With 136 FBS coaches entering the 2025 season, Sporting News ranks the top names on the sidelines. Kirby Smart’s continued dominance to Marcus Freeman’s fast rise at Notre Dame and Steve Sarkisian’s title hopes at Texas.
The 2025 college football season is set to be underway next month with more teams, more pressure, and some great coaching talent that will be taking the helm on the sidelines. With Delaware and Missouri State joining the FBS, there are 136 head coaches to rank and expectations are sky high for certain programs.
The Sporting News Coach Rankings factored in the coach's overall record, record at the current school and a three-year record to determine a loose baseline in the subjective process. With a familiar name topping the list.
1. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Smart leads the rankings for the second straight season, continuing to build a dynasty in Athens. Georgia remains a recruiting monster, and Smart’s elite defense-first approach propelled them to back to back championships in 2021 and 2022 keeps the Bulldogs in the national title hunt every year.
2. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Day won the national championship in the inaugural 12 team format just a year ago and has Ohio State poised to maintain their glory for a potential repeat. With blue-chip talent like Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, Day is one of the best coaches in the league at the helm of one of the best programs in the nation.
3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Back on top in the ACC, Dabo Swinney is surging, ranked number 2 in last year's rankings. With a retooled roster and a dominant defense led by stars like TJ Parker, Clemson feels like they could be a contender again this year and Swinney looks more energized than ever heading into an exciting new season.
4. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Freeman is a rising talent in the coaching ranks. Being ranked 22 last season to just rounding out the top five. In just a few seasons, he’s turned Notre Dame into a playoff-caliber program with elite recruiting, toughness, and a modern edge. If the Irish make a deep playoff run again after a championship bid, he could jump even higher on this list.
5. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Sarkisian has Texas fully back in the national picture. With Arch Manning under center and a deep SEC roster, this season could be his defining moment. Sark has built a dangerous offensive identity and surrounded himself with NFL-caliber talent at all the skill positions this could be a great season for the Longhorns.:
The coaching landscape is deeper than ever, and the path to the playoff is brutal. But for now, Kirby Smart and Ryan Day are leading the pack and every other coach is playing catch-up.
Category: General Sports
