James Franklin – Penn State
James Franklin has been the head coach at Penn State for the last six years. Over the last three years, his combined record is 31-8, including a 2-1 bowl record. He has not won the Big 10 East or the Big 10 in that time span, nor made it to the College Football Playoffs.
Over the last three seasons, Penn State has finished No. 8, No. 17, and No. 9 in the final AP polls. Franklin has averaged the No. 11 recruiting class coming in at No. 15 in 2017, No. 6 in 2018, and No. 12 in 2019.
Jimbo Fisher – Texas A&M
Jimbo Fisher has been the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies for the last two years. Over his last three seasons as a head coach, including his last season at Florida State, his combined record is 22-15. Over his last three years, he hasn’t even won his division in either the ACC or SEC. However, he is 2-0 in his bowl games, being that they were the Gator and Texas bowls.
Over Fisher’s last three years, his teams have finished unranked, No. 16, and unranked in the final AP polls. Fisher has averaged the No. 9 recruiting class coming in at No. 6 in 2017 (at FSU), No. 17 in 2018 (at Texas A&M), and No. 4 in 2019.