UCF's Josh Heupel, Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Alabama's Nick Saban are the finalists for The Associated Press national college football Coach of the Year award after leading their teams to unbeaten regular seasons.
The winner will be announced Monday.
Heupel guided No. 7 UCF (12-0) to a second consecutive unbeaten season. The American Athletic Conference champions will play No. 11 LSU in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1. Kelly led the third-ranked Fighting Irish (12-0) to their first College Football Playoff appearance. The Irish play No. 2 Clemson in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec.