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As we enter the 2024-2025 season, it’s a new era in college football. With the PAC-12 no longer in existence, college football’s “Power 5” has officially become a “Power 4.” In total, 68 teams make up these four conferences (we were kind enough to call Notre Dame an ACC squad so they could be included), so we broke down how all 68 head coaches stack up against one another.
68. DeShaun Foster (UCLA)
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DeShaun Foster has yet to coach a game for the Bruins. In fact, he’s never been a head coach on any level. The former NFL running back has been a running backs coach essentially for the duration of his coaching career. When Chip Kelly decided to become Ohio State’s Offensive Coordinator, Foster surprisingly got the gig to the surprise of many. Thus far, Foster has done a great job in trying to revive the excitement around the program. This has included recruiting at a much harder clip compared to Kelly — as well as hiring a respectable staff led by new OC Eric Bieniemy. Still, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether he’ll be a solid head coach or not. With that said, being a very proud alum, the facets of energy, effort, and dedication do not figure to be an issue with Foster at the helm.
67. Fran Brown (Syracuse)
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Brown is listed so low because he’s yet to coach a game. Syracuse rolled the dice by poaching the former Georgia defensive backs coach. Brown is known for being an elite recruiter, and we’ve seen Syracuse nab a plethora of very talented players via the transfer portal. We’ll be curious to see if that can continue with a staff rooted in the arena of recruiting. Without any prior head coaching experience, Syracuse should be patient with Brown as he gets his feet wet.
66. Ryan Walters (Purdue)
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Ryan Walters has only one year under his belt. The Boilermakers went 4-8 this past year. There are some signs of positivity when analyzing last year’s results. Purdue lost three games by 7 points or less. If those three results went the other way, we’d be talking about Walters as one of the better young coaches in the country. As it stands, the 38-year-old still has time to put his stamp on this program with further player development and some NIL help.
65. Tony Elliott (Virginia)
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It’s been a rough start to his head coaching career for the former Clemson offensive coordinator. In two years with the Cavaliers, Elliott has accrued a 6-16 overall record (3-12 in conference play). In Year 3 of any rebuild, most expect to see some sort of indication that improvement has been made. It’s usually the telling point as to whether the head coach will be given more time to turn things around, or ultimately be relieved of their duties. Should Virginia sputter, Elliott might find himself on a scalding hot seat.
64. Brent Pry (Virginia Tech)
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A longtime Penn State assistant, Pry came over to Blacksburg in 2022. After a rough 3-8 initial season, the Hokies saw some good improvement — going 7-6 in 2023. Virginia Tech traditionally is a program brimming with success on the defensive side of the ball. This is Pry’s bread and butter, and something the program can build an identity around after formerly operating with Justin Fuente and his offensive-minded tendencies. Don’t sleep on the Hokies…there’s a world in which they could emerge as an ACC contender in 2024. QB Kyron Drones is a potentially special player.
63. Jeff Lebby (Mississippi State)
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Lebby finds himself near the bottom of the list for the sheer fact he’s yet to coach a college game. The former Oklahoma OC came over to revitalize a program that had fallen on hard times in the wake of Mike Leach’s unexpected passing. Those in Starkville can expect to see an explosive offense with a fair amount of wrinkles to potentially compensate for the talent gap Mississippi State may face against some of its foes in conference play. Coincidentally, Lebby is also married to the daughter of former Baylor offensive genius Art Briles.
62. Kenny Dillingham (Arizona State)
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Arizona State took a major swing by hiring former Oregon OC Kenny Dillingham. A prodigy of sorts, the Phoenix native is only 34 years of age. He’s moved up the coaching ladder quite quickly — making stops at Memphis, Auburn, Florida State, and Oregon before landing this dream job. The program is in the midst of a massive rebuild. The talent inherited was essentially non-existent, and as such Dillingham has had to rely on the portal extensively. However, he’s a very passionate guy with an innovative offensive mind. There’s reason to think Dillingham can turn this thing around.
