FILE - In a Dec. 1, 2017 file photo, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney smiles during an NCAA college football press conferences for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game against Miami at Bank of America Stadium. Swinney, UCF's Scott Frost and Georgia's Kirby Smart are the finalists for The Associated Press Coach of the Year award. The winner will be announced Monday, Dec. 18. (Diedra Laird/The Charlotte Observer via AP, File)
FILE - In a Dec. 1, 2017 file photo, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney smiles during an NCAA college football press conferences for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game against Miami at Bank of America Stadium. Swinney, UCF's Scott Frost and Georgia's Kirby Smart are the finalists for The Associated Press Coach of the Year award. The winner will be announced Monday, Dec. 18. (Diedra Laird/The Charlotte Observer via AP, File) Credit: Diedra Laird

UCF’s Scott Frost, Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney are the finalists for the Associated Press Coach of the Year award.

The winner will be announced Monday.

Frost led the Knights to an unbeaten regular season before taking the Nebraska job. Frost plans to coach No. 10 UCF in the Peach Bowl against Auburn.

Smart, in his second season with Georgia, guided the Bulldogs to a 12-1 record and their first Southeastern Conference championship since 2005. No. 3 Georgia will face No. 2 Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl.

Swinney has the defending national champion Tigers back in the playoff for a third straight year. No. 1 Clemson won the Atlantic Coast Conference, finished 12-1, and will face No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.