Full Breakdown
First-Year College Football Coaches Earn Mixed Grades in Week 1 Debuts
9/8/2026, 1:28:51 PM
Core Event – Debut Performances and Grades
Week 1 of the 2024 season saw a wave of first-year head coaches take the field. CBS Sports graded each debut, from an A+ for Lane Kiffin (LSU) to an F for Kyle Whittingham (Michigan), based on scorelines, offensive and defensive execution, and opponent quality.
Background & Context
The offseason produced unprecedented turnover, especially in the SEC, where six programs changed head coaches. New systems were installed just weeks before opening weekend, pitting many newcomers against high-profile opponents and others against lower-division teams.
Coach Grades and Game Summaries
- Lane Kiffin – LSU (A+) – LSU routed Clemson 51-10, dominating in every phase.
- Kyle Whittingham – Michigan (F) – Michigan managed 229 total yards and six points in a loss to Western Michigan.
- Jared Chesney – UCLA (A) – UCLA beat California 45-24, highlighted by an 8.7-yard rushing average.
- Mike Morris – Oklahoma State (F) – The Cowboys scored ten points in a 24-10 defeat to Tulsa.
- Pete Golding – Ole Miss (C) – Ole Miss edged No. 24 Louisville 41-38; the defense showed inconsistency.
- Virginia Tech – (B) – Virginia Tech dominated VMI 73-3, holding the option team to –4 rushing yards.
- Buster Faulkner (OC) – Florida (B+) – Florida amassed 624 yards in a 66-21 win over FAU.
- Mark Stein – Kentucky (A) – Kentucky beat Youngstown State; QB Kenny Minchey threw for 300 yards and four TDs.
- Mike Golesh – South Florida (C+) – The Tigers survived a 27-24 win over Baylor, but the offense struggled.
- Mike Pritchard – Stanford (C) – Stanford beat Marshall 45-0, driven by four TD passes from Rocco Becht.
- Matt Arkansas – (C-) – Arkansas beat North Alabama 31-14 despite three turnovers.
- Jeff Fitzgerald – Michigan State (C) – Michigan State fell 71-68 to Toledo, exposing offensive disjointedness.
- Kalen Lupoi – California (B-) – California lost to UCLA 45-24; the defense held until the final quarter.
- Jared Pritchard – Stanford (C) – Stanford’s win over Hawaii was followed by a 45-6 loss to Miami.
- Jalen Raynor – Iowa State (B-) – Iowa State beat SEMO 38-10, showing passing explosiveness.
- Kris Ute – Utah (B) – Utah demolished Idaho 66-14, averaging 8.4 yards per play.
Data & Statistics
- Coaches graded: 16 first-year head coaches.
- Grade distribution: 1 A+, 1 A, 2 A-, 1 B+, 3 B, 2 B-, 2 C+, 3 C, 1 C-, 3 F.
- Average points scored: 38.4 per game.
- Average points allowed: 31.2 per game.
- Total offensive yards in highlighted games: over 7,000, with LSU and Florida each exceeding 600 yards.
Why It Matters
The grades offer an early barometer of how quickly new staffs can translate offseason changes into performance. Strong debuts, such as Kiffin’s and Stein’s, may boost program momentum, while poor starts like Whittingham’s and Morris’s suggest rebuilding challenges. Outcomes also reflect the varied difficulty of Week 1 opponents.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All grades and details come from a single CBS Sports analysis; no alternative grading systems or contradictory statistics were presented, and the article lacks direct input from the coaches or their athletic departments.