61. Clark Lea (Vanderbilt)
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It’s been a rough go for the 42-year-old head coach. In three seasons, Lea has compiled a combined record of 9-27 — including a 2-22 mark in SEC play. When factoring in academic restrictions, a lack of NIL funding, and middling resources, Vanderbilt is simply behind the proverbial 8-ball in this league. There’s a reason why it’s notoriously one of the toughest gigs in America. We don’t fault Lea, per se, though he’s certainly not enjoying the success James Franklin once did in Nashville.
60. Brent Brennan (Arizona)
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Brennan came over from San Jose State in the wake of Jedd Fisch departing to Washington. The former UCLA football player went 34-48 in seven seasons with the Spartans. However, that doesn’t tell the full story. It was a ROUGH job, and one with little in the way of resources traditionally speaking. Even then, Brennan managed to lead SJSU to three bowl games — and three seasons with at least seven wins. How in Tucson with the Wildcats, it’ll be interesting to see how he fares with a higher quality of athlete available. At the very least, having Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan as your QB-WR combo will certainly help.
59. David Braun (Northwestern)
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In the wake of the Pat Fitzgerald scandal, David Braun initially took over as the team’s interim coach. After leading the Wildcats to a surprising 8-5 record, the powers that be at Northwestern decided to remove the interim tag and make Braun the full-time head coach. No one could’ve envisioned that Braun would become the 2023 Big Ten Coach of the Year after taking over the job from Fitzgerald — the most successful coach in program history. However, Northwestern may have inadvertently stumbled onto a very talented leader of the program. Once he has a greater track record, we’ll feel more comfortable with him climbing up this list.
58. Mike Locksley (Maryland)
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It’s been a mixed bag for Mike Locksley since coming back home to run his hometown program. The Terrapins are coming off three straight winning seasons (and three bowl wins in a row). With Locksley’s immense recruiting ability, Maryland has been able to attract some good talent within its program. On the other hand, Maryland hasn’t shown much to indicate it can actually compete seriously in the Big Ten. Locksley’s career record at Maryland through six years is 29-33 (15-32 in conference play).
57. Justin Wilcox (Cal)
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Despite only two winning seasons in seven years, Wilcox has remained on as Cal’s head coach during this transition to the ACC. For the most part, this has been a mediocre program in the post-Jeff Tedford era. Wilcox is a good defensive coach, and there have been years where Cal is above average in this category. However, offenses under Wilcox have been woeful at times. Cal is hoping it can tap into the transfer portal and nab some impact players now that the respective recruiting net has considerably widened from where it once was.
56. Joey McGuire (Texas Tech)
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The soon-to-be 53-year-old coach was a legend coaching high school ball in the state of Texas. He eventually earned an assistant coach job at Baylor for a handful of years before earning the head coaching job in Lubbock. The Red Raiders have gone 15-11 in two years under McGuire. This has included two bowl appearances (both wins). In Year 3 of any project is usually where a program finds its proverbial stride. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Texas Tech win 10+ games in 2024. Should this occur, McGuire will leap up this list considerably. Essentially, his conservative ranking primarily stems from having only two years of head coaching experience on this level.
55. Sam Pittman (Arkansas)
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Pittman is certainly on the hot seat. He was bred to be an Arkansas fan through multiple family members, and as such it was a major coup when the Razorbacks originally signed him. Pittman by all accounts is among the better offensive line coaches in the country. Through four years, Pittman’s collective record is 23-25. With pressure mounting, he’ll need to turn it around in 2024. The hopes will be riding on Boise State transfer QB Taylen Green.
54. Brent Key (Georgia Tech)
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Key has the Ramblin’ Wreck of Georgia Tech on the move. The Yellow Jackets went 7-6 last year in Key’s second full season in Atlanta. An alum of the school, Key is driven to revive this once-proud program. His experience under Nick Saban as an Alabama assistant has enabled Key to evolve into a strong recruiter. As he continues to build the talent level up, Georgia Tech can fly under the radar as a sneaky-good team. Additionally, being in a region with a high concentration of elite prep players, Georgia Tech has a considerable upside Key is surely hoping to reach.
