No USC assistant coaches are among Broyles Award finalists
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On Tuesday, the five finalists for the Broyles Award were announced. The Broyles Award is given annually to the best assistant coach in college football. USC football coaches were snubbed, notably Zach Hanson and Luke Huard.
The winner will be announced on February 12, 2026 at the 30th Anniversary Broyles Award Event at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Who are the finalists?
This year's five finalists are:
- Mike Bobo, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Georgia
- Bryant Haines, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Indiana
- Corey Hetherman, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Miami
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator at Ohio State
- Shiel Wood, defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach at Texas Tech
Luke Huard was nominated
USC football's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Luke Huard was one of the 63 initial nominees for the Broyles Award, but he will not be headed to Hot Springs for the award ceremony this time.
Huard helped USC have one of best offenses in the entire FBS this season, and helped develop Jayden Maiava into one of the best quarterbacks in the country. But that wasn't enough of a resume to beat out the other coaches, each of whom coach for a team that is set to play in the upcoming College Football Playoff.
Hanson, Jones, others could have been nominated
Huard wasn't the only USC assistant that led a successful position group this season. Zach Hanson did a great job with the offensive line, and Anthony Jones Jr. was great as the running backs coach and run game coordinator. Chad Savage also deserves his flowers for a great season as the tight ends/inside receivers coach.
Even though none of these guys are going to get the Broyles award, Trojan fans should show them all their appreciation for such a great season.
USC's Broyles history
USC has just one Broyles Award winner in program history: offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who won the award back in 2002.
Keep in mind that the award wasn't founded until 1996. USC likely would have had several more winners had the award existed prior to that.
Lincoln Riley's Broyles history
USC head coach Lincoln Riley actually won the Broyles Award back in 2015 when he was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. He is the youngest winner of the award ever.
Riley's brother Garrett Riley won the award as well in 2022, when he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at TCU.
My pick this year: Bryant Haines
I think that Ohio State's defense and Indiana's defense are the two strongest units in any phase of football in the entire country. They just went head to head, and Bryant Haines's Hooisers beat Matt Patricia's Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship. For me, it's that simple.
If the Broyles winner can't be a Trojan this year, I'd vote for Bryant Haines of Indiana.
Here's to hoping it's a Trojan next year.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Broyles Award finalists announced Tuesday, USC not represented
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