Top 25 college football coach rankings for 2026: Curt Cignetti is No. 1 ahead of Kirby Smart
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Top 25 college football coach rankings for 2026: Curt Cignetti is No. 1 ahead of Kirby Smart originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Sporting News has a new No. 1 on its annual Top 25 Coach Rankings for 2026.
Indiana's Curt Cignetti is our No. 1 after leading the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and national championship in 2025. He takes over the spot held by Georgia's Kirby Smart, who is one of just two FBS coaches with multiple national titles. The Bulldogs also have won back-to-back SEC championships.
This is yet another layer of the struggle between the Big Ten and the SEC in the 12-team College Football Playoff era. The Big Ten led all conferences with eight coaches on this list. The SEC was second with seven coaches. The ACC had four coaches, and the Big 12 had three coaches. Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman rounds out the top 25.
Should Cignetti or Smart be No. 1? Smart was No. 1 on this list in 2024 and 2025, which broke up an eight-year run by Nick Saban at the top. Cignetti and Smart, of course, are both former Saban assistants.
To determine rankings, SN looks at a coach's overall record, record at the current school and a three-year record to determine a loose baseline in the subjective process. Career accomplishments, program expectations and the old "this guy or this guy" arguments come into play. It's not a perfect science, but it's our science, one we have stuck to since we first did these rankings in 2015.
Here are The Sporting News' top 25 coach rankings ahead of the 2026 college football season.
MORE: SN's post-spring Top 25 ranking
25. Bret Bielema, Illinois
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Last year: 25
Record: 134-84 (37-26 at Illinois)
Lowdown: Bielema edged out Duke's Manny Diaz and Houston's Willie Fritz for this spot on the list. Bielema has led Illinois to a two-year program record 19 victories the last two seasons – and it follows a similar pattern to when he coached at Wisconsin from (2006-12). Illinois should be able to continue that success in 2026. Bielema can build on that by leading the program to its first CFP appearance.
24. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
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Last year: 19
Record: 209-128
Lowdown: Ferentz, 70, is the second-oldest coach in the FBS behind North Carolina's Bill Belichick. Ferentz became the Big Ten's all-time career leader in wins last season, and the Hawkeyes have won eight or more games in five consecutive seasons. Ferentz has his share of critics – but he continues to produce winning teams heading into his 28th season as head coach at Iowa.
23. Brent Venables, Oklahoma
Last year: 41
Record: 32-20
Lowdown: Venables was on the hot seat heading into last season, and he responded by leading the Sooners back to the College Football Playoff. Hiring offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was a good move – and the defense ranked seventh in the FBS at 15.5 points per game. Oklahoma was 5-2 against ranked opponents through a brutal schedule in the SEC. Venables also has an extension that runs through 2029.
22. Kalani Sitake, BYU
Last year: 31
Record: 84-45
Lowdown: Sitake hovered around our top 25 the last few years – but he continues to increase his stock with the Cougars. BYU has won 10 or more games in four of the last six seasons – and they just missed the CFP the last two years. Sitake made a quick adjustment to the Big 12. BYU is 4-3 against ranked opponents the last two seasons. Sitake also turned down the Penn State job last offseason.
21. Matt Campbell, Penn State
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Last year: 16
Record: 107-70 (0-0 at Penn State)
Lowdown: Campbell finally leveled up to a Big Ten program with the move from Iowa State to Penn State this offseason. Campbell had a 26-13 record with the Cyclones the last three seasons – but it was time to move on from Ames. Campbell steps into a larger job where the expectations will be higher – but it's the right-time hire for Penn State. He'll also be linked to the next coach on our list.
20. James Franklin, Virginia Tech
Last year: 8
Record: 128-60 (0-0 at Virginia Tech)
Lowdown: Franklin begins a new chapter at Virginia Tech after parting ways at Penn State last season. Franklin has top-notch program building skills, recruits well and enjoyed a consistent track record of success with the Nittany Lions. A 4-21 record against top-10 opponents followed Franklin throughout his tenure at Penn State. A fresh start at Blacksburg was in order – and Franklin should challenge to be one of the top ACC coaches as early as this season.
19. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
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Last year: 43
Record: 35-18
Lowdown: Remember when McGuire said "Everything runs through Lubbock!" back in 2022? The Big 12 does heading into 2026. The Red Raiders are the defending conference champions, and McGuire has worked with a transfer-heavy with and heavy NIL support. McGuire isn't afraid to mix it up with other coaches – and the back and forth with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is proof. The Red Raiders are 1-4 against top-five teams under McGuire. That's the next evolution for the program.
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18. Sonny Dykes, TCU
Last year: 14
Record: 107-80 (36-17 at TCU)
Lowdown: Dykes led the Horned Frogs to back-to-back nine-win seasons – and the 2022 run to the CFP championship game still has value. TCU has produced 16 NFL Draft picks the last four years, and Dykes has been able to manage the transfer portal well in Fort Worth. He's the only active Big 12 coach with a playoff victory. With Mike Gundy, Kyle Whittingham and Matt Campbell gone, the “best coach in the Big 12” label is up for grabs.
17. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Last year: 21
Record: 58-30 (49-29 at Missouri)
Lowdown: Is Drinkwitz too high? The Tigers are 29-10 the last three years – albeit coming off an 8-5 season. Missouri also finished 0-5 against ranked opponents last season. That makes it tough to push Drinkwitz up too much more, even if he does an admirable job of keeping the Tigers in the top 25 throughout much of the season.
16. Josh Heupel, Tennessee
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Last year: 11
Record: 73-28 (45-20 at Tennessee)
Lowdown: Heupel led the Vols to a fifth straight winning season one year after the program's first CFP appearance. Tennessee finished .500 in SEC play in three of those five years, and the Vols will no longer be judged as much on some traditional rivalries. Tennessee does not play Florida or Georgia this season. Heupel slips a few spots in the rankings heading into 2026.
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15. Lincoln Riley, USC
Last year: 12
Record: 90-28 (35-18 at USC)
Lowdown: Riley owns the 10th-best career winning percentage among FBS coaches. He should be a top-10 coach – but the Trojans have averaged five losses each of the last three years and are still making the adjustment to the Big Ten. There are flashes of brilliance – but this is a prove-it-or-lose-it year of sorts with the addition of defensive coordinator Gary Patterson.
14. Jeff Brohm, Louisville
Last year: 15
Record: 94-56 (28-12 at Louisville)
Lowdown: Brohm has won at least eight games each of the last five seasons between Purdue and Louisville. He moved up one spot from last season. Brohm is excellent at QB development, and Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz could have a breakout season as a result. The Cardinals are 4-4 against top-25 teams the last three years. Will Brohm lead a long-awaited breakthrough in the ACC this season?
13. Rhett Lashlee, SMU
Last year: 23
Record: 38-16
Lowdown: The Mustangs are 31-10 the last three seasons under Lashlee and seamlessly made the transition as a competitor with the move to the ACC. Lashlee has led SMU to four consecutive winning seasons – and he turned down opportunities to interview with SEC schools in the last cycle. That's great news for a program looking for an eighth consecutive winning season.
12. Kyle Whittingham, Michigan
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Last year: 13
Record: 177-88 (0-0 at Michigan)
Lowdown: Whittingham ranks third among FBS coaches in career victories, and he makes the jump to Michigan after 21 seasons with Utah. Whittingham led Utah to 10 or more wins in four of the last seven seasons but never reached the CFP. He will be expected to do more with the Wolverines, and the 66-year-old coach should take advantage of the opportunity. Whittingham is just outside the top 10 for the second straight season.
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11. Mike Elko, Texas A&M
Last year: 26
Record: 35-16 (19-7 at Texas A&M)
Lowdown: Elko continues to move up each season. He's won at multiple stops with Duke and Texas A&M – and the Aggies are looking to build off their first CFP appearance in 2025. Elko is 6-4 against top-25 teams – and a 0-2 record against Texas will invite more scrutiny if Texas A&M cannot flip the script on that renewed rivalry. Still, Elko has emerged as a common-sense voice on the college-football landscape. This is the right spot.
10. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Last year: 3
Record: 187-53
Lowdown: Swinney might be the toughest coach to rank on this list. On one hand, he is one of just two active coaches with multiple national championships and likely will be the next one to reach 200 career victories. On the other, the Tigers are 26-14 the last three seasons – a .650 winning percentage that does not quite measure up after a disappointing 7-6 season in 2025. Swinney remains in the top 10 – at least for now.
