College Football Teams That Would Be Perfect for Reality TV Shows in 2016
College football and reality television seemingly go hand in hand these days—and I'm not just referring to my Bleacher Report colleagues who love to live-tweet The Bachelor.
As Bachelor live-tweeter and SEC football lead writer Barrett Sallee wrote last month, Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has a new web-based reality show from in-state radio host Bo Mattingly. Being Bret Bielema already has two trailers on YouTube, including one where Bielema makes the perfect pitch for year-round egg nog.
Bielema isn't the only college football figure to get the reality show treatment recently. Last year, Showtime went in-depth with college football's famous Fighting Irish on its series A Season with Notre Dame.
But why stop there? Here are 10 other college football programs that would be perfect for reality television shows heading into the 2016 season. Some have head coaches who are made for the spotlight, while others are programs with intriguing storylines as they venture into new eras.
Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list of college football programs that would be great for reality TV. Pitch your own ideas for shows in the comments below.
Alabama
1 of 10
Nick Saban, a coach who doesn't allow his assistants to talk to the media during the regular season, surely wouldn't be a fan of a reality show on the inner workings of his famous "process." But imagine the possibilities of an in-depth look at the defending national champions.
First and foremost, the on-screen dynamic between the straight-laced Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin would make for must-see TV. Fans got to see what the two looked like working together on the sidelines during their first two seasons. But how does that dynamic duo mesh away from game days?
Ultra-passionate Alabama strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran would be a breakout reality show star and would be a prime candidate to get a spin-off show of his own. Watching him lead the Tide's physical freaks such as running back Bo Scarbrough—who can bench press 475 pounds and squat 540 pounds, according to Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer—through demanding workouts would be quite a sight.
Love them or hate them, a reality show starring the Alabama Crimson Tide would be an eye-opening look at how a college football dynasty operates day in and day out.
Clemson
2 of 10
The next college football team that would be perfect for a reality show in 2016 would be the one that took Alabama down to the wire for the College Football Playoff National Championship—Clemson. Following the Tigers as they try to follow up 2015's run to the title game would be a hit thanks to the strong cast in Death Valley, led by coach Dabo Swinney.
"He's just a charismatic, enthusiasm-filled, loving guy," Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain told Bleacher Report's Greg Couch. "He's very strong on trying to implement being good people. People fall in love with him right away. I just feel like Dabo is Dabo."
On top of Dabo being Dabo—imagine the possibilities of his dancing in the locker room as the closing credits roll—the show would also be able to follow the Heisman campaign of Odds Shark's preseason favorite, Deshaun Watson. How does the Clemson quarterback handle all the pressure on him and still deliver incredible performance after incredible performance?
Watching star wide receiver Mike Williams make his return from a serious neck injury in last season's opener would be incredible television, and football fans would love an inside look at how coordinator Brent Venables rebuilds his defense after another exodus of NFL talent. There would be no shortage of great storylines to follow here.
Houston
3 of 10
One of the biggest breakout stars of the 2015 college football season was none other than Houston head coach Tom Herman, who led his Cougars to a 13-1 record and a New Year's Six bowl victory in just his first year. The spotlight will be directly on the high-rising, grill-flashing coach in 2016, making his team a perfect fit for a reality program.
As Steven Godfrey of SB Nation wrote last year, Herman is concerned deeply about the intricate details of building the Houston program into a national power—he gets the carpet in the football facilities cleaned at least once every two weeks. A hypothetical reality show following Houston would be a great look into how far the Cougars have come in just one season and how Herman plans to lead them even further.
Houston's roster would have great stories, too, especially with the newfound fame of dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. The incoming freshmen in Houston's star-studded 2016 recruiting class, led by No. 6 overall recruit Ed Oliver, would be fun to follow as they make the high-profile transition to a college program on the rise.
And as if those storylines weren't enough, the preseason preparation and buildup to Houston's massive showdown with defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma at NRG Stadium could be a complete series on its own.
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LSU
4 of 10
A no-brainer for a list like this one, LSU would be must-see reality TV thanks to the strength of its central character—Les Miles. Imagine a camera following every move of the Tigers head coach at work, from his memorable press conference one-liners to his ritualistic grass samplings.
"I've been arguing that SEC football coaches—and their wives—should have reality shows for a long time," Clay Travis of Fox Sports wrote. "In particular, the fact that Les Miles doesn't have a reality show is a national travesty."
Unfortunately, the chance at following Miles through his bizarre hot-seat saga of last November has already passed. However, the high pressure of winning big in Baton Rouge—especially with the overwhelming amount of returning talent for the 2016 season—would make for incredible drama involving "The Hat."
In addition to Miles, a TV crew would also be able to follow superstar running back Leonard Fournette as he tries to win a national title and a Heisman Trophy in 2016 for his home state. Throw defensive assistant Ed Orgeron in a Hummer, and you've got all the makings of an award-winning show.
Miami
5 of 10
This year kicks off a new era of Miami football—one that the Hurricanes hope will be a return to their title-winning glory days. The spotlight will be back on Miami again in 2016, and a reality show following the Hurricanes would be a natural fit.
