A to Z Sports ranks the top 10 head coaches in College Football heading into the 2026 season: Risers, surprises, and heavy debate
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Who are the best head coaches in college football heading into the 2026 CFB season? Several A to Z Sports analysts debate and rank.
The 2026 college football offseason has brought no shortage of debate, and the staff at A to Z Sports decided to fuel the fire.
Seven analysts on staff came together to rank the top 10 head coaches in college football heading into the upcoming season, and the results produced a wide variety of opinions and plenty of fodder for disagreement. Each analyst submitted a ranking of 1 through 10, with the votes averaged to produce a consensus list. Honorable mention selections were also included for coaches who just missed the cut.
Here is a look at some of the biggest takeaways from the list, including the top selection and a handful of coaches who landed in the back half of the top 10.
1. Curt Cignetti (Indiana)
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking:2
“At the top of the list sits Indiana coach Kurt Cignetti, and it is hard to argue with the selection. There will be some who believe Georgia coach Kirby Smart still deserves the top spot, but what Cignetti has accomplished over the last two seasons with the Hoosiers is beyond miraculous. Indiana has historically been one of the weakest programs in the Big Ten, and Cignetti has turned it into a legitimate contender.
“His ascension from Elon to James Madison to Indiana tells the story of a true program builder. Sustainable football is not something anyone associated with Indiana, but that is the reality the program now lives in. Cignetti has shown staying power at every stop, and it does not appear that the Hoosiers are going to fade away while he is at the helm.” – Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports Notre Dame
2. Kirby Smart (Georgia)
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking:3
“Just because he’s not won the last three National Championships doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s still possibly the best coach in college football. Kirby Smart is still that guy, and he’s still the SEC Champion. Georgia may not be absolutely dominating like they once were, but they’re still constantly a top seven team, and Smart always has his team competing for a National Championship. With more parity than ever right now, Smart should still be getting his flowers.” – Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports Oklahoma
3. Ryan Day (Ohio State)
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking:7
“Ryan Day was born on third base with a great program left by Urban Meyer after Meyer was handed a strong program himself. Day has only leveled up the Ohio State football program and has an 82-12 record to show for it. The Buckeyes head coach has never lost more than two games in a season, and he’s one of three active head coaches with a national championship.
“Beating Michigan consistently has been an issue, but it’s the only real knock on Day in Columbus. Ohio State is at the top when it comes to putting players into the NFL, and it’s a testament to the ship Day is driving in Columbus. The Buckeyes have the toughest schedule they’ve had under Day this season, where he’ll have a chance to better the picture on himself nationally.” – Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Ohio State
4. Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame)
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking:6
“I don’t think it’s a stretch to say Marcus Freeman is on the current Mt. Rushmore of college football coaches, and with a big 2026, he could even contend for the No. 1 spot. Even as an outsider, that program looks, acts, and certainly plays with a night and day difference compared to the Brian Kelly era in South Bend.
“Freeman’s teams boast the trench play Notre Dame has always been lauded for, but it’s the skill positions that have leaped, and will only continue to develop when looking at recruiting forecasting. Players like Xavier Watts, Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price and Leonard Moore, just to name a few. The fact that Notre Dame was competing for a national championship two years ago, and is now better positioned to win one, speaks a lot to what Freeman has built in his short tenure. It’s probably why the only question surrounding Freeman is how long he stays with the Golden Domers given the NFL’s infatuation with his coaching style, resume and success at such a young age. He’s what every premier program is searching for.” – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama
5. Dan Lanning (Oregon)
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking:7
“There are a lot of talented head coaches in college football, and Dan Lanning isn’t talked about enough as one of the best.
“In his four years at Oregon, Lanning is 48-8, including multiple playoff berths, a semifinal appearance, and a Big Ten title. He’s also recruiting at a very high level with both the high school ranks and in the transfer portal. The Ducks have always been a solid program, but Lanning has taken them to blue blood status. He’s also landed a five-star wide receiver in all four years he’s been with the program, which is a fascinating tidbit with his recruiting prowess.” – Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Florida
6. Lane Kiffin (LSU)
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking:8
“The former Ole Miss coach did a tremendous job building up the Rebels over his tenure, and he was the driving force behind the roster that made a strong playoff run last season. While Kiffin is a bit of a controversial figure, there is no question that he is one of the best offensive minds in all of college football. When you put support and resources behind him, he has also proven to be effective at finding talent through the transfer portal.
