Kirk Herbstreit names top performing coaches of Week 3

With Week 3 commencing last weekend, College Football Analyst Kirk Herbstreit has just released his list of the top performing coaches from the week, naming six head coaches who led their teams to consequential victories in the third (technically fourth) week of the year. So check out who Herbstreit was impressed by during this past weekend’s action (as posted on his Twitter page).

Kirk Herbstreit’s Top Coaches from Week 3

1. Steve Sarkisian | Texas

Interesting choice for the top spot here. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian apparently was the most impressive coach of the week according to Herbstreit — for his team’s 41-20 win over a solid UTSA program. Now, the Longhorns allowed the Road Runners to hang around in the first half. Actually, that’s underselling the Runners. UTSA shut out Texas in the first quarter and led 3-0 after one. The Longhorn offense then exploded for 17 points in the second, but a pair of touchdowns from UTSA made it a tie game at the half. Well, the ‘Horns finally woke up in the second half and stomped the Road Runners 24-3 in the third and fourth quarters to take it away.

All told, a solid response after an emotional home loss to No. 1 Alabama the week prior.

2. Jake Dickert | Washington State

Colorado State had its doors blown off 51-7 by Michigan, then lost to Middle Tennessee by two touchdowns in their home opener. In Week 3, Washington State didn’t let up on the Rams’ punishment. Instead, the Cougars beat ’em 38-7. Overall, a 123-33 start on the scoreboard for CSU through three games. Ouch.

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Meanwhile, Washington State finally broke out with a 31-point win after beating Idaho and Wisconsin each by just one score. So a great week for Coach Dickert and the crew in Pullman.

3. Marcus Freeman | Notre Dame

The Marcus Freeman era got off to a rocky start. Like a Kentucky Derby Favorite tripping over the starting gate. Losses to Ohio State and Marshall kicked off the season, and a scare at California nearly gave the Irish their third straight loss to open the season. But Freeman and co. got it together and pulled off a 24-17 win at home to give the new head coach his first win.

Beating California at home in a nail-biter — apparently, the third-best coaching job in the country last weekend.

4. Lance Leipold | Kansas

Kansas football simply can’t be stopped. Seriously. The Jayhawks are third in the entire country in points per game through three weeks. They beat Tennessee Tech 56-10, they took care of West Virginia in overtime by 13, 55-42. This past weekend, Leipold’s team went on the road vs. Houston and triumphed by 18 points, 48-30. These guys can put up points. And they’re kicking tail against actual competition. A deserved honor for Lance Leipold here.

5. Brent Venables | Oklahoma

To say Oklahoma looks the same as they did under Lincoln Riley is a success for Brent Venables. Because they were electric under Riley’s watch. And in 2022, with new coaches calling plays and new players running them, the result is still the same: Sooners by 90, quite literally. They’ve yet to win a game by less than 30 and have collectively outscored their opposition by 97 points after three games. The most recent being a 49-14 spanking of former rival Nebraska. Poor ‘Huskers.

6. Willie Fritz | Tulane

The Green Wave just crashed all over Big 12 country. Kansas State, who pounded SEC representative Missouri the week prior, welcomed Tulane to Manhattan just to be beaten, 17-10. Program-defining win for Willie Fritz and everybody down there. A real statement from the AAC program.

And that’s the list from Kirk Herbstreit.