53. Sherrone Moore (Michigan)
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Sherrone Moore has some big shoes to fill. He was appointed as Michigan’s new head coach once Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL. Moore did assume the role as the Wolverines head coach for a spell this past year during Harbaugh’s suspension. He was widely regarded as one of the country’s top assistant coaches. With a background rooted in offensive line play along with playcalling, his transition as the new head coach should be a smooth one. Moore is a passionate, energetic, intelligent guy with all of the tools to succeed at the highest level. Re-visit this ranking a year from now, and you’ll see Moore ranked much higher within this list.
52. Troy Taylor (Stanford)
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It would not be shocking to see Taylor fly up this list within a couple of years. Stanford has a few inherent advantages that nobody in this conference has — namely academic prestige, campus beauty, and post-graduation connections. The Cardinal is beginning to recruit at a decently high level under Taylor. As he rebuilds this program, look for a team with a dynamic offense and an energetic defense. As we’ve seen with Jim Harbaugh, the right type of coach can thrive in this unique position. Taylor went 30-8 at Sacramento State before stumbling to a 3-9 record last year on the Farm in Palo Alto.
51. Billy Napier (Florida)
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Florida is a very proud program. Thanks to Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer, football in this neck of the woods is highly popular. A standard has been set — and unfortunately for Billy Napier, he’s not holding up his end of the bargain. The Tennessee native is just 11-14 through two years in the Swamp. He did take Louisiana to three straight 10-win seasons. However, his offenses have yet to get going — and the transfer portal has really taken a toll on the roster. If Napier doesn’t turn things around quickly, he could be out of a job by the end of this upcoming season.
50. Dave Aranda (Baylor)
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Aranda’s tenure at Baylor has been uneven. At one time, he was among the best defensive coordinators in the country. It was a major boon for the Bears to land him. In Year 2, Aranda led the team to a 12-2 win (including a win in the Sugar Bowl over Ole Miss). In his other three years in Waco, Aranda has a combined record of 11-23 (8-19 in conference play). With a reportedly improved NIL program, Baylor should be more competitive in the upcoming years. If the Bears do falter again in 2024, more than a handful of questions will be asked pertaining to Aranda’s long-term future with the program.
49. Scott Satterfield (Cincinnati)
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Cincinnati had a rough introduction to the Big 12 a year ago. The Bearcats went 3-9 — including 1-8 in conference play. Satterfield does have a good track record as a head coach. Appalachian State went to four bowl games under his guidance. Louisville was only 25-24 with Satterfield in charge (three bowl appearances) before he left for Cincinnati. After a year in a better conference, surely Satterfield has a better idea as to how his football must improve in order to combat the rigors of the Big 12. Another bad season will put him squarely on the hot seat.
48. Shane Beamer (South Carolina)
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South Carolina does have a nice history when it comes to football, yet it’s still a tougher job. The Gamecocks are battling for recruits versus in-state institution Clemson. On top of that, the likes of Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and others are circling prospects in its general region. After two straight winning seasons, the Gamecocks went 5-7 last year. In three seasons, Beamer has a record of 20-18. The program is essentially a middle-of-the-road entity in the SEC — a place no one wants to be.
47. Manny Diaz (Duke)
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We believe Diaz will do a good job in Durham. This is his second chance at being a head coach. After stints as one of the nation’s most highly-touted defensive coordinators, Diaz held the head coaching job at Miami for a brief three-year spell. Despite registering a 21-15 record, Diaz was let go — and quickly rebounded as Penn State’s defensive coordinator. With far less pressure at Duke compared to his previous head coaching job, Diaz should thrive with his defensive principles and preexisting recruiting ties throughout the Southeast region.
46. Rhett Lashlee (SMU)
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SMU enters the ACC with a bit of a unique profile. Unlike any other program in the conference, it’s situated in the Southwest. This should help in giving SMU a leg-up on recruiting in the region. Lashlee was a longtime offensive coordinator before getting the head coaching job in Dallas two years ago. Lashlee led the team to an 11-win season in 2023. While the competition level will be better, we could see SMU make some noise as a team few want to play moving forward. Lashlee has a good pulse on playcalling, and when factoring in the recruitment of athletes from Texas, SMU should be competitive for the foreseeable future.
