Dec. 1: Ranking the best coaches in the Big 12

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No. 1: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

Stoops catches a lot of flack for losing the big game, but forgive me for not condemning a guy for losing title games to Nick Saban, Pete Carroll and Urban Meyer.

Stoops' best coaching job was in 2006 when he lost his starting QB Rhett Bomar before the season and Adrian Peterson early in the season and still won the Big 12 championship with Paul Thompson, a receiver the previous season, leading the team.

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No. 2: Art Briles, Baylor

Doesn't get enough credit for what he has done in Waco. Baylor was the undisputed laughing stock of the Big 12 before he arrived in Waco. Furthermore, his impact at the University of Houston can still be seen this season.

A lot of people would argue RG3 deserves the majority of the credit for the turnaround in Waco, but consider the following...

1.) Briles has never has a problem finding quarterbacks. See: Kevin Kolb and Case Keenum

2.) It isn't like Griffin was a blue chipper, Briles discovered him. If it weren't for Briles Griffin may've been a safety somewhere. Contrary to popular belief, recruiting ability should come into play when evaluating college coaches, it isn't something that should be held against a coach. That's not a knock on Griffin's talent, but Briles has always handled quarterbacks well and deserves credit for giving RG3 the opportunity to play QB at the next level.

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No. 3: Gary Patterson, TCU

Some people will argue that this is too low for Patterson, but I think it's a beyond generous ranking.

Patterson draws a lot of praise for competing at a high level despite not getting top-notch recruits, but you could make a strong case Patterson has had a significant advantage in recruiting during his tenure at TCU.

The reality is Patterson hasn't coached in a conference against teams that get top-notch recruits either. Furthermore, he recruits in the state of Texas, one of the best recruiting pipelines in the country. Quick, name one team in the Mountain West conference TCU doesn't have a recruiting advantage over.

With all that said there's no disputing Patterson can coach, but we will see how he does in the Big 12. Winning with less praise has been unwarranted at this point, but if Patterson competes in the top-tier of the Big 12 he deserves every ounce of credit throws his way and belongs at the top of this list.

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No. 4: Mack Brown, Texas


Say what you want about Mack Brown and every advantage he may have in Austin, but he has done a great job at the University of Texas.

A lot of people knock Brown for having just one national championship, but there isn't a coach in college football that has more that two. You don't just fall out of a tree and land the job at Texas. Brown has three 10-win seasons at North Carolina and handles the extra duties and BS that comes with being a head coach at the University of Texas better than most could.

People are going to put people below Brown on this list above Brown with the popular "What would he do with those recruits" argument, but as I've already mentioned with those recruits comes extra baggage and responsibility. If it were simply about in-game coaching Brown might not be at No. 4, but it isn't.

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No. 5: Bill Snyder, Kansas State

I Would like to eat crow on this one. When Snyder went back to Kansas State I unleashed an array of jokes and thought there was no way in hell Kansas State would make the jump they have in his second tenure.

The fact Kansas State is doing what they're doing and might be in the Cotton Bowl this season is nothing short of phenomenal.

Snyder's teams might not have top-notch talent, but they never beat themselves. Snyder could easily be higher on this list, but for whatever reason I find it difficult to rank him higher on the list. However, it shouldn't bother Snyder because 1.) He doesn't read this blog 2.) If he does... He has already shown he does his best work when everyone's counting him out.

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No. 6: Paul Rhoads, Iowa State

His coaching is underrated, his speeches are overrated, but his teams with make up for limited talent by being scrappy and fighting until the very end.

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No. 7: Mike Gundy, OSU

The facilities and recruiting have improved significantly in Stillwater, but until the Pokes take that next step Gundy is among the bottom-half of the coaches in the conference.

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No. 8: Tommy Tuberville, TTU

Not a good start for Tuberville in Lubbock and if there isn't significant progress in year three the seat could be scorching hot.

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No. 9: Dana Holgorsen, WVU

Young, fiery coach, but still unproven. Huge upside though.

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No. 10: Whoever is coaching at Kansas

Question: Why doesn't Mark Mangino get Mike Leach-like praise for the way in which the Kansas program has fallen apart since he left? You could argue that the Kansas drop in much worse than Tech's.