College Football Coaching Rankings: New Top 25 List

Curt Cignetti tops the latest USA TODAY Sports coach rankings after guiding Indiana to its first national championship in 2024. The Hoosiers posted a 27‑2 overall record and a dominant 17‑1 mark in the Big Ten during his two seasons, propelling him from a mid‑list position to the summit. Cignetti’s ability to elevate a program—Cignetti transformed James Madison from the FCS to the brink of the playoff—earns him comparisons to coaching dynasties like Nick Saban’s.

Commanding the SEC: Kirby Smart’s Consistent Edge

Kirby Smart sits at No. 2 after a season in which Georgia captured its third SEC crown in four years. While the aura of dominance that once surrounded Smart has dimmed slightly, his ability to recruit, retain and develop talent still outpaces most peers. Georgia’s perpetual contender status reflects Smart’s disciplined approach to building rosters that can adapt to the transfer‑portal era.

Ryan Day’s Return to Glory in Columbus

Ryan Day reclaimed the top tier of college coaching with Ohio State’s 2024 national championship and a elusive win over Michigan. In just seven full seasons since replacing Urban Meyer, Day has amassed 82 victories in 94 games, posting top‑five finishes in six of those campaigns. His tenure has turned the Buckeyes into a relentless producer of NFL talent.

Notre Dame’s Young Dynamo: Marcus Freeman

Marcus Freeman, still only 40, has compiled 43 wins in four seasons at Notre Dame, leading the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff championship game. His success has drawn NFL attention while he strives for the school’s first national title since 1988. Freeman’s tenure is marked by gradual roster upgrades that have narrowed the gap to traditional powerhouses.

Oregon’s Surge Under Dan Lanning

Dan Lanning’s résumé now includes a staggering 48‑6 record, yet he remains hungry for a national championship. The Ducks’ dominance in the Big Ten—26‑3 over two seasons—earned them both a conference crown and a top spot in the 2024 CFP rankings. Lanning’s ability to mold talent is clear, but a deeper postseason run remains the missing piece.

Lane Kiffin’s Next Act at LSU

After delivering Ole Miss to the playoff and departing amid drama, Lane Kiffin arrives at LSU with a reputation for quarterback development and portal prowess. He blends elite transfer talent seamlessly, a skill that could accelerate the Tigers’ rise. The challenge for Kiffin is to meet LSU’s lofty expectations while shedding the controversy of his departure.

Miami’s Resurgence with Mario Cristobal

Mario Cristobal turned Miami into a playoff contender in 2005 and has since built a defensive‑oriented culture that yields 23 wins in 29 games. After a rough start—12 losses in his first two seasons—Cristobal’s ability to maximize the transfer portal has placed the Hurricanes back in national conversations. The question now is whether the momentum can sustain a deep postseason run.

Texas’s Steve Sarkisian: Under Pressure but Poised

Steve Sarkisian guided Texas to victories over Oklahoma and Texas A&M—two recent playoff qualifiers—yet the Longhorns missed the postseason despite high expectations. His success includes multiple playoff victories, a rarity among SEC coaches. The 2026 campaign will serve as a litmus test for Sarkisian’s ability to convertconsistent wins into championship contention.

Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer: Balancing Success and Setbacks

Kalen DeBoer entered Alabama as Nick Saban’s heir apparent and quickly amassed 19 wins across two seasons, including a 5‑1 mark against Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. Yet a handful of surprising losses have tempered early enthusiasm. DeBoer’s contract extension underscores the program’s belief in his vision, even as fans demand more than just 10‑win seasons.

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney: Falling Off the Throne

Dabo Swinney, a two‑time national champion with nine conference titles, now confronts a turbulent era at Clemson. The Tigers’ 2024 season concluded with a 7‑6 record after starting in the top five of the Coaches Poll, signaling a steeper climb back to dominance. Swinney’s ability to address the program’s recent decline will dictate his future standing in the rankings.

Brigham Young’s Kelani Sitake: Steady Growth in the Big 12

Even without a playoff berth, Kelani Sitake has turned BYU into a model of consistency, posting winning seasons in eight of his ten campaigns and a 57‑20 overall mark since 2020. Two consecutive 11‑win seasons have placed the Cougars on the playoff periphery, drawing interest from programs like Penn State. Sitake’s blueprint of incremental improvement continues to reshape BYU’s identity in the Big 12.

Kyle Whittingham’s Move to Michigan: A Historic Shift

Kyle Whittingham’s decade‑long tenure at Utah produced two Pac‑12 titles and a culture of defensive excellence, yet his decision to guide Michigan signals a new frontier. The Utes’ recent success—nine or more wins in 12 of the last seasons—provides a foundation for his adjustment to the Big Ten. Whittingham’s emphasis on line play should align well with Michigan’s rebuilding goals.

Texas A&M’s Mike Elko: Rapid Rise from the Ashes

Mike Elko transformed Texas A&M from perennial underachievers into a playoff contender in only two seasons, though a loss to Miami capped the campaign. The Aggies’ momentum is unmistakable, and Elko’s recruiting success suggests a sustainable turnaround. Compared to his predecessor Jimbo Fisher, Elko has shown a sharper eye for developing talent.