45. Jedd Fisch (Washington)
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Jedd Fisch was one of the hottest names on the coaching market this past year. After taking over a dreadful Arizona team, Fisch transformed the program into a 10-win team two years after going 1-11. Known as an aggressive recruiter, Fisch took the Washington job with the idea that he’d have access to a better level of athlete. With a strong NFL pedigree, Fisch’s offensive scheme is both potent and nuanced. It’ll take some time for him to rebuild a roster that was gutted by graduation, the transfer portal, and early entrants to the NFL. However, all of the resources are there for him to keep the Huskies humming as a real threat nationally.
44. Greg Schiano (Rutgers)
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Greg Schiano gets a slight edge over Jedd Fisch based on his experience level as a head coach. Remember, this is a guy who led Rutgers to an 11-win season back in 2006. Now in his second stint with the program, Schiano has worked tirelessly to rebuild the recruiting ties to the Northeast area — particularly in the state of New Jersey. He undoubtedly has the Scarlet Knights trending in the right direction. The team went 7-6 last year, and that included a bowl victory over the Miami Hurricanes.
43. Curt Cignetti (Indiana)
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This was a potentially very good hire by the Hoosiers. Curt Cignetti comes to Indiana from his previous gig at James Madison. While with the Dukes, Cignetti went 52-9 in five seasons. This includes an 11-win season last year. The Pittsburgh native has plenty of experience coaching at the D1 level. He was an assistant coach under Nick Saban at Alabama and also had stints at NC State, Pitt, Rice, and Temple. Cignetti’s unique coaching path — which enabled him to garner reps at all levels — should allow him to make Indiana into a very respectable, competitive program. As a head coach, his career record collectively is 119-35.
42. Kalani Sitake (BYU)
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BYU went 5-7 in its inaugural Big 12 season last year. Traditionally playing an independent schedule, the Cougars would be able to beat up on inferior opponents with a physical, older roster. Now, Kalani Sitake is tasked with adding athleticism and quickness to a roster in need of some — particularly in the secondary and at the skill position spots. With players shuttling in and out due to mission responsibilities, the roster will always feature some turnover. It’ll be key for Sitake to settle things relatively speaking by improving the relative talent on the roster. Under his guidance, the former Utah DC has led the program to a 61-41 record since 2016.
41. Neal Brown (West Virginia)
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West Virginia is not the easiest of jobs. There’s not a natural pool of talent to pull from, and the Mountaineers find themselves competing with the likes of Pitt, Ohio State, Penn State, and others for top talent in the Rust Belt region. In five years with the program, Brown has led them to three bowl appearances. West Virginia won nine games in 2023 — the most in Brown’s tenure. With some momentum heading into 2024, we’ll see if the Mountaineers can generate enough talent to be a threat in this conference.
40. Bill O’Brien (Boston College)
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After toggling between the professional and collegiate ranks, O’Brien came home to take over a struggling Boston College program. We’ve seen periods where the Eagles have been decent. O’Brien won’t have the recruiting advantage he enjoyed during stints at Alabama and Penn State. He’ll have to out-scheme the opponent with brains and innovation. O’Brien has plenty of coaching experience, and the recent years spent in Tuscaloosa should aid in his transition back to the college game.
39. Brent Venables (Oklahoma)
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It will be very fascinating to see how Oklahoma fares in the SEC. Traditionally a program with an explosive offense, Venables veers the other way — promoting a culture rooted on the defensive side of the ball. The Sooners won’t steamroll inferior opponents the way they did for decades in the pass-happy Big 12. We’ll learn relatively quickly if Venables is up for the challenge. He could end up being at OU for years…or his tenure might end sooner than expected.
38. Mike Elko (Texas A&M)
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When you lead Duke to 16 wins in two seasons, you’re doing something right. Elko came over from Durham to lead this program. Known as a personable guy and a voracious recruiter, A&M appears primed to take a step up from where it fell under former head coach Jimbo Fisher. At the very least, the university hired a young, motivated coach looking to prove himself in the best league in America. We could look back on Elko being one of the sneaky-good hirings of the last decade.
37. PJ Fleck (Minnesota)
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The Golden Gophers are at a bit of a crossroads. On one hand, PJ Fleck has led the program to three seasons with at least nine wins. This includes an 11-win season (2019). However, the team went just 6-7 last year. We do give Fleck credit for compiling a 5-0 record in bowl games. However, the team has gone 29-32 in conference games under his guidance. With the addition of Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC, the sledding within the Big Ten might get even tougher. This could end up being a very difficult year for the Golden Gophers.
