CBS Ranks Top 21st Century College Football Hires

CBS Sports released its top 25 college football coaching hires of the 21st century, ranking Alabama's Nick Saban first, Florida's Urban Meyer second, Clemson's Dabo Swinney third, USC's Pete Carroll fourth, and Georgia's Kirby Smart fifth. Swinney is credited for turning Clemson into a national powerhouse with two national titles and nine ACC championships, while Meyer is praised for his dominant run at Florida, which included two national championships and significant NFL player development. Kirby Smart's two national titles and rapid transformation of Georgia into a perennial contender are noted, but his placement is affected by the program's prior success under Mark Richt. Luke Fickell is ranked No. 16 for leading Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff and facilitating their move to the Big 12. The rankings highlight not only championship wins but also the context, longevity, and transformation each coach brought to their respective programs. These criteria offer a more nuanced view of coaching impact in modern college football.