We're heading down the home stretch of the 2015 college football season, which means it's time to start reflecting on what we've seen so far during the first ten weeks of fantastically insane football. Today we'll look at the five coaches who have done the best overall jobs this year with our College Football Coach Of The Year Power Rankings.
5. Kirk Ferentz -- Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa gets no respect thanks to playing in relative anonymity in the Big Ten West, but that shouldn't be counted against them. Kirk Ferentz has created a no-nonsense, run-heavy blueprint which the Hawkeyes have run to perfection in 2015. After star RB Jordan Canzeri went down with an injury, Ferentz plugged in Akrum Wadley and watched the team's system help create yet another top-tier back. The Hawkeyes' schedule sets up nicely for an undefeated run to the Big Ten title game, which means they'd be just one upset of the Big Ten East champ away from a College Football Playoff berth.
4. Dabo Swinney -- Clemson Tigers
You could argue that Swinney belongs anywhere from 1-3 on this list and we'd wouldn't argue. Swinney has pushed Clemson over the contending hump, transforming his talent pool into a prohibitive favorite for a College Football Playoff berth. Swinney's gotten a bad rap from fans of some of his ACC rivals, but you can't deny just how prepared the ACC Atlantic Division champs have looked in each of their games this season. Swinney's led this team past the Florida State hurdle on Saturday, and the rest appears to be pay dirt for the program going forward.
3. Nick Saban -- Alabama Crimson Tide
After Alabama lost to Ole Miss earlier this year, the media decided to overblow the importance of the defeat -- writing plenty of "hot takes" about why the loss signaled the end of Nick Saban's dominance over the college football landscape. What a load of baloney, huh? The Tide have won six straight since then, dethroning would-be SEC kings such as Georgia, Texas A&M and LSU. Bama's head for yet another double-digit season under Saban and controls their own destiny in the CFP chase. It's more of the same from one of the best coaches to ever walk a sideline.
2. Jim Harbaugh -- Michigan Wolverines
Twelve months ago, the Michigan Wolverines were dead in the water and waiting out the end of lame duck HC Brady Hoke's tenure. Fast forward to now and you'll see a completely rejuvenated program and team which has bought into first-year HC Jim Harbaugh's overall message. The Wolverines are a fluke loss to Michigan State away from being a top four team in the College Football Playoff rankings. That's a heck of a turnaround for a once-moribund Wolverines team.
1. Jim McElwain -- Florida Gators
McElwain is the first head coach to win the SEC East in his first year. He's completely turned around the culture in Gainesville, reigniting the flame under the program and pushing the Gators back to national relevance. McElwain hasn't just cleaned up the wreckage from the Will Muschamp era. He's built a sturdy, winning foundation in its place.
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