FSU coaching watch: Schumann, Dillingham earn wins as Lashlee and Diaz stumble

Florida State picked up its second consecutive road win Friday night at Pitt. With the Seminoles back to .500, attention Saturday also turned toward coaches worth watching as the search for the program’s next head coach continues.

Glenn Schumann’s Georgia defense helped establish an early lead against Missouri, Kenny Dillingham secured bowl eligibility at Arizona State, and Bob Chesney kept UCLA unbeaten Friday night. Rhett Lashlee and Manny Diaz had more difficult outings, while Eric Morris entered a late matchup against Texas Tech.

Glenn Schumann: Georgia’s defense takes control early

Georgia defeated Missouri 48–21, but the first half provided the clearest picture of how well Schumann’s defense played.

The Bulldogs allowed just 115 yards before halftime. Raylen Wilson intercepted Missouri’s first pass, setting up an early touchdown, and Georgia built a 31–0 lead before the Tigers finally scored.

For Florida State fans, that was an amazing example of a defense helping dictate a game. Georgia created an immediate scoring opportunity and continued getting stops.

Schumann’s defensive background remains a significant part of his appeal. Saturday offered another strong example of what his current unit can do.

Rhett Lashlee: SMU suffers a difficult home loss

Lashlee had one of the toughest afternoons among the coaches in this discussion. SMU lost 49–7 at home to Jake Dickert’s Wake Forest team after falling behind 42–0 at halftime.

The Mustangs managed just 275 total yards, while Wake Forest scored six rushing touchdowns. SMU dropped to 7–3 with the loss.

For Lashlee, the concern was how little resistance his team offered on either side of the ball. An offense that needed to keep SMU competitive produced only one touchdown, and the defense could not slow Wake Forest enough to give it a chance to recover.

Dickert deserves credit for the performance, but his recently announced extension makes his availability a larger obstacle in any potential pursuit.

Manny Diaz: Duke cannot finish at Miami

Diaz’s return to Miami ended with a 36–25 loss. Duke stayed within reach in the fourth quarter, trailing 22–17 before the Hurricanes answered with a touchdown drive. An interception on the Blue Devils’ next possession helped Miami pull away.

Miami finished with 532 total yards, including 382 passing yards.

For a coach whose defensive experience is a major selling point, that was the most disappointing part of the afternoon.

Kenny Dillingham: Arizona State earns bowl eligibility

Dillingham led Arizona State to a 26–13 win at UCF, securing bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season. The Sun Devils improved to 6–4 and held a UCF offense that entered averaging more than 30 points per game to 13.

Florida State fans know Dillingham’s offensive background from his time in Tallahassee. This win showed the value of getting enough support from the defense to finish a road game without needing a high-scoring performance.

Bob Chesney: UCLA keeps its unbeaten season alive

Chesney’s game came Friday night, when UCLA defeated Illinois 22–14 to improve to 10–0. It was the Bruins’ first 10–0 start since 1998.

Chesney continues to give programs reasons to pay attention. His success also gives UCLA every reason to try to extend him, which they seem to be working on diligently.

Eric Morris: An offensive coach worth examining

Eric Morris had his name brought up into some discussions today. Oklahoma State’s head coach entered a late Saturday matchup against Texas Tech. This game is slated for later tonight.

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker entered the matchup with 2,962 passing yards, while running back Caleb Hawkins had 1,081 rushing yards. That production gave Oklahoma State established threats through the air and on the ground.

Quarterback development should be an important part of Florida State’s evaluation. The Seminoles need more consistent offensive production, and Morris’s work makes him worth examining. He has developed many quarterbacks such as Baker Mayfield, Cam Ward, Patrick Mahomes, and many others.

Kane Wommack: Alabama’s defense carries the afternoon

Kane Wommack’s defense delivered a strong performance in Alabama’s 21–6 win at Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide kept the Commodores out of the end zone, allowed just 235 total yards and limited Vanderbilt to 12 rushing yards. His name was also mentioned today for the first time. I think this is a very intriguing name to look at.

Alabama also recorded five sacks and held Vanderbilt to 2-of-15 on third down. The Commodores managed only 32 yards in the first half, giving Alabama time to find enough offense to take control.

For Florida State, the ability to get off the field and shut down the running game makes this a performance worth noticing. Alabama did not need a huge offensive afternoon because Wommack’s unit consistently handled its part.

What it means for Florida State

Schumann added another strong defensive performance to his résumé, Dillingham earned a useful road win, and Chesney kept UCLA unbeaten. Lashlee and Diaz left Saturday with losses that exposed their teams.

These results are part of the evaluation. Florida State is expected to begin interviews this week.