The Broyles Award Semifinalists Have Been Announced! After a whirlwind of nominations, the prestigious Broyles Award has unveiled its 15 semifinalists, and the competition is fierce. This award, recognizing the top assistant coach in college football, has been a staple for 30 seasons, and this year brought some exciting changes. For the first time ever, fans had a say in the selection process!
The initial pool of nominees was a staggering 63 coaches, making the selection process more challenging than ever. Now, let's dive into the semifinalists:
- ALABAMA – Kane Wommack, Defensive Coordinator
- ARIZONA – Danny Gonzales, Defensive Coordinator
- BYU – Aaron Roderick, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
- GEORGIA – Mike Bobo, Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks
- GEORGIA TECH – Buster Faulkner, Offensive Coordinator
- INDIANA – Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers
- LSU – Blake Baker, Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
- MIAMI – Corey Hetherman, Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
- NOTRE DAME – Mike Denbrock, Offensive Coordinator/ Tight Ends
- OHIO STATE – Matt Patricia, Defensive Coordinator
- OLE MISS – Charlie Weis Jr., Offensive Coordinator
- OREGON – Tosh Lupoi, Defensive Coordinator
- TEXAS A&M – Collin Klein, Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks
- TEXAS TECH – Shiel Wood, Defensive Coordinator / Inside Linebackers
- VANDERBILT – Tim Beck, Offensive Coordinator
Interesting Observation: The breakdown of the semifinalists is quite telling. Of the 15 coaches, eight are defensive coordinators (53%), while seven are offensive coordinators (47%).
But here's where it gets controversial... While the fan vote played a role, it's worth noting that none of the 14 special teams coordinators or position coaches among the initial nominees made the cut. This raises the question: Does the current selection process adequately recognize the contributions of all coaching positions?
The influence of fan voting will continue as they help decide the finalists and ultimately the winner.
A Glimpse at Greatness: Past winners of the Broyles Award include coaching titans like Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, and Dan Lanning, among others. Last year's winner, Al Golden, has since moved on to the Cincinnati Bengals, highlighting the award's prestige and its ability to spotlight rising stars.
The winner will be announced on Thursday, February 12th, 2026, during a live ceremony in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of the semifinalists? Do you agree with the selection process, or do you think other coaching positions deserve more recognition? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And stay tuned for more updates!
