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Grading college football head-coaching hires

After firing Jimbo Fisher and paying a record $76 million buyout, the Aggies picked former Duke coach Mike Elko to lead their team. Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire

The college football coaching carousel has reached its second and more exciting phase: hiring season.

Positions are beginning to fill in the Power 5, starting with Northwestern and Michigan State. Every new hire comes with a degree of hope but also plenty to analyze. Recent coaching cycles have shown that some can't-miss hires will miss and that less-celebrated coaches have been exactly what certain programs needed.

We are here to break down the most notable new hires: how head coaches fit, the challenges they will face and more. We also will supply an initial grade. This file will be updated throughout the coaching carousel.

Jump to a hire:
Texas A&M
Indiana
Mississippi State
Michigan State
Northwestern
Oregon State
Syracuse

Mike Elko to Texas A&M