Kirk Herbstreit ranks top nine coaches, coordinators from college football in Week 8

As he does each and every week, Kirk Herbstreit has tweeted out the top coaches and coordinators from across college football in Week 8.

Saturday’s slate earned the recognition for nine members of staffs with five head coaches and four coordinators with each one of those on the defensive side of the ball.

Here were the best-performing coaches from this past weekend according to Herbstreit himself.

1. Kirby Smart and DC Glenn Schumann – Georgia Bulldogs

With many doubting them, the ‘Dawgs, specifically their defense, did it again this weekend in Austin under Smart and Schumann.

Against Texas, who was undefeated coming in and had an offense that was averaging 43.2 points and nearly 500 yards of offense, Georgia held them to just 15 points with just 259 total yards, including only 29 on the ground at 1.1 per carry, with seven sacks in a 30-15 win. With having seen that live on the call on The 40 Acres, the Bulldogs’ head coach and defensive coordinator took the top spot this week for Herbstreit.

2. Billy Napier – Florida Gators

Five weeks ago, Billy Napier was all but fired at Florida. However, while his job security remains undetermined, he’s coming off one of his team’s better stretches of play, especially with what the Gators did to Kentucky in The Swamp.

Florida won 48-20 over the Wildcats as DJ Lagway and Jadan Baugh had explosive nights on offense and the defense picked off three passes, including a pick-six. That continued a four-game stretch where they’re now 3-1 – which was much-needed after a 1-2 start and with what they have ahead over their final five after their second bye this upcoming weekend.

3. DC Bryant Haines – Indiana Hoosiers

Offense has been the main topic at Indiana with them having the No. 1 scoring average in the country at 48.7 ppg.. However, the Hoosiers’ defense has been just as successful, including last weekend against Nebraska.

While scoring 56 themselves against the ‘Huskers, Indiana also held them to seven points, tied for their second-best outing on defense and their opponent’s worst of the season on offense, while forcing five turnovers. That earned some credit for their defensive coordinator in Bryant Haines.

4. DC Robert Livingston – Colorado Buffaloes

In a similar sense, Colorado is much-discussed with what they do on offense. Still, their defense has been better this season, including their best stand of the season so far, under Robert Livingston.

In a 27-point win at Arizona, the Buffaloes held them to just 245 yards while taking three turnovers and getting seven sacks. That was good for the fewest points that they’ve allowed in any game so far for Deion Sanders.

5. Shane Beamer, DC Clayton White – South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks’ game in Norman was a return back for Shane Beamer. His team made it a good one too with a 35-9 win for South Carolina over Oklahoma.

While their offense scored 28 of their own, their defense got credit by holding a Sooner offense to single digits while forcing four turnovers, including a pick-six in a two-interception game by Nick Emmanwori, and posting nine sacks. That got an offensive coordinator fired and earned both Beamer and DC Clayton White a spot on the ranking by Herbstreit.

6. Scott Satterfield – Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati moved to 5-2 this season with a 24-14 win over Arizona State on Saturday. That’s a two-win improvement already from their record in their first year last season under Scott Satterfield.

The Bearcats, with one of the better defenses in the nation, did so by cutting the Sun Devils’ scoring average by more than in half with their season-low.

7. Jonathan Smith – Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State snapped a three-game losing streak with a 32-20 win over Iowa. It was a needed outcome too with what they’ll face over their next three this season.

While scoring mostly off of six field goals, the Spartans also held the Hawkeye offense, which has improved this season at 29.2 ppg., to just 20 with only 283 total yards.