Jake Dickert, a name some of us in the Pacific Northwest might remember from his solid work at Washington State, just landed an A+ grade for his second year coaching Wake Forest. That is not just a good grade, that is top of the class, showing he is absolutely killing it with a program that frankly, was not expected to make much noise.
Wake Forest Is Rolling, And Dickert Is The Reason Why
Seriously, two years in, Dickert has established himself as one of college football’s biggest rising stars. Remember when his hiring at Wake Forest did not even make headlines? Well, it is making them now! He has taken what is considered one of the least-resourced programs in the Power Four, and turned them into a legit contender. They are sitting at a phenomenal 15-5 start with a No. 14 ranking in the AP Top 25. The Demon Deacons’ only loss? A tight game against Miami. What is even crazier, they have won their last three games by an average of a staggering 37.3 points per game. That is not just winning, that is straight up demolishing opponents. Next up, a road trip to No. 19 SMU on November 14 could actually decide an ACC title game berth. Talk about high stakes.
Belichick’s Rocky Start and Hard-Fought Wins
On the flip side, Bill Belichick’s move to college football with North Carolina has been a bit more of a grind, earning him a ‘B’ grade. His staff apparently underestimated how fast you need to build a roster in the portal era, leading to a lackluster squad and a disappointing 4-8 first season. Yikes. But give him credit, Belichick has adjusted. Even with defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi sidelined with off-field issues, the Tar Heels have managed to build a competitive team. North Carolina is currently 4-3, with their two ACC losses coming by a combined nine points. That is a young roster fighting tooth and nail, and who knows, more is possible for them in 2027.
Frost’s UCF Knights Are On A Thrilling Comeback
Another coach making waves in his second year is Scott Frost at UCF. Like Belichick, Frost was slow to adapt to the speed of college football’s portal cycle after his stint with the Los Angeles Rams. They almost hit a bowl game in his first year but just lacked the depth against Big 12 opponents. Now though, Frost says the Knights are better “everywhere” in 2026, and he is absolutely right. Despite facing a bunch of injuries, UCF is jumping all over Big 12 teams, including putting scores in both No. 20 Houston and No. 18 Oklahoma State. They just pulled off a thrilling upset against No. 2 BYU last week! With five straight games against unranked teams to close out the year, do not be surprised if the Knights push towards eight wins.
So, while some coaches are still finding their footing, Jake Dickert is proving to be the real deal, turning a “did not make headlines” hire into the talk of college football. We will be watching to see if Wake Forest can seal that ACC title game spot against No. 19 SMU next month. What a turnaround!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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