James Franklin’s Tenure at Notre Dame: A Fresh Challenge

James Franklin brought a proven rebuilding philosophy to Notre Dame after his impactful years at Penn State, where he delivered five top‑10 finishes and four New Year’s Six bowl victories. His ability to extract maximum effort from rosters has produced 43 wins in four seasons, yet a national title remains elusive. Franklin’s task at Virginia Tech mirrors his earlier success, emphasizing sustained competitiveness.

Matt Campbell: Penn State’s Bold Hire from Iowa State

Matt Campbell’s decade at Iowa State—72 wins and a school‑record 11 victories in 2024—secured his move to Penn State as James Franklin’s successor. The Nittany Lions now face higher expectations, but Campbell’s track record of overachievement suggests he can navigate the transition. His experience with building from within will be crucial for Penn State’s resurgence.

Kirk Ferentz: The Dean of Big Ten Coaches

Kirk Ferentz’s 213 career wins and two Big Ten championships underline his status as college football’s most enduring figure. Iowa’s absence of a losing season since 2012 and consistent final‑poll rankings reflect a program built on fundamentals. Off offenses have improved, but Ferentz’s defensive and special‑teams emphasis remains the core of his success.

Jeff Brohm’s Louisville Journey: Consistent Progress

Jeff Brohm has compiled a 28‑12 record at Louisville, following nine and eight‑win seasons at Purdue that broke long‑standing winless streaks. Brohm’s methodical approach yields steady improvements, and the next season will test whether the Cardinals can break through to the ACC title and the playoff. His ability to maximize talent without fanfare has become a hallmark.

Kenni Dillingham’s Arizona State Renaissance

Kenni Dillingham thrust Arizona State into national prominence within two seasons, earning a 2024 Big 12 title and a playoff berth before injuries derailed a potential repeat. His offensive schemes remain dynamic, and his age—36—suggests plenty of runway ahead. Dillingham’s ability to integrate new talent could cement ASU as a long‑term Big 12 powerhouse.

Lincoln Riley’s Ascension at Southern California

Lincoln Riley, once atop the coaching hierarchy with four playoff appearances at Oklahoma, now navigates a rebuilding phase at USC. After a turbulent stretch of 24‑15, the Trojans rebounded with a 7‑2 Big Ten mark last season and secured one of the nation’s top recruiting classes. Riley’s “ork effect” may yet revive USC’s national stature.

Willie Fritz: The Eternal Program Builder

Willie Fritz’s pedigree includes turning Tulane into an American Conference powerhouse, highlighted by a Cotton Bowl victory over USC. After a modest 4‑8 debut at Houston, Fritz delivered a surprising 10‑3 season in 2025, positioning the Cougars for a deep postseason run. With ample resources in the Big 12, Fritz’s proven ability to maximize rosters could lead to a banner era in Houston.

Rhett Lashlee’s SMU Soar

Rhett Lashlee guided SMU to consecutive 11‑win seasons, capped by a first College Football Playoff appearance in ACC history. The Mustangs’ defensive discipline and offensive creativity have established them as a conference heavyweight. Despite tempting offers, Lashlee remains committed to building SMU into a perennial contender, resisting the allure of larger programs.

Jon Sumrall’s Florida Opportunity

Jon Sumrall’s four‑season tenure at Tulane produced an impressive 78 % win rate and a CFP berth, making him an attractive hire for Florida after the Kiffin controversy. Sumrall’s comfort with SEC competition and his assistant‑coach experience suggest he can reinvigorate the Gators. If proven at Florida, his stock could soar further in national coaching circles.

Clark Lea’s Vanderbilt Breakthrough

Clark Lea turned Vanderbilt into a 10‑win contender last season, highlighted by Heisman finalist Diego Pavia’s quarterback play. Lea’s straightforward philosophy emphasizes execution and team cohesion, rare for a program historically outside the national spotlight. Maintaining this level of success against larger budgets will be his next major test.

Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Decline and Redemption

Josh Heupel’s ranking slipped seven spots after a season that saw Tennessee lose starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to the transfer portal and exhibit offensive inconsistency. Nevertheless, Heupel’s steady hand brought the Volunteers back to relevance after a dip. The 2026 campaign will be pivotal for Heupel to restore balance and climb back up the rankings.

Sonny Dykes’ TCU Persistence

Sonny Dykes remains a clever architect, having led TCU to the College Football Playoff championship game in his inaugural season and posting nine wins in each of the last two campaigns. Despite a slip in 2023, Dykes has kept the Horned Frogs competitive within the Big 12’s tough landscape. His ability to sustain success with limited resources underscores his coaching acumen.

This updated list reflects the fluid nature of college football coaching, where rapid transformations and unexpected achievements continuously reshape the hierarchy. As programs invest in recruiting, facilities and strategic visions, the top 25 will likely see more movement in the coming seasons. Tracking these trends offers fans a roadmap for where power centers may emerge on the gridiron.