Former American Conference coaches struggle in Power Four debuts

Coaches recently hired from the American Conference faced mixed results and criticism following their debuts at Power Four programs. Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris labeled his team's performance embarrassed after a 24-10 loss to Tulsa. Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield described his offense's play as awful after a 31-14 win against North Alabama, while Auburn head coach Alex Golesh cited inconsistency in his team's 17-point output. These coaches were hired during the offseason with the intent of importing successful offensive systems and rosters from their previous roles. In contrast, Florida head coach Jon Sumrall pursued a different strategy by hiring staff from Georgia Tech and signing players from that program, resulting in a four-touchdown performance against FAU. Administrators across the country had aimed to replicate the success of the Indiana model, which saw a quick turnaround by integrating existing staff and players.

• 2:51 PMCBS Sports — Former American coaches hired to rescue Power Four programs struggle in Week 1: 'I'm utterly embarrassed'