9. Mario Cristobal, Miami
Last year: 24
Record: 97-79 (35-19)
Lowdown: Cristobal led the Hurricanes to a CFP championship game appearance last season. He has built Miami from the inside out with physical offensive and defensive lines – and the transfer quarterback roulette worked with Cam Ward and Carson Beck. Will Darian Mensah keep that trend going? Cristobal is our top ranked coach in the ACC.
8. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Last year: 10
Record: 116-53 (0-0 at LSU)
Lowdown: Kiffin is a constant content-generator off the field with the well-documented in-season move from Ole Miss to LSU. Kiffin had a 55-19 record at Ole Miss and elevated the Rebels into a top-10 program. Now, he takes on the LSU job – where three of the last four coaches won national titles. The pressure is on Kiffin – and the spotlight will be bright in the home opener against Clemson and a road trip to Ole Miss on Sept. 19.
7. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
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Last year: 5
Record: 94-55 (48-20 at Texas)
Lowdown: Texas made the adjustment to the SEC under Sarkisian. The Longhorns are 13-3 in regular-season conference play the last two years, and Sarkisian has built a perennial playoff contender with elite recruiting and savvy transfer portal adds. It's been an impressive three-year run — albeit one with a 2-6 record against top-five teams. Sarkisian has the pieces around Arch Manning to make a deep playoff run with the Longhorns.
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6. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Last year: 6
Record: 57-17 (20-8 at Alabama)
Lowdown: DeBoer – who is in our top 10 for the third straight season – is 34-9 with a CFP championship game appearance between Washington and Alabama the last three years. He's handled the pressure of following Nick Saban with the Crimson Tide; an impossible task where the temperature never cools. Alabama is 8-4 against top-25 teams the last two seasons, and DeBoer agreed to a seven-year, $87.5 million extension in the offseason.
5. Dan Lanning, Oregon
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Last year: 7
Record: 48-8
Lowdown: Lanning cracks the top five for the time and continues to rise up our rankings with each season. The Ducks are 26-3 since joining the Big Ten, and Lanning's hyper-aggressive style continues to be a hit in Eugene. Back-to-back blowout losses in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals hurt, but the Ducks return another national championship contender in 2026. Is this the year Oregon wins its first national title?
4. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Last year: 4
Record: 43-12
Lowdown: Lanning easily could go here, but Freeman is the "best coach without a national championship" in our rankings. He led the Irish to the CFP championship game in 2024, and Notre Dame was snubbed from the playoff despite 10 wins last season. Freeman brought in a top-five recruiting class last year, and the Irish are 12-5 against top-25 opponents the last three seasons. Freeman continues to turn down NFL opportunities – which will continue the longer he has success in South Bend.
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3. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Last year: 2
Record: 82-12
Lowdown: Day has led the Buckeyes to five College Football Playoff appearances in seven years – a run of success that goes under-appreciated given the standards in Columbus. Ohio State broke a four-game losing streak to Michigan in 2025, too. The Buckeyes have the second-best record in the FBS since Day took over in 2019 – and the recruiting and NFL Draft production remains at an all-time high in Columbus. Day also is tapping into the NFL coordinators. Will new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith match what defensive coordinator Matt Patricia did last season?
2. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Last year: 1
Record: 117-21
Lowdown: Smith's two-year run at the top is over – at least for one year. Is this an over-reaction? Smart still has delivered back-to-back SEC championships for the Bulldogs – and he's one of just a pair of two-time national championship coaches on this list. He's also arguably the most-influential voice in the sport – much like his mentor Nick Saban was at Alabama. The Bulldogs have failed to advance past the CFP quarterfinals in the first two years of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Will that change in 2026?
1. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Last year: 17
Record: 46-6 (27-2 at Indiana)
Lowdown: Look at what Cignetti has accomplished the last three years between James Madison and Indiana. He led the Dukes to a 11-1 season in 2023 – which set the groundwork for last year's CFP run. He turned Indiana – a perennial Big Ten punchline – into a Big Ten juggernaut that finished 16-0 last season. Cignetti's talent evaluation and development is elite – and when you factor in stops at IUP and Elon the 64-year-old coach has an .807 career winning percentage.
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