gannon can’t unlock Kyler Murray-Marvin Harrison, Jr. Now we’re cookin.

#18 Oklahoma, Brent Venables

Venables is the classic Great Coordinator, Shit Coach. Venables spent a ton of time coaching in Norman under Bob Stoops, teamed up with Dabo in Clemson, and then got the head job with the Sooners when Riley left. It’s been a mess ever since. Venables struggles to recruit offensive players. He’s 22-17 in the last three years. He’s a classic bridge coach before Oklahoma hires a Top Dog, or Up and Comer. It’s win or else for Brent. Should he get the axe, beg your school to bring him onboard as a D-Coordinator.

Not Ranked:

Bill Belichick

He’s not leaving UNC, but he’s within this realm. That’s sick. Can he get the Heels in the Playoffs?

Jon Gruden

Whispers that he’s gunning for an SEC job.

Nick Saban

Only 90% retired.

Belichick definitely kicked something off by moving to college. Programs are investing in real Front Office infrastructure and the grind of communicating with 17 year olds no longer falls exclusively on the coaching staff. Raising and offering millions of dollars is replacing the awkward living room visit for recruiting. That, plus not dealing with diva wide receivers, suddenly makes the college game as attractive as the pro world. We’ll keep an eye this list in six weeks. The rankings will be 1000% different. The good news: if your team disintegrated in the first half, I’ll find you someone exciting to hire.