We’ve spent the past two weeks breaking down the 2017 Power 5 job rankings, asking which would be the most- and least-coveted destinations for prospective coaches.

As much as can be projected, which programs have the best chance to fall by the time we check back in in early 2018?

1. Ole Miss (2017 rank: 32)

In full disclosure, we already had the Rebels teed up here before Wednesday’s news of a self-imposed one-year postseason ban. If the NCAA's Committee of Infractions accepts that, that would be very good news for Ole Miss.

But those close to the program say that a two-year ban still remains a possibility - and that would be significantly more harmful because it would allow players to transfer without having to sit out a year. So there could be an exodus, creating depth chart issues that would last for years. The personnel debacle would preclude a number of candidates from being interested in Ole Miss, even with big-time salary and facilities upgrades in recent years. Clarity from the NCAA is still needed before a prospective staff would have enthusiasm for this job.

2. Missouri (2017 rank: 45)

We were a bit taken aback by how down coaches and administrators were on this job, but it does make some sense. Their feeling is that the Gary Pinkel-led SEC East titles were flukish, combining his roster-building ability in the Big 12 era with a down patch in the division.

Those sources perceive that Mizzou will continue to slip as it struggles to keep up in recruiting. It was ahead of only Vanderbilt in the SEC for the second consecutive year. Add to that a recent university leadership debacle that is only starting to calm.

3. Auburn (2017 rank: 16)

If things get messy this fall between the school’s administration and coach Gus Malzahn — and they could, even though Malzahn seems to really like his 2017 roster — Auburn could be in store for a perception ding similar to LSU after it ran off Les Miles.

Administrators and industry sources know Auburn as a particularly cluttered political environment. Malzahn’s embattled status tends to bring out opinions from donors who perceive they have more influence than they do (or should).



4. Michigan State (2017 rank: 19)

Mark Dantonio will probably appreciate that his program is being doubted (it’s MSU’s fuel) but understand that prospective coaches would perhaps pause before jumping in a division with Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State in it.

That isn’t exactly a path to success when you’re outgunned in terms of spending and recruiting — and, on top of that, Dantonio has built expectations fairly high at MSU.

Even Indiana and Maryland are not easy outs in the Big Ten East, as the Spartans were reminded in 2016.



5. Cal (2017 rank: 50)

There is not a great vibe surrounding a program that waited until January to fire its coach. Letting Sonny Dykes go amid irreconcilable differences was an alarming thought for some coaches who thought he had done a nice job relative to what should be expected, especially considering a stringent admissions standard.

If we glean that internal support continues to wane, and it could, Cal could sink even farther.