The expansion of the College Football Playoff has magnified many elements in the sport, including the hiring of new coordinators.
For teams hovering on the fringes of the CFP, the right new playcaller (or two) can make the difference between moving into the field or being left out. In some cases, teams had obvious deficiencies that led to hires of new coordinators. Other times, coordinators were brought in to upgrade already solid and successful units.
Saturday's matchup between No. 4 Penn State and USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum underscores the significance of new coordinators and the scrutiny they now find themselves under.