Where does Nick Rolovich rank among the Power 5 football coaches?

Good morning, fellow Coug fans. It’s May 22, which means it’s time for college football writers to bust out their annual summertime #content, and I’m happy to piggyback off their efforts.

This week, Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports ranked the Power 5 head coaches in two segments. The top two aren’t surprising (Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney, of course). The top 10 really isn’t all that surprising, either, although some might take issue with Matt Campbell of Iowa State jumping 16 spots from last year and coming in at no. 9. That’s why they make these lists!

The top-ranked Pac-12 coach would be Utah’s Kyle Whittingham at no. 14. Yeah, yeah.....he’s “consistent,” which is pundit-speak for “never too great, never too bad.” At least in this case. His bowl record is tremendous, though he’s lost the last two he’s been in, and his Pac-12 South titles are propping him up. Come play in the North, Kyle, and see how that goes.

Having said that, the list of guys he’s ahead of isn’t exactly a who’s who of gold-standard head coaches, which proves again how few elite head coaches there are in college football these days. That could be a perception problem, too.

Mario Cristobal (no. 16), Herm Edwards (no. 21) and David Shaw (no. 24) round out the Pac-12 representation in the top 25.

Nick Rolovich is no. 58. Here’s what Fornelli had to say about that:

Honestly, what was there to evaluate? Rolovich’s first season at Washington State consisted of only four games, and he went 1-3. Rolovich probably dropped eight spots in the rankings due to being “forgotten” more than anything else.

Can’t argue much with that. If first-year head coaches get a “year zero” in their first season, then last year may have been Year Minus-One for Rolovich and company. That doesn’t necessarily mean this year is Year Zero.

Here’s how the rest of the Pac-12 head coaches ranked:

• Justin Wilcox - no. 38
• Chip Kelly - no. 39
• Clay Helton - no. 48
• Jimmy Lake - no. 51
• Karl Dorrell - no. 54
• Jonathan Smith - no. 56
• Jedd Fisch - no. 64

What’s Mike Leach up to these days?

Leach was no. 33 in Fornelli’s rankings.

Links

Former Washington State standout receiver Tavares Martin Jr. looks to revive career with Spokane Shock | The Spokesman-Review
The former Washington State receiver hauled in 150 passes for 1,683 yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons before his collegiate career year came to an adverse and premature end.

100 days to college football - Players, storylines and coaching debuts we're all waiting for
Our college football writers discuss what they're anxiously awaiting this fall -- and why it's more than just the game itself.

2021 college football coach rankings: ACC, SEC leaders undergo shifts among Power Five coaches ranked 65-26 - CBSSports.com
Rolovich is no. 58.

Bennett Earns Scholar All-Region Second Team Honors - Washington State University Athletics
The Cougar senior led WSU with six goals and 13 total points this season.

Cougs See 23 Total Entries For NCAA West Prelims - Washington State University Athletics
Charisma Taylor qualified for multiple events at the NCAA West Preliminaries, in both the 100-meter hurdles and in the triple jump. Taylor posted a career-best in the 100m hurdles this season at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 13.33 overall, a time that ranks second in WSU history. Taylor also posted a season-best in the triple jump at 44-feet 2 3/4 inches (13.48m) while competing at the West Coast Relays.

Ranking the top 25 Power Five college football coaches entering the 2021 season - CBSSports.com
CBS Sports ranked every college football coach in the Power Five conferences from 1-65