Ranking the Pac-12's College Football Coaches for 2026

NCAAF College Football
April 16, 2026
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The Pac-12 is back in 2026. After two seasons essentially on hiatus, and Oregon State and Washington State fighting to keep the conference alive, the Pac-12 returns as an eight-team setup this fall. Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and Colorado State join from the Mountain West, while Texas State departed the Sun Belt to join the revamped Pac-12.

With that membership setup, the Pac-12 is arguably the top Group of 6 conference entering ‘26. Additionally, this conference is loaded with coaching talent. Boise State’s Spencer Danielson takes the top spot, but Colorado State’s Jim Mora and Utah State’s Bronco Mendenhall aren’t far behind. The next tier features three standout coaches, including San Diego State’s Sean Lewis, Texas State’s GJ Kinne, and Fresno State’s Matt Entz.

How did we compile the rankings for coaches by conference? For starters, it’s an impossible task. However, we tried to weigh every possible factor. This is not simply a list of coaches ranked by accomplishment or wins. Career biography/resume, success in developing talent and landing prospects on the recruiting trail factored into the ranking. Additionally, Athlon’s annual coach rankings also take into account a blank slate and subjectivity. If you start a program from scratch, which coach would you hire knowing what they accomplished so far and their career trajectory? Remember, you don’t get the assistants – only the head coach. And head-to-head wins do not matter for this ranking.

Here are the results for Pac-12:

Way-Too-Early 2026 Rankings: Top 25 | ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | SEC

Shephard was regarded as one of the top wide receiver coaches in college football during stops at Western Kentucky (2014-15), Washington State (‘16), Purdue (2017-21), Washington (2022-23), and Alabama (2024-25). This stint in Corvallis marks Shephard’s first chance to be a FBS head coach. The Indiana native is a promising hire for Oregon State, but he will need time to learn on the job.

Moore – a native of Washington – returns to his home state for his first FBS head-coaching gig. The former standout Boise State receiver has been on a fast rise through the coaching ranks. From 2017-22, he worked as an offensive assistant at Fresno State, including the final year as coordinator. He held play-calling duties at Missouri from 2023-25, with the ‘23 unit averaging 32.5 points a contest.

After going 60-11 with two FCS national titles at North Dakota State from 2019-23, Entz took a step back from running a program and worked at USC in ‘24 coaching the team’s linebackers. That stint in Los Angeles certainly aided Entz’s acclimation to the FBS level, which he parlayed into the Fresno State job in ‘25. The Bulldogs saw a quick turnaround last year, finishing 9-4 after a 6-7 record the previous year. With a 69-15 combined record at two stops, Entz is clearly one of the top Group of 6 coaches entering ‘26.

Kinne’s hire in 2023 elevated Texas State into a consistent winner at the FBS level. From 2012-22, the program recorded just one winning season and zero bowl appearances. However, under Kinne’s watch, the Bobcats have reeled off three straight winning seasons and collected three bowl victories. Kinne – a former standout quarterback at Tulsa – is 23-16 in San Marcos and 35-18 overall counting a previous stint at Incarnate Word (12-2 in ‘22).

San Diego State boasted one of the biggest turnarounds in college football last season. After a 3-9 debut under Lewis in 2024, the program jumped to 9-4 and just missed a trip to the Mountain West title game. Lewis’ 36-44 overall record as a head coach is a bit misleading. From 2018-22, he guided Kent State – arguably one of the toughest coaching jobs in the nation – to a 24-31 record with two bowl appearances.

Mendenhall is simply a winner. Over four different stops (BYU, Virginia, New Mexico, and Utah State), he’s 146-95 overall as a head coach. And during his 19-year run as a head coach, Mendenhall has just four losing seasons. Utah State’s future in the Pac-12 is bright with Mendenhall at the helm.

Mora is one of the top hires in the ‘26 cycle after leading UConn to a 27-23 record from 2022-25. During that run, the Huskies posted back-to-back nine-win seasons and went to three bowl games. Mora’s coaching career also includes a stint at UCLA (2012-17) and two stops as a head coach in the NFL. Colorado State is a job with plenty of upside. Mora should help this program reach its potential in the near future.

Danielson is 24-8 with three Mountain West titles and an appearance in the College Football Playoff since taking over as the program’s head coach during the ‘23 season. The Broncos have thrived in conference play under Danielson, losing just two contests with a 16-2 record in Mountain West games. Danielson has Boise State poised to continue that dominance in the revamped Pac-12.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Ranking the Pac-12's College Football Coaches for 2026

Way-Too-Early 2026 Rankings: Top 25 | ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | SEC

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