Another list of college football’s top coaches, another top slot for Pete Carroll:

The buzz: Carroll has made USC arguably the premier program in the nation. Carroll’s 76-14 record in eight seasons gives him the best winning percentage of any Division I coach with at least five years’ experience. He has won 74 of his past 83 games along with a share of two national titles and a record six consecutive Pac-10 championships.

But wait—here’s a list that puts Carroll at #2.

2. Pete Carroll : USC : Talk about tough. How hard is it to put this guy into the 2 slot? Easily the most respected team in the country amongst his coaching brethren, year in and year out. Pete has built an absoulute MONSTER in South California since his arrival 8 years ago. In his 7 years as head coach, the Trojans are merely 76-14. And that includes his 1st year with a 6-6 record with a very poor team. Take away the 1st year dagger, and Pete is 70-8 over 6 years. He also has 2 National Titles to claim (although LSU fans will debate that). Since his 2nd year in LA, Pete has held the Trojans as serious National Contenders in EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Bar none. His recruiting has been 2nd to none. His coaching, could be questioned, but I don’t know that I could. The absolute talent that he has brought into LA is unquestioned. Simply the best of the best in the country.

So who’s #1, and why? Jim Tressel, because

Pete’s record at USC may look to be more impressive, but his legacy has some certain conspiracy rivaled around it right now as well. Mr. Tressel has no contenders to the cleanest and best run program in the nation right now. NONE. Sure, he has had his few stragglers, but for the large part, “The Vest” has brought in solid young men who want to play football and get an education at the same time. That has to be respected.

There you have it. I’m not sure what it means that Pete’s legacy has some certain conspiracy rivaled around it, but whatever it means, it was enough to knock him from the top spot. That and the academics, apparently, even though USC’’s program has a higher graduation rate.