Tuesday, the five finalists for the Broyles Prize have been announced. The Broyles Award is presented annually to the top assistant coach in college football. USC football coaches have been snubbed, including Zach Hanson and Luke Huard.
The winner will be announced on February 12, 2026 at the Broyles Award 30th Anniversary event at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
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Who are the finalists?
This year’s five finalists are:
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Mike Bobo, Georgia offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
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Bryant Haines, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Indiana
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Corey Hetherman, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Miami
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Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator at Ohio State
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Shiel Wood, defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach at Texas Tech
Luke Huard was nominated
USC footballOffensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Luke Huard, was one of 63 initial nominees for the Broyles Award, but he will not be traveling to Hot Springs for the awards ceremony this time.
Huard helped USC put together one of the best offenses in the entire FBS this season and helped turn Jayden Maiava into one of the best quarterbacks in the country. But that resume wasn’t enough to beat out the other coaches, each of whom was coaching a team expected to make the upcoming College Football Playoff.
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Hanson, Jones, others could have been nominated
Huard wasn’t the only USC assistant to successfully lead a position group this season. Zach Hanson has done a great job with the offensive line, and Anthony Jones Jr. has been great as running backs coach and running game coordinator. Chad Savage also deserves his flowers for a great season as tight ends/inside receivers coach.
Even though none of these guys will receive the Broyles Award, Trojan fans should show them their appreciation for such a great season.
The History of the USC Broyles
USC has only one Broyles Award winner in program history: offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who won the award in 2002.
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Keep in mind that the award was not established until 1996. USC likely would have had several other winners if the award had existed before that.
The Story of the Broyles by Lincoln Riley
USC head coach Lincoln Riley actually won the Broyles Award in 2015 while he was offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. He is the youngest winner of this award.
Riley’s brother, Garrett Riley, also won the award in 2022, when he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at TCU.
My pick this year: Bryant Haines
I think the Ohio State defense and the Indiana defense are the two strongest units in any phase of football in the entire country. They faced each other and Bryant Haines’ Hooisers beat Matt Patricia’s. Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship. For me, it’s that simple.
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If the Broyles winner can’t be a Trojan this year, I’d vote for Indiana’s Bryant Haines.
Let’s hope it’s a Trojan next year.
This article was originally published on Trojans Wire: Broyles Prize finalists announced Tuesday, USC not represented
