Currently coaching: USC

College playing career: Played quarterback at BYU from 1995-96. After finishing high school in the L.A. area, Sarkisian walked-on to play baseball at USC, then at a junior college. He eventually gave up that idea, then played junior college football for two seasons before moving on to BYU, where he was a two-year starter who threw for 7,564 yards. (Mark A. Philbrick/BYU/USA Today Sports)

Currently coaching: Oregon State

College playing career: Played defensive back at Alabama from 1971-74. He never was a starter but played on Crimson Tide teams that went a combined 43-5 while he was there. He is the only Bear Bryant-coached player who currently is a FBS head coach. Riley's uncle, Hayden, was Alabama's basketball coach (1960-68), then became the school's baseball coach (1970-79). Perhaps more important, Hayden Riley also was Bryant's recruiting coordinator for a time. (Bryant Museum/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Florida

College playing career: Played safety at Georgia from 1991-94. He began his career as a walk-on, became a part-time starter in 1993 and was a full-time starter and captain in19'94. Of note: Georgia was 0-4 against Florida while Muschamp was in school. (UGA Sports Communications/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Alabama

College playing career: Played defensive back at Kent State from 1970-72. He was a three-year starter and credits Don James, who coached the Golden Flashes in Saban's junior and senior seasons, for getting him involved in coaching. Kent State won its only MAC title in 1972. Saban was a freshman at Kent State when four students involved in an anti-war protest were shot and killed by Ohio National Guard members. (Kent State University Special Collections/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: South Carolina

College playing career: Played quarterback at Florida from 1964-66. He won the Heisman in 1966, and it was written of him by John Logue of the Atlanta Journal that season that, "Spurrier, with his hands tied behind his back and facing a firing squad, would be favored to escape." He later became the only man to have both won the Heisman and coached a Heisman winner (Florida's Danny Wuerffel in 1996). (Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Michigan

College playing career: A guard at Michigan from 1972-75. Lettered as junior and senior. The 1974 team was a Big Ten co-champ. (University of Michigan Athletic Department/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Texas A&M

College playing career: Played linebacker at Purdue from 1983-86. While he began his career as a walk-on, he was a four-year starter for the Boilermakers. He is seventh in school history in tackles (375) -- three spots behind Rod Woodson, who was his teammate all four years he was at Purdue. (Purdue Athletics Communications/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Oklahoma

College playing career: Played safety at Iowa from 1979-82. He was a four-year starter and was named All-Big Ten in 1982. (UI Athletic Communications/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Texas Tech

College playing career: Played quarterback at Texas Tech from 1998-2002. He started in his final three seasons with the Red Raiders, throwing for 11,937 yards from 2000-02. He finished his career with 12,429 yards, 95 touchdowns and 40 interceptions. He ranks 21st in NCAA history in passing yards, and in 2002, became just the third FBS quarterback in history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, with 5,017 (joining Ty Detmer and David Klingler). (Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Oklahoma State

College playing career: Played quarterback at Oklahoma State from 1986-89. He became the starting quarterback midway through his freshman season and started the rest of his career. When he graduated, he was the leading passer in Big Eight history with 7,997 yards. He probably is best-known as a player, though, for handing off to Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders. (Oklahoma State Athletics/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Central Michigan

College playing career: Played quarterback at Michigan State from 1987-90. He started as a junior and senior, guiding the Spartans to bowls in each of those seasons. They won a share of the Big Ten title in 1990. (Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Western Michigan

College playing career: Played wide receiver at Northern Illinois from 1999-2003. He also was one of the most prolific punt returners in school history. Fleck was an All-MAC pick as a senior, when he had 77 receptions. NIU beat Alabama and Maryland that season. (Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Northwestern

College playing career: Played linebacker at Northwestern from 1993-96. He was a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year (1995 and '96), won the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy in those seasons and was a consensus All-American as well. The Bednarik and Nagurski go to the nation's top defender. (Northwestern Athletics/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: South Florida

College playing career: Played quarterback at Western Kentucky from 1995-98 for then-coach John Harbaugh, the father of NFL coaches Jim and John. Taggart finished in the top 10 in voting for the Walter Payton Award -- given annually to the best FCS player -- in 1997 and '98. (WKU Athletics/USA Today Sports)

Currently coaching: Miami (Fla.)

College playing career: Played tight end at Penn State from 1987-91. He was a three-year letterman and two-year starter for the Nittany Lions; he also was the team captain as a senior. (Penn State Athletics/USA Today Sports)

Currently coaching: SMU

College playing career: Played quarterback at Oregon (1971-72), Hawaii (1974) and Portland State (1975-76). He didn't do much in college (he was behind Dan Fouts at Oregon) until he got to Division I-AA Portland State, where he threw for 5,798 yards and 50 touchdowns in two seasons running then-coach Mouse Davis' run-and-shoot offense. (Portland State Athletics/Associated Press)

Currently coaching: Oregon State

College playing career: Played safety and linebacker at Oregon State from 1986-87. He started for both seasons -- as a safety in 1986 and as a linebacker in 1987 -- after transferring from junior college; he was a team captain in 1987. (Oregon State University/USA Today Sports)