Kirk Herbstreit reveals top-performing coaches from Week 13
Following a wild week of action in Week 13 of the college football season and the final week of its regular season, ESPN College GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit revealed his top-performing coaches of the week.
From head coaches to position coaches, here is the list of coaches, 1-7, who impressed the college football expert in the final regular season weekend of the sport.
Sherrone Moore, Michigan
On Saturday, Sherrone Moore and the Michigan Wolverines notched their third-straight victory in as many seasons over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Moore’s Michigan offense proved they were the more physical of the two teams as they did most of their work on the ground, rushing for 156 yards.
The Wolverines interim coach also stayed true to his word of calling a more aggressive game plan as he went for it three times on fourth down, converting each attempt. That aggression may be why Jim Harbaugh nominated him for Michigan legend status.
Dave Doeren, NC State
NC State head coach Dave Doeren finally saw his Wolfpack put it all together beautifully when they took down the North Carolina Tar Heels at home 39-20. The Wolfpack has consistently been known for their defense under Doeren.
However, if their offense, led by quarterback Brennan Armstrong, stole the show against North Carolina. NC State finished the game with 504 yards of total offense, 334 through the air, and 170 on the ground. They were also an impressive 8-16 on 3rd down conversions in the game. But the most staggering stat comes in the time of possession department, where NC State had the ball 40 minutes compared to UNC’s 20.
Tosh Lupoi, Oregon
Oregon has been a juggernaut on the field, both offensively and defensively. However, against in-state rival Oregon State, a tip of the hat has to be given to defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi.
Lupoi’s defense held the Beavers to just seven points in the contest. The Oregon defense did not allow Oregon State’s running game to get going as they held the Beavers to just 53 yards rushing in the game. They also kept Oregon State in check on critical downs, allowing 3-11 conversions on 3rd down and 2-6 on 4th.
Wes Goodwin, Clemson
Clemson Tigers defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin called a near-perfect defensive game. His defense held rival South Carolina to just seven points, allowing Clemson to pick up the 16-7 win.
The Tigers allowed just 169 yards of total offense, held the Gamecocks to 22 minutes of time of possession, and finished the game, forcing two turnovers. Clemson also limited South Carolina to just two third-down conversions in the game on 13 attempts.
Mike Norvell, Florida State
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell led his team to victory in what was arguably the most challenging conditions any team had to face in week 13. The Seminoles traveled to the swamp to take on the Florida Gators and had to do so without the services of star quarterback Jordan Travis, who was lost for the season following a gruesome leg injury in Week 12.
Norvell and the Seminoles were able to overcome their early emotions and a 12-0 second-quarter deficit to pick up win No. 12 by a score of 24-15. The win also kept them firmly entrenched in the College Football Playoff hunt.
Mark Stoops, Kentucky
In the eyes of Kentucky fans, head coach Mark Stoops was a winner twice on Saturday. Not only did he take down the Wildcats’ heated in-state rival Louisville, but he also ended up rejecting the head coach position with the Texas A&M Aggies.
In the end, the win against Louisville came down to which team made the fewest mistakes, which ended up being Kentucky. Stoops’ Wildcats won the turnover battle 3-1 and also committed zero penalties in the game on their way to pick up the 38-31 victory.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell had an up-and-down 2023 season, with his job security in question earlier in the year. However, all that is likely in the past now, especially after leading the Cyclones to a 42-35 victory over the Wildcats of Kansas State.
The Cyclones used the big play to beat the Wildcats on Saturday. Campbell’s crew averaged nearly three times as many yards per play as Kansas State did, with a staggering 13.9 yards per play. They also ran far fewer plays in the game, finishing with 35 total offensive plays compared to the Wildcats 102.