36. Bret Bielema (Illinois)
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The former Wisconsin and Arkansas coach is working on revitalizing a dormant Illinois program that hasn’t experienced a 10-win season since 2001. Bret Bielema took the job in 2021 after spending a few years in the NFL — at one point working as a consultant for former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Bielema struggled at his most recent stop as a head coach wit the Razorbacks, but hopes that he’s picked up a few things along the road to help him at his current post. He finished with a 68-24 at Wisconsin, but his teams have gone just 47-53 since.
35. Deion Sanders (Colorado)
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Sanders is the most polarizing head coach in the sport. He does things atypical to many of his peers, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t work. After all, he did register a 27-6 record at Jackson State before moving to Colorado. We know Sanders can get high-level talent — evidenced by flipping Travis Hunter on Signing Day, as well as the talent he’s accrued in the transfer portal. In some ways, this portal-heavy approach is an experiment in and of itself. We don’t know whether it’ll work out in the end, but it is quite fascinating to watch.
34. Josh Heupel (Tennessee)
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All things considered, Heupel has done a very nice job in Knoxville thus far. The Volunteers are 27-12 since the ex-QB took over three years ago. The next step in the progression of this program is challenging Georgia on an annual basis. Of late, it’s been Kentucky who’s emerged as perhaps the Bulldogs’ toughest opponent in what was the SEC East. Heupel’s offensive attack has proven to be legit, and we wouldn’t be shocked if the Vols take another step forward sooner rather than later. The moment is there with consecutive bowl victories.
33. Mario Cristobal (Miami)
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Cristobal may have had success at Oregon. However, he’s yet to really prove himself at Miami. We know about his prowess on the recruiting trails. He’s excellent in this capacity — particularly along the lines. However, the Hurricanes have yet to put it together in what’s been a relatively wide-open conference. Now with the former Pac-12 duo of Cam Ward and Damien Martinez operating as the team’s QB and RB, respectively, the Hurricanes should possess the requisite firepower to — at the very worst — be a 10-win team. At 12-13 through his first two years in Coral Gables, Cristobal needs a big year in 2024-25.
32. Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri)
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Drinkwitz gets the edge over Heupel for the fact Missouri has less of an advantage resource-wise compared to Tennessee. Known for his in-game adjustments and tactical acumen, Drinkwitz broke through this past year with an 11-2 record — including a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State. The Tigers look primed to have another strong year in 2024. Don’t let the overall record fool you…the man can coach.
31. Pat Narduzzi (Pitt)
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When you play Pitt, you know you’ll be in for a dogfight. Narduzzi is rooted on the defensive side of the ball. Under Narduzzi, the Panthers bring a nastiness to the gridiron every week. Since taking over in 2015, Pitt has been one of the most consistent programs within the ACC under Narduzzi’s guidance. Pitt has six bowl appearances during this time, and Narduzzi’s conference record is a respectable 43-31 (65-50 overall).
30. Sonny Dykes (TCU)
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Dykes has had a bit of a weird career. He’s coached at several places (Louisiana Tech, Cal, SMU, TCU). Each of those stops had at least one really good season — with a bunch of mediocrity otherwise. He led the Horned Frogs to the 2023 National Championship Game. It was a fantastic run that helped elevate the program profile even further from where it was under Gary Patterson. A year after going 13-2, TCU went 5-7. Can Dykes recapture the magic he had? Only time will tell, though he should be given plenty of time to reestablish the prowess TCU had two years ago.
29. Gus Malzahn (Central Florida)
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The Gus Bus is in full swing down in central Florida. Utilizing the lethal speed situated all throughout the state, it’s no surprise UCF has developed a very potent offensive scheme under Malzahn’s leadership. He’s taken the team to three straight bowl games (two of those seasons included winning nine games each). Now with an expanded recruiting footprint, Malzahn’s preexisting ties in Texas and Arkansas should net UCF more talent. The upside of this program is evident, and now being in a Power 4 conference gives Malzahn a real shot at getting back to the playoff (where he once got Auburn to the National Championship Game).
