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Michigan State football: Power ranking head coaching candidates after Week 12

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 18, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Washington Huskies head Coach Kalen DeBoer (left) and Oregon State Beavers head coach Jonathan Smith meet after a game at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Washington Huskies head Coach Kalen DeBoer (left) and Oregon State Beavers head coach Jonathan Smith meet after a game at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 18, 2023; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko looks on from the sidelines against the Virginia Cavaliers during the third quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2023; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko looks on from the sidelines against the Virginia Cavaliers during the third quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Elko is one of two rumored finalists for Michigan State’s head coaching job and that’s not a surprise given the type of success he’s had at Duke in a short period of time.

However, the second half of the 2023 season has been a nightmare for Elko and his supporters. After a 5-1 start, the Blue Devils have fallen to 6-5 with one-score losses to both North Carolina and Virginia on the road over the past two weeks. He’s a couple of plays away from being 8-3 right now with a spot in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Unfortunately, that’s what can happen when your star quarterback gets hurt and you have to rely on an unproven passer. But freshman Grayson Loftis hasn’t even played that poorly which is a point for Elko. He knows how to develop players.

This recent cold streak has led me to drop him from No. 1 where he was not too long ago to No. 3 but I do believe there’s a very real chance that he becomes Michigan State’s next head coach.

That chance is shrinking by the day, though.

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