Don’t allow immediate challenges to disrupt the overall strategy. It sounds straightforward enough.

But everything changes when that challenge involves Michigan, and the weight of yet another loss is pressing down on you as late November arrives.

“You have to stick to your principles,” remarked Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork. “Don’t let yourself be swayed.”

This comes after dedicating months to preparing for the season, only to see Florida suffer a 24-point defeat at home in their opening game, while their rivals, Miami, take a victory lap, undermining that steadfast approach.

“I trust in our process and in our organic growth,” stated Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin. “You have to be bold in this role.”

Now we find Ohio State and Florida on opposite sides of triumph in 2024 yet together in a necessary struggle to regain a sense of order in the often chaotic realm of coaching hires and firings.

You either have firm belief in your coach and your strategy, or you don’t. If you do, you must stand your ground — regardless of the opposition or the criticism you face.

The Buckeyes are set to play in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday. The Gators ended the season positively, achieving a winning record and genuine momentum for the first time since 2020.

Bjork and Stricklin, long-time friends as rivals at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, respectively, are unified in their decision. Spending tens of millions to let a coach go that isn’t performing is untenable.

However, caving to public opinion and shifting your beliefs to align with the popular sentiment is an entirely different dilemma. That’s a form of surrender.

Paying coaches like Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M) $76 million, Gus Malzahn (Auburn) $21.5 million, Willie Taggart (Florida State) $18 million, Ed Orgeron (LSU) $16.8 million, or Scott Frost (Nebraska) $15 million to leave is simply not viable anymore.

Therefore, when Michigan claimed victory over Ohio State for the fourth straight year under coach Ryan Day, and Florida suffered a humiliating loss to Miami while enduring its worst September in decades with coach Billy Napier, both Bjork and Stricklin reinforced their decisions.

Bjork quickly asserted that Day would remain as coach. In December, he confirmed to YSL News Sports, “Regardless of the outcome in the CFP, Ryan will still be our coach. That’s final.”

As October turned uneasy following September’s struggles, Stricklin chose to back Napier publicly at the start of November. This strategic move came before a challenging match against SEC powerhouse Texas, where Florida would play with a backup quarterback due to injuries.

He recognized the impending chorus of “Fire Napier” calls and aimed to quiet them early on.

When questioned about boosters ready to fund Napier’s $28 million buyout, Stricklin calmly stated, “Tell them to redirect those funds to Florida Victorious.”

Florida Victorious represents the university’s collective, and unsurprisingly, following a robust November that included wins over LSU and Mississippi, contributions began to flow in.

Before the signing period in late November and early December, Florida managed to flip nine players from other schools, skyrocketing their recruiting ranking from outside the top 50 to the top 10 in the 247Sports composite rankings.

It’s important to note that neither Ohio State nor Florida fans are easily discouraged. Some supporters at Ohio State still believe Day should face termination for the consecutive losses to Michigan, despite potential national championship success.

Similarly, there are those at Florida who contend that irrespective of player talent, the root issue lies with Napier and the team’s game management problems.

You can either yield to the vocal minority and affluent boosters, as well as outside criticism, or stand firm — sometimes taking a considerable risk — and make a decisive statement.

When Day appeared in Ohio Stadium with a stunned expression while his players clashed with Michigan athletes following another tough loss, that moment marked a turning point.

After Florida’s disappointing performance against Texas A&M led to jeers directed at Napier as he left the field — he later conceded, “I probably would have reacted similarly” — that was another critical moment.

Such instances define whether organizations give in or double down. Ohio State and Florida are just two cases in 2024; there will be more in the future.

Mike Norvell at Florida State, Lincoln Riley at Southern California, Brent Venables at Oklahoma.

If you think Alabama boosters will tolerate another four-loss season with coach Kalen DeBoer, it’s clear you’re misreading the situation.

The key challenge for an athletic director is managing these pressures.

“I know Billy. I understand his values and beliefs,” Stricklin explained. “There’s a reliable process in place, and it’s vital to stick to it. You need to be steadfast in your beliefs.”

Otherwise, you pay millions in severance.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for News Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.