ESPN Ranks Top 10 College Football Coaches for 2025 Season

As the 2025 college football season approaches, ESPN's rankings highlight the elite head coaches shaping the sport. Georgia's Kirby Smart leads the list, followed closely by Ohio State's Ryan Day, with Clemson's Dabo Swinney and Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman also recognized for their championship-caliber leadership and recent successes. Swinney stands out as the only ACC coach in the top 10 with a remarkable career record and multiple national titles, while Freeman has quickly risen by guiding Notre Dame to the national championship game in just his third year. Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham is emerging as a top coach in the Big 12, credited with orchestrating a major program turnaround and earning praise for his talent evaluation and energetic leadership. Utah's Kyle Whittingham, despite a challenging recent season, remains respected for his long and successful coaching tenure, and Oregon's Dan Lanning is noted for revitalizing his program and adeptly leveraging the transfer portal to maintain competitiveness. These coaches exemplify the blend of experience, innovation, and talent management defining college football's coaching landscape.