The Dodd Trophy doesn’t get the national attention that some of the other annual college football awards get. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less prestigious. Given annually to the top coach in the country, there have only been two coaches to win the award twice.
Today, the preseason watch list for the 2017 Dodd Trophy was released.
There are some big names on the list, along with a couple of newcomers and hopefuls. The list was published on the official Dodd Trophy website.
Coach | School | Conference |
Paul Chryst | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
James Franklin | Penn State | Big Ten |
Justin Fuente | Virginia Tech | ACC |
Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | Big 12 |
Jim Harbaugh | Michigan | Big Ten |
Clay Helton | USC | Pac-12 |
Paul Johnson | Georgia Tech | ACC |
Butch Jones | Tennessee | SEC |
Gus Malzahn | Auburn | SEC |
Jim McElwain | Florida | SEC |
Urban Meyer | Ohio State | Big Ten |
Ken Niumatalolo | Navy | American |
Chris Petersen | Washington | Pac-12 |
Mark Richt | Miami | ACC |
Nick Saban | Alabama | SEC |
David Shaw | Stanford | Pac-12 |
Bill Snyder | Kansas State | Big 12 |
Dabo Swinney | Clemson | ACC |
Kyle Whittingham | Utah | Pac-12 |
Notably, Ken Niumatlolo is the only name not that doesn’t coach in a Power Five conference. The head coach of Navy has become something of a media darling over the past couple of seasons, leading the Midshipmen to 11 wins, and nine wins since joining the AAC.
Of the major conferences, the Big 12 features the fewest number of coaches on the list. The only coach in the conference making an appearance is longtime Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.
Snyder is currently undergoing treatment for throat cancer, and is one of only two coaches to ever win the award twice.
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