Broyles Award reveals finalists for top assistant in college football

The Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coach in college football, has announced its finalists for the 2023 college football season.

Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker, LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein have been named the five finalists for the award, it was announced on Monday.

The winner will be revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 5. All five finalists will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas for next week’s awards ceremony.

The five finalists for the Broyles Award should not come as a surprise as all five assistants have excellent position groups this year.

Mike Bobo is in his first season back as the offensive coordinator at Georgia after being an assistant with the Bulldogs from 2001-14. He left to be the head coach at Colorado State in 2015, before returning to the SEC as the offensive coordinator at South Carolina in 2020. Bobo then went to Auburn for a year, before working as an analyst at Georgia last season.

His Bulldogs are averaging 496 yards and nearly 40 points per game as they enter the SEC Championship Game against Alabama.

The second Broyles Award finalist is Phil Parker, whose Iowa defense is allowing 12.2 points and 279.9 yards per game. The Hawkeyes are ranked in the top 10 in both categories.

Iowa reached the Big Ten Championship game thanks to its incredible defense. The Hawkeyes are 10-2, despite having one of the worst offenses in college football.

Mike Denbrock is a Broyles Award finalist thanks to his LSU offense being one of the best in the country. The Tigers lead the nation with an average of more than 46 points per game and also lead the nation in total offense at 548 yards per game.

Denbrock has helped develop Tigers star Jayden Daniels into a Heisman candidate. Daniels has accounted for 4,946 yards and 50 touchdowns on the season.

Sherrone Moore has not only been an excellent offensive coordinator this season, but he’s also filled in well when Jim Harbaugh has been suspended. Harbaugh receives credit for the victories, but it was Moore who was acting head coach while Harbaugh was suspended.

Finally, Will Stein is a big part of the reason why Oregon is in the College Football Playoff discussion.

The 34-year-old has helped develop Bo Nix into a Heisman candidate and has Oregon averaging 540 yards and 45 points per game.