Mark Richt's transition from a long career in Athens as the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs back to the completely different locale of Miami would be fun to watch. Richt is no stranger to Miami—he played quarterback there in the early 1980s—but it's quite a change from the college towns where he's previously coached.
A show in Miami would have a goldmine of stories from the local Hurricanes players who decided to stay close to home and try to bring the swagger back to "The U." Special guest appearances from former Miami greats who want to see Richt take their school back to the top would also make for a great dynamic.
For an added bonus, a reality show following Richt and the Hurricanes would have the picturesque backdrop of the Miami area. The views and potential storylines make for an ideal reality show.
Michigan
6 of 10
Like LSU and Les Miles, Michigan and Jim Harbaugh are just perfect for a reality show. After all, Harbaugh already has acting experience, and he's firmly in the "Tyson Zone," as Zach Barnett of Football Scoop pointed out earlier this month.
"Essentially, [the Tyson Zone is] when a sports figure, named after the famed and crazy boxer, reaches a point where any story is instantly believable simply because of how far out there the person in question has become," Barnett wrote.
Although Harbaugh's viral moments have mostly been concentrated on the recruiting trail, he's been a camera magnet in almost all other aspects of his time as Michigan's head coach. Harbaugh played the piccolo with the marching band and has starred in several famous sideline blowups. There's no telling what he'll do next, and that is music to a reality show producer's ears.
Outside of Ohio State and Michigan State fans, who wouldn't want to watch the thought process behind Harbaugh's tweets? Who wouldn't want to tune in to a show that Ric Flair could be in at any time? The headline-maker that is Michigan football under Harbaugh would be a ratings machine.
Navy
7 of 10
There's nothing quite like service academy football, where the players go through not only the regular rigors of football and academic training but also military training as they prepare for their future service to the United States. Navy, which was featured in a Showtime reality series surrounding the 2011 Army-Navy Game, would be an incredible subject again in 2016.
"What's good about this—compared to other annual reality shows out there—is there's a lot more to this than sports," Peter Radovich, a co-producer of A Game of Honor, told Michael Hiestand of USA Today in 2011.
In terms of football storylines, a Navy series would focus on the team's transition to life without record-breaking quarterback Keenan Reynolds. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo, who decided to stay at Navy instead of going to BYU at the end of last season, and his veteran staff will face the task of replacing Reynolds and several multiyear leaders at Navy as it heads into its second season in the AAC.
From a freshman's first days at the academy to a senior's final season before starting his military career, fans would be able to see a unique brand of college football through different perspectives.
Oregon
8 of 10
A new-school powerhouse such as Oregon would be the ideal program for a reality television series. The Ducks could use it to further boost their national recruiting reputation, and college football fans would get an inside look at a trend-setting program.
In 2016, the cameras would be able to follow the Ducks as they look to bounce back from what was an underwhelming 9-4 season, given their growing standards as a national title contender. Dakota Prukop's offseason development as the replacement for quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., another former star from the FCS ranks, would be intriguing to watch.
A reality show starring the Ducks would also let fans get up close and personal with Oregon's state-of-the-art football facilities, some of which have to be seen to be believed. Oregon's equipment staff and the process behind the creation and selection of the team's unique Nike uniforms would be major selling points of the show, too.
All of the characteristics that make Oregon football unique in the college football landscape, from the offenses to the aesthetics, make the Ducks the perfect subject for an in-depth reality series.
Virginia Tech
9 of 10
Like Miami, fellow ACC Coastal school Virginia Tech is entering a new era in 2016. But the Hokies are quite different from the Hurricanes in that their new head coach is replacing one who was at the school for 29 seasons.
Enter the new star of the show, Justin Fuente, who was tabbed as Frank Beamer's replacement after taking what was a struggling Memphis program to new heights. Virginia Tech is hoping to get back into contention for championships under Fuente, but following up a legend is always difficult, no matter the successor's resume.
“We all know you don’t replace a legend in coaching," Fuente said, per Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com. "You hope to build on what he’s done. You hope to continue to operate in the same manner with the same principles and same integrity that he’s done for so very many years here."
A reality show following Virginia Tech this season would give plenty of insight into the transition to a new regime in Blacksburg, from Fuente himself to a longtime Beamer assistant such as defensive coordinator Bud Foster to the players who played for Beamer during his memorable final season.
Western Michigan
10 of 10
Smaller "Group of Five" programs wouldn't normally generate wide-scale interest for a potential reality series, but Western Michigan is a different animal. For those unfamiliar with the Broncos, double the energy of Dabo Swinney and the wackiness of Les Miles and arm this new creation with an endless list of catchphrases.
That's P.J. Fleck, who is entering his fourth year as the head coach of Western Michigan in 2016. He's taken the Broncos to bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history behind a wide-open offense and his famous "row the boat" motto. (Please note that a drinking game with that phrase for a hypothetical WMU reality series would be extremely dangerous.)
As Spencer Hall of SB Nation has repeatedly shown on Twitter, P.J. Fleck might be the most interesting/insane head coach in the entire country:
Now imagine a camera on Fleck at all times as he leads his team into a 2016 season where the Broncos could be considered a favorite for the MAC championship. You're welcome, Hollywood.
Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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