While Clemson’s Dabo Swinney wasn’t too thrilled losing Saturday’s opener to Georgia, it actually might be better for his job security.
That’s because Swinney avoided the dreaded “Kirby Curse.” What’s the Kirby Curse? Let me explain.
In eight seasons at Georgia, Kirby Smart has lost only 16 games. Of the 11 coaches with wins over Smart, only six are current head coaches.
And all six current head coaches were fired from the schools where they beat Smart.
I’ll give you a minute to figure out who the six current head coaches with wins against Smart. But first, here are the coaches who defeated Smart who are no longer head coaches:
- Alabama’s Nick Saban: 5 wins
- LSU’s Ed Orgeron: 2 wins
- Florida’s Dan Mullen: 1 win
- Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson: 1 win
- South Carolina’s Will Muschamp: 1 win
Now that we have the former coaches out of the way, here are the six current head coaches, including schools where they beat Smart in parentheses.
- Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss), now at Auburn
- Tom Herman (Texas), now at FAU
- Butch Jones (Tennessee), now at Arkansas State
- Gus Malzahn (Auburn), now at UCF
- Derek Mason (Vanderbilt), now at Middle Tennessee
- Jim McElwain (Florida), now at Central Michigan
College Football's Globetrotters 🌎
While expansion in the Big Ten and ACC will result in several league members spending a lot more time flying this season, they can’t compare to college football’s official Globetrotters: the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.
The circumference of the Earth is 24,901 miles. Hawaii will travel 29,810 miles roundtrip this season — and the Warriors only have five road games.
Besides Hawaii, the 11 Power 4 teams that will travel the most this season are all from the ACC and Big Ten. Seven are from the ACC, including new members Cal and Stanford, while the four Big Ten teams are their new members — UCLA, Washington, USC and Oregon.
The ACC’s Florida State and Georgia Tech also are among the most traveled list, in part because of their season opener in Ireland.
Four Mountain West teams — Nevada, Boise State, UNLV and New Mexico, which each play a road game at Hawaii — rank among the top 10 schools that will travel the most this season.
Hawaii athletic director Craig Angelos has quickly become an expert on long-distance travel. He’s been with the Warriors since last year. What’s the most difficult aspect of the cross-country flights?
“Circadian rhythms,” Angelos said. “Regulating the players’ sleep and wake cycles, adapting to the time zones and getting your players physically and mentally ready to play.”
Hawaii’s travel might require the Warriors to span six time zones, while the ACC and Big Ten teams will only span a maximum of three in a conference game.
While Hawaii is college football’s undisputed Globetrotters, which teams have the shortest amount of travel in 2024?
Not surprisingly, the MAC — led by Miami (OH) — has three of the top six teams with the fewest miles traveled this season. These travel distances include nonconference games.
When considering only conference games, nine of the MAC’s 12 teams will travel less than 2,000 miles roundtrip in their four conference road games.
A look at the most and fewest roundtrip miles teams will travel in the 2024 season:
Most Roundtrip Miles (Power 4)
| School | Miles | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 22,122 | Big Ten |
| Cal | 20,694 | ACC |
| Stanford | 17,972 | ACC |
| Washington | 16,572 | Big Ten |
| USC | 13,912 | Big Ten |
| Florida State | 13,191 | ACC |
| Oregon | 12,552 | Big Ten |
| Miami | 11,672 | ACC |
| Georgia Tech | 11,508 | ACC |
| SMU | 11,282 | ACC |
| Syracuse | 11,164 | ACC |
Most Roundtrip Miles (Mountain West)*
*Each team plays at Hawaii
| School | Miles |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | 29,810 |
| Nevada | 13,608 |
| Boise State | 13,598 |
| UNLV | 13,310 |
| New Mexico | 13,022 |
Fewest Roundtrip Miles
| School | Miles | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 2,166 | MAC |
| Marshall | 2,416 | Sun Belt |
| Clemson | 2,476 | ACC |
| Auburn | 2,486 | SEC |
| Ohio | 3,068 | MAC |
| Kent State | 3,106 | MAC |
| Arkansas | 3,142 | SEC |
| Virginia | 3,174 | ACC |
| Vanderbilt | 3,182 | SEC |
| Appalachian State | 3,494 | Sun Belt |
Maybe Significant (Or Not) 🏈
For the first time in at least 20 years, Michigan is a home underdog to a team from another conference.
Michigan is a 7.5-point home underdog to Texas on Saturday. The Wolverines have been a home underdog to a non-Big Ten team only twice in the past 20 years — in 2011 and 2009 — both times against independent Notre Dame.
Excluding the 2020 COVID season, this is Michigan’s 17th game since 2005 as a home underdog — eight of those coming against Ohio State. Michigan went 3-4 against the spread against non-Ohio State teams as a home underdog.
This also marks just the sixth time since 2000 that the Wolverines are more than a touchdown underdog.
Michigan is 0-5 straight-up in those previous home underdog roles and has not won at home as more than a touchdown underdog since 1995 when UM, a nine-point 'dog, upset Ohio State, 31-23.
Dream Bowl Projection of the Week 😋
It’s only been 15 years since Nebraska lost to Texas, 13-12, in the 2009 Big 12 title game. I’m sure the Cornhuskers have gotten over it by now. No, you’re right. They haven’t.
Nebraska led, 12-10, when Texas quarterback Colt McCoy threw downfield and out of bounds as the clock expired. However, the officials went back and put one second on the clock, allowing Texas to kick the game-winning field goal.
Maybe the Cornhuskers can get their payback against Texas in a bowl this season. Of course, that would mean Nebraska would first have to end a seven-year bowl drought.
Sandwich Spot 🥪
Each week, I’ll post a "Sandwich Spot," signifying schools that might be in a challenging schedule or motivational situation.
Appalachian State +17.5 vs. Clemson
Clemson hosts the Mountaineers, who are among the favorites to win the Sun Belt.
This is a tough spot for the Tigers.
Clemson is coming off Saturday’s beatdown to No. 1 Georgia, and next week, the Tigers face NC State, looking to avenge last year’s 24-17 loss to the Wolfpack.
Each week, I’ll put my Sandwich Spot plays in the Action Network app – download here for free – on Sundays.
Season Record: 0-0