“The next step at LSU will be showing that he can be a consistently dominant recruiter on the high school trail. If he can, Kiffin has a chance to build something special with his swagger, offensive prowess, and continued growth as an overall head coach.” – Roberts
7. Mario Cristobal (Miami)
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking:9
“I’ve been hard on Mario Cristobal in the past, particularly as an in-game coach. The 2023 Georgia Tech kneeling fiasco will never fully leave my brain. But credit is due where improvement is made, and Cristobal took a huge step forward in 2025. He is a master motivator and has surrounded himself with an excellent support staff. I have him fifth on my list, which is still fifth of seven among active coaches who have either won a national championship or played for one during this decade. But his arrow is clearly pointing up after coming one drive short of winning it all last year. A top three 2027 recruiting class doesn’t hurt either.” – Craig Smith, A to Z Sports Tennessee
8. Brent Venables (Oklahoma)
Highest ranking: 8 | Lowest ranking:Unranked
“There was a lot of worry about Oklahoma coach Brent Venables early in his tenure. He looked like a coordinator who might not have been the right fit as a head coach, but he has steadily built the Sooners into what looks like a sustainable force in the SEC. With his background on defense, it should not come as a surprise that Oklahoma has an argument as the most talented defense in college football entering 2026.
“The key now is whether offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle can get the offense to play at a higher level. If he can, the Sooners could be a dangerous team. Venables has deep Oklahoma roots, and the arrow is pointing up. There is a difference in attitude and energy around this program that had been missing for some time.” – Roberts
9. Steve Sarkisian (Texas)
Highest ranking: 7 | Lowest ranking:Unranked
“Some are still waiting for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian to fully prove how great of a head coach he is, but like Kiffin, he is an elite offensive mind. There might not be a better play caller in college football. Before he arrived, the phrase “Texas is back” had been mocked for the better part of a decade. It appears that Sarkisian has actually gotten the Longhorns to a level where they should be consistently competing for SEC and national championships.
“Texas spent this offseason heavily to revamp its offensive line, and with quarterback Arch Manning entering his second year as a starter, this feels like it should be the program’s biggest championship push yet. If Sarkisian falls short of expectations, deeper conversations will follow. For now, he has clearly done a strong job building the program back toward its standard.” – Roberts
10. Kalen DeBoer (Alabama)
Highest ranking: 7 | Lowest ranking:Unranked
“Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is a difficult coach to place. Most people recognize, especially given what he accomplished at Washington, that DeBoer is a great football coach. He has won everywhere he has been, and things have not been bad in Tuscaloosa. The challenge is that he had to follow Nick Saban, arguably the greatest coach in college football history.
“Things have been changing at Alabama. For a long time, the program was built on defense and dominance on the recruiting trail. Recruiting has been solid, but there has been a noticeable dip from the Saban standard. This looks like a team that will be built more around the offense, which makes sense given DeBoer’s background. Whether he can win his way at Alabama remains a major question, but there is no question that when things are rolling, he is a strong program builder and a great offensive mind.” – Roberts
Honorable Mention
After being one of the most underrated coaches in college football during his time with Utah, he now enters a bigger spotlight with Michigan. Whittingham is one of the best program builders in the country. He has a unique challenge with the Wolverines.
Swinney is in an interesting spot right now. There’s no question that he’s a tremendous coach, but his inability to adjust to the transfer portal era has been troubling. Can he figure out how to navigate the new college football?
Elko has injected a lot of energy into an Aggie program with high expectations. With a tremendous talent pool and a lot of resources, there’s no reason why Elko can’t create a consistent winner. There’s little question that he’s a tremendous coach, especially after what he did at Duke previously.
After some peaks and valleys early in his tenure, Sitake has created a level of consistency for the BYU program over the last couple of years. The team has won 23 games over the last two seasons. They are now one of the more sure bets in a volatile Big 12 conference.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: A to Z Sports ranks the top 10 head coaches in College Football heading into the 2026 season: Risers, surprises, and heavy debate
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