In this episode of Saturday vs Sunday, John Barban and Geoff Dover dive deep into one of college football’s most intriguing questions: Who will be the next head coach to win their first national championship? With the retirement of coaching legends like Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh, the door is wide open for a new face to rise to the top—and two names keep bubbling to the surface: Steve Sarkisian of Texas and Dan Lanning of Oregon.John throws his support behind Sarkisian, noting his evolution as a head coach and the enormous resources now at his disposal in Austin. With deep ties to Alabama’s championship pedigree and a loaded roster that includes Arch Manning waiting in the wings, Sark may have all the pieces in place. Jeff, meanwhile, makes the case for Lanning, praising how quickly he’s elevated Oregon’s program since taking over. A former defensive coordinator for Georgia, Lanning has been on the inside of a national title run and has Oregon positioned as a serious threat in the Big Ten.The discussion expands to examine what matters most when evaluating a coach’s championship potential. Is prior experience on a championship staff necessary? Is being part of Saban’s coaching tree a true advantage? The guys run through a long list of current head coaches with championship DNA—whether as players, assistants, or staff members—including Kirby Smart, Mario Cristobal, Brent Venables, Josh Heupel, and more.But they also explore how unpredictable the college football world can be. Dabo Swinney is held up as a perfect example of a coach who wasn’t a coordinator and had no championship experience as a coach before turning Clemson into a powerhouse. Conversely, coaches like Ed Orgeron and Gene Chizik won titles and were fired soon after, showing that even reaching the mountaintop doesn’t guarantee longevity.The conversation even veers into the wild-card factor: Bill Belichick. Could the NFL’s most decorated coach actually find success at the college level now that he’s reportedly connected to North Carolina? Is it a potential masterstroke or a looming disaster?From blue chip ratios to playoff path projections, this episode has it all for college football fans wondering who the next great head coach will be. If you’re betting on which program makes the leap into elite company in the next five years, you’ll want to hear why Sarkisian and Lanning may be the ones to watch.

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