Texas A&M, Oregon Defend Internal Coordinator Picks — SkimNews
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- The 2026 coaching cycle is moving slower than 2025, with no Power 4 jobs open and only one major coordinator change (Illinois DC Bobby Hauck out after four games), per an industry source who called it "a weird year in candidates, a weird year in jobs, a weird year with money."
- Texas A&M's Mike Elko promoted Holmon Wiggins to OC despite Wiggins never having been a primary playcaller or quarterbacks coach; the Aggies are 0-2 in SEC play, with QB Marcel Reed going 10-of-26 with an interception in last week's loss to LSU.
- Texas A&M ranks 112th nationally in yards per game, 102nd in explosive plays (10+ yards) and 114th in raw QBR, while working with a nearly brand-new offensive line — Elko acknowledged, "We're so choppy right now."
- Oregon's Dan Lanning elevated co-coordinators Drew Mehringer and Chris Hampton after losing his prior playcallers, but the Ducks have allowed 93 points in three FBS games, rank 114th in passing yards allowed (274.7 avg) and have just five sacks.
- Florida's Buster Faulkner has been a home run hire as OC, with the Gators ranking 2nd nationally in scoring and 5th in yards; QB Aaron Philo has 917 passing yards at 72.4% completion, and RB Jadan Baugh has 600 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns through four games.
- Texas's Will Muschamp has quickly upgraded the Longhorns defense, tied 18th nationally in fewest points allowed (13.3) and tied 4th in sacks (15), with Colin Simmons recording five of the team's 10 sacks against Tennessee.
- USC's Gary Patterson hire as DC hasn't worked — the Trojans rank 100th in points allowed, 82nd in third-down defense and 105th against the pass, surrendering 106 points in three games since a Fresno State shutout.
Why it matters: Texas A&M's decision to elevate wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins — a first-time playcaller — while the Aggies rank 112th in yards per game and 114th in QBR represents a direct trade-off of proven coordinator talent for staff continuity. With Florida's Buster Faulkner delivering a top-two scoring offense and Texas's Will Muschamp producing a top-tier defense, the programs that promoted from within now face mounting pressure to show the gamble produced results before October.
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