Photo Credit: Oklahoma State
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The 2026 college football season gave several former AAC coaches new challenges. Three of them moved from the American Athletic Conference to Power Four programs. However, their first games produced plenty of questions. Eric Morris, Ryan Silverfield, and Alex Golesh all faced pressure immediately. Each coach left the AAC with a strong offensive reputation. Their first performances at new schools showed how difficult that transition can be.
Eric Morris Takes the Biggest Hit
Eric Morris probably had the roughest debut of the group. Morris left North Texas for Oklahoma State during the offseason. The Cowboys hired him to rebuild a program after a disastrous 2025 season. Instead, Oklahoma State opened the season with another painful loss. The Cowboys fell 24-10 to Tulsa on Saturday. Tulsa controlled the game with strong defensive pressure and timely plays. Oklahoma State committed four turnovers during the loss. The Cowboys also turned the ball over on downs three times. Those mistakes made life difficult for Morris and his new offense.
Drew Mestemaker also struggled under pressure throughout the afternoon. Tulsa intercepted Mestemaker twice late in the game. The loss marked Tulsa’s second straight victory over Oklahoma State. That had not happened since 1951 and 1952. Morris spent halftime describing his team as “piss poor,” according to CBS Sports. That blunt assessment showed how disappointed he felt about the performance. Oklahoma State needs a major turnaround after losing 11 straight games last season. Instead, Morris opened his tenure with another loss.
Silverfield Wins, But Arkansas Struggles
Ryan Silverfield technically avoided the loss column. Still, his Arkansas debut created plenty of concern. The Razorbacks defeated North Alabama 31-14 in Fayetteville. That score looks comfortable at first glance. However, Arkansas struggled to create consistent offensive production. The Razorbacks finished with 415 total yards against an FCS opponent. They also committed eight penalties for 74 yards. Quarterback KJ Jackson threw three touchdown passes. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble. Arkansas led 21-0 before North Alabama finally found some offensive momentum.
The Lions eventually cut the deficit to 21-14. Arkansas responded with a touchdown and finally created some breathing room. Still, Silverfield wanted much more from his offense. He called the performance one of his worst offensive efforts. That comment carries weight after his successful run at Memphis. Silverfield built Memphis into one of the AAC’s most consistent programs. Now, he faces a much bigger challenge in the SEC. Arkansas also ended a 10-game losing streak with the victory.
Golesh Wins, But Auburn’s Offense Stalls
Alex Golesh also won his debut. However, Auburn’s 17-16 victory over Baylor hardly looked convincing. Golesh arrived at Auburn after building an explosive offense at South Florida. He also brought quarterback Byrum Brown with him. Brown produced 259 passing yards in his Auburn debut. He also rushed for 27 yards and scored the winning touchdown. Yet Auburn struggled to create explosive plays against Baylor. The Tigers managed only 17 points in the victory. Baylor’s defense consistently limited Auburn’s big-play opportunities.
Golesh admitted afterward that the offense needed plenty of work. He praised his players for finding a way to win. Still, he knows Auburn must improve quickly. The SEC offers little room for offensive inconsistency. Auburn cannot rely on late comebacks every week. The Tigers escaped with a victory, but the performance raised questions. Golesh now has time to fix those problems before conference play. Auburn’s win also extended its streak to 10 straight season-opening victories.
The AAC-to-Power Four Jump
These three coaches followed a growing college football trend. Power Four schools increasingly target successful Group of Six coaches. Those coaches often bring familiar assistants and players with them. The strategy aims to speed up rebuilding projects. However, Week 1 showed that continuity cannot solve every problem. Morris struggled against a Tulsa defense that forced four turnovers. Silverfield struggled to generate consistency against an FCS opponent. Golesh won, but his offense struggled to produce explosive plays. Meanwhile, former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall enjoyed a much better debut. Sumrall took over at Florida after leaving Tulane.
The Gators crushed Florida Atlantic 66-21 in his first game. Florida produced 624 total yards during the victory. Quarterback Aaron Philo accounted for four touchdowns. That performance offered a sharp contrast to the other former AAC coaches. CBS Sports noted that Sumrall also took a different approach. He hired Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator instead of carrying over his Tulane offense. Florida also relied heavily on transfers from Power Four programs. That approach gave Sumrall more proven talent and experience. His debut showed that every coaching transition follows a different path.
Week 1 Does Not Define Their Seasons
Despite the rough starts, none of these coaches deserves a final judgment yet. Morris inherited a major rebuilding project at Oklahoma State. Silverfield inherited an Arkansas program searching for stability. Golesh inherited an Auburn program looking for offensive consistency. All three coaches need time to establish their systems. Still, Week 1 exposed some immediate weaknesses. Morris needs to protect the football and create offensive rhythm. Silverfield needs cleaner execution and fewer penalties. Golesh needs more explosive plays from his offense.
Those improvements must come quickly. Power Four schedules rarely offer coaches unlimited time. For now, these former AAC coaches have plenty of work ahead. Their Week 1 performances provided more questions than answers. The next few weeks will show whether those concerns prove temporary. They also will reveal which coaches can successfully make the jump. The road from the AAC to the Power Four remains difficult. Week 1 simply provided the first evidence.
Let’s see how these coaches do in week two and the rest of the season.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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