Pete Carroll Vs. Urban Meyer: Who's No. 1?

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

There are only two coaches vying for the No. 1 spot in college football.

Urban Meyer of the University of Florida and Pete Carroll of the University of Southern California top most lists of the best coaches in America and may soon have the opportunity to settle the question on the field.

Tim Tebow, a once-in-a-lifetime recruit who helped Meyer win two national titles, is entering his final season, and Notre Dame is recovering from a 7-6 season that brought Charlie Weis’ record with the Fighting Irish to an unacceptable 29-21, making 2010 the perfect time for Meyer to head to Notre Dame.

Meyer, a former Notre Dame assistant, has little left to prove at Florida, where he’s the third-highest paid coach in the SEC, and recent reports convey an image of an out-of-control program.

Certainly, Notre Dame would have no problem making him the highest-paid coach in America.

If Weis doesn’t come back for the Irish in 2010, the country could be treated to an annual duel between the two best coaches in America.

The annual Southern Cal-Notre Dame rivalry could be rekindled, and we’d get the answer to the question on everyone’s mind.

Who’s the best coach in America?

Both coaches have won national championships, produced Heisman Trophy winners, and decimated their team’s biggest rivals.

It’s definitely close, with both coaches claiming two national titles and winning percentages above 80 percent.

Meyer supporters will point to Florida’s dominance in the mighty Southeastern Conference, which has taken the last three BCS titles.

Carroll’s supporters will argue that his dominance of the Pac-10 and seven straight BCS bowl appearances are unmatched.

Recruiting

Both coaches are great recruiters who control their home states. If you’re the best in California or Florida, chances are you’ll be donning a Trojan or Gator uniform in college.

Additionally, both have proven to be great national recruiters, with Meyer landing Percy Harvin, the gamebreaker from Virginia Beach, and Carroll landing All-American Taylor Mays from Seattle.

Advantage: Tied

Coaching

Meyer has a background as an offensive coach, and his recruitment of Tim Tebow was the perfect marriage of player and system, with Tebow thriving in Meyer’s spread offense. Meyer’s offense produced video game numbers and a Heisman for Tebow in 2007 and has yet to be stopped in the last two years.

Carroll has a defensive background, and his teams consistently produce All-Americans at every defensive position. Carroll, a former college safety, may have the next Troy Polamalu in Mays. The Trojans consistently have one of the country's top defenses, and in 2008 the team had three shutouts and held No. 5 Ohio State to three points.

Advantage: Tied

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