New No. 1 takes over in CBS Sports' head coach ranking for 2026
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There's a new man on top of the mountain in college football.
After years of "the same," where SEC and Big Ten coaches like Nick Saban, Ryan Day, Kirby Smart, and Jim Harbaugh dominated the conversation as the top coaches in the nation, we have finally seen some new blood enter the stream over the past year, and it feels a bit refreshing.
After winning his first national championship and bringing the first championship in program history to the Indiana Hoosiers, Curt Cignetti is now on top. That was the case when he hoisted the trophy over his head back in January following a season-capping win over the Miami Hurricanes, and it's the case now as we enter the 2026 season, according to the latest head coach rankings from CBS Sports.
Over the past year, Cignetti has seen his stock skyrocket. In the 2025 coach rankings, the Hoosier sat at No. 21 in the nation, behind the likes of Chris Kleiman, Matt Campbell, and James Franklin. Now, Cignetti takes over as the new No. 1 coach in the nation, ahead of Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, and Marcus Freeman.
Here's a look at the full top 10 in 2026:
- Curt Cignetti — Indiana Hoosiers
- Kirby Smart — Georgia Bulldogs
- Ryan Day — Ohio State Buckeyes
- Marcus Freeman — Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Dan Lanning — Oregon Ducks
- Steve Sarkisian — Texas Longhorns
- Mario Cristobal — Miami Hurricanes
- Kalen DeBoer — Alabama Crimson Tide
- Lane Kiffin — LSU Tigers
- Kyle Whittingham — Michigan Wolverines
Of course, this list is very fluid, as last year's top 10 featured names like Brian Kelly and James Franklin — both fired mid-season — as well as Dabo Swinney and Matt Campbell — two names outside of the top 10 this year. In all likelihood, the coach who wins the national championship this year will find himself at the top of the list a year from now, and then we can debate who is next from there.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: There's a new No. 1 HC in college football, per latest rankings
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