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There are several College Football programs that many coaches covet, albeit many of the coaches covet these special jobs privately, probably through an agent, to protect their current job status from falling apart. Oh, surely the athletic directors, school presidents, students, players, fans and alumni wouldn't mind if "Johnny wants a better job head coach" looks around, right? Uh, no. And that is why coaches have to constantly lie to the media about changing jobs (i.e. "I have no interest in any job…") even though it is fairly obvious what is going on behind the scenes. Need proof? Nick Saban, how's the Miami Dolphins job treating you? Rich Rodriguez still loves his alma mater over the money, no doubt. And then there is the one-year NFL wonder that is now at Arkansas, whose name shall not be muttered because he is the worst of the lot. Welcome to big-time College Football, where coaches and the people who root for them and the programs they represent share equal blame for not being honest or realistic.

With all of the uncertainty that goes on with College Football's best coaching positions, how does one accurately depict who will take over at a top program? One does not, at least not without providence. With that said, here are three programs that will or could have coaching changes during the next three to five years:

The Florida State program without head coach Bobby Bowden is like a southern family reunion without fried chicken and potato salad. All things must come to an end, as the saying goes, and Bowden will indeed be stepping down, although the exact date is to be determined. Of course the choice of the next Florida State skipper became known to everyone when Jimbo Fisher, the current Seminoles offensive coordinator, was selected to succeed coach Bowden last Dec. 10. Whether Fisher will be a good choice is hard to say. Fisher's coaching stops include Samford (OC, 1991-92), Auburn (QBs, 1993-98), Cincinnati (OC, 1999), Louisiana State (OC/QBs, 2000-06), and Florida State OC/QBs, 2007-present).

The obvious question arises with Fisher: will a career assistant be able to make the adjustment to being a top-notch head coach at a perennial power? The Florida State powers that be believe Fisher is an excellent choice, and Fisher will have his opportunity when coach Bowden finally walks away from the Florida State program. One positive would be Fisher's age. He will turn forty-three years old on Oct. 10. If Fisher does do well, he could stay in Tallahassee for a long time, much like coach Bowden.

Penn State must decide on its next head coach, but the current head coach does not appear to be too happy about the way the next head coach will be selected in Happy Valley. Yes, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno is an icon; yes, coach Paterno has stalked the Nittany Lions sidelines for over fifty years as an assistant or head coach. Coach Paterno, however, at least allegedly, wants a large say with regards to who the next head coach in Happy Valley will be, like oh, say, the majority of the say. And that is just not going over well with various Penn State administrators and powerful alumni. Oh, this one could get ugly. Quite frankly, it already has.

Hey coach Paterno, nepotism rarely works in the institution's favor. Despite that business belief, coach Paterno has kept his son, Jay Paterno, on the Penn State coaching staff since 1995. That's one thing, but Paterno is also the quarterbacks coach, which just so happens to be the most important position on the gridiron. Ugh. Penn State signal callers have been heckled so often in the last decade that it's old news. Again, coach Paterno's son, Jay, coaches the Nittany Lions signal callers. The point of bringing up Jay is that Paterno was, is, and likely continue to be stubborn beyond a fault. So who takes over for him when he steps down?

Two names are most often bandied about with the Penn State job: Tom Bradley, the current Penn State defensive coordinator and secondary coach, and Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

Take a wild guess who Paterno would like to see be named the next head coach in Happy Valley? Coach Schiano spent six seasons at Penn State (1990-95), while coach Bradley has been at Penn State since 1980 as a coach, not to mention he played at Penn State before going into the coaching profession. Apparently the Penn State powers that be beyond Paterno think differently about Bradley as the next head coach of the Nittany Lions, or else like Florida State, a succession plan would have been put in place by now.

Schiano's name constantly comes up when a college job opens, such as Michigan last year and Miami before that. Penn State would reportedly be Schiano's dream job (This is just rumor; it's not like he's going to admit that while still coaching at Rutgers anyway.) Penn State, however, commands more coach Schiano attention than any other job that is open or will be open. It should be interesting to see who wins this battle. Maybe the Penn State administration is flat out going to have to tell coach Paterno to step down and he will not be having a formal say in who is the next head coach. Wouldn't that be a hoot? In today's College Football world, it could happen. Do not doubt it. Coach Paterno has overstayed his welcome in Happy Valley, and his time as an elite head coach past long ago, giving Paterno less power. Look at this way, if Penn State was a constant top 10 team, would there be any doubt about who the next Penn State head coach would be? Coach Paterno's power would be unrivaled in that scenario. Obviously, that is not the case, however, and the Penn State administration's (and alumni) dilemma grows by the day.

The last job up for discussion may surprise a few people: Southern California. Trojans head coach Pete Carroll certainly has a great gig in Los Angeles. His NFL career did not go as well as his current stint as the leader of Troy, however, and that is why his name constantly comes up with NFL franchises each and every year. In short, it's only a matter of time before he bolts. The ego must be fed, and coach Carroll has a huge ego, just like other College Football coaches. Who takes over for coach Carroll when he leaves? Hard to say for sure, but the job will not be short on candidates when it opens due to the plethora of talent that coach Carroll has lassoed into inner-city Los Angeles to play at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Coach Carroll made it clear long ago that if he goes to the NFL he must possess complete control of personnel decisions before he would entertain a NFL coaching overture. Sooner or later an NFL offer will come coach Carroll's way that he cannot refuse.

In the northern suburbs of Los Angeles, Norm Chow made his reappearance in Los Angeles this spring as the new UCLA offensive coordinator. Of course he left Southern California under bad terms with coach Carroll. That would be an interesting choice. Another possibility could be Steve Sarkisian, currently an assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach for the Trojans. He is well liked by Carroll and the Trojans quarterbacks have done well since coach Chow departed. He is very young, turning thirty-four this year. That could hold him back a while. There are other coaches with ties to Southern California, such as the head coaches of the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars…Pete Carroll is the head coach of the Southern California Trojans, for now, but not for long.

Just something to think about. Talk about it on the Message Boards.