28. Hugh Freeze (Auburn)
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Freeze is a winner — and the type of coach who adapts to virtually any situation he’s in. The plug-and-play offense works perfectly. He’s an avid recruiter and has proven to be among the better head coach recruiters from a national standpoint. Though Freeze is still building Auburn up, this is not a program you’ll want to face once he gets everything organized. The track record throughout his career speaks for itself.
27. Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame)
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We’ll include Freeman on this list due to Notre Dame’s schedule affiliation with the ACC. Since taking over the job from Brian Kelly, the Fighting Irish have adopted the defensive mindset Freeman brings to the table. He’s led Notre Dame to 19 wins over the last two seasons. The Fighting Irish have won both bowl games during this timespan. Freeman’s recruiting at a good level, and he’s already developing a host of defensive players (namely Benjamin Morrison) into future high-round draft picks.
26. Dave Clawson (Wake Forest)
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Clawson’s career record in Wake Forest doesn’t look all that stellar (63-61). However, we must operate with some real context here. This is not a football program with a rich tradition. With respect to the school, it’s also not a major draw for recruits. Despite these challenges, Wake has consistently been relevant within the ACC under Clawson’s stewardship. He took the Demon Deacons to seven straight bowl games. This included a spectacular 11-win season back in 2021.,
25. Matt Rhule (Nebraska)
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Matt Rhule returned to the collegiate ranks in 2023 after a three-year stint in the NFL. The former Carolina Panther coach seems to be more comfortable at this level. One just one year at Nebraska, Rhule seems to already be building momentum for the program. A 5-7 record is nothing to write home about, but we’re talking about a Cornhuskers program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2016. Though, Rhule’s overall record as a coach is a bit troublesome. He finished his Panthers tenure with an 11-27 record, and is just barely over .500 (52-50) as a college coach.
24. Luke Fickell (Wisconsin)
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In Luke Fickell’s first full-year as Wisconsin’s head coach, the Badgers finished 7-6. It was a bit of a disappointing result following a strong 5-2 start, but Fickell’s team played hard all year. Just two of the losses were by more than nine points. It feels like the Badgers have the opportunity to break through under Fickell’s watch. The former coach at Cincinnati compiled a 57-18 record with the Bearcats that included a College Football Playoff appearance.
23. Jonathan Smith (Michigan State)
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Michigan State’s first-year coach is hoping to bring the Spartans back into national relevancy. Jonathan Smith spent the last six years as head coach at Oregon State, where he helped turned the Beavers into a respectable program. Smith won 25 games over his last three years in Corvallis — including a 10-win campaign in 2022 that ended with a dominant over Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl. He will be joined in East Lansing by a familiar face in Oregon State transfer QB Aidan Chiles. The Spartans could massively benefit from acquiring this pairing in the offseason.
22. Willie Fritz (Houston)
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Fritz has been an elite coach everywhere he’s been. Before taking over the Houston job, the 64-year-old had a run of success at a plethora of schools (Blinn College, Central Missouri, Georgia Southern, Sam Houston State, Tulane). Over the last two years at Tulane, the program went a combined 23-4. Fritz is highly experienced, respected, and motivated to take Houston to new heights. It’ll be the first time he’s coached in a Power 4 conference. Houston is located in an area with a ton of talent. Don’t sleep on the Cougars…within 2-3 years, we could be looking at a burgeoning juggernaut.
21. Matt Campbell (Iowa State)
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Campbell was at one time one of the hottest coaching candidates in the country. That momentum has slowed over the last couple of years, with Campbell warding off advances from bigger programs in favor of staying in Ames. It doesn’t mean he’s still not a great coach, however. He’s cultivated a program with strong cultural touchstones. Iowa State players are disciplined and play with real aggression. It surely comes from Campbell’s background growing up in a gritty Ohio neighborhood. As he approaches his 45th birthday, there’s still time for Campbell to leap to a bigger job should he welcome that opportunity.
20. Steve Sarkisian (Texas)
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Sark has Texas humming at this point. The Longhorns are recruiting at an exceptionally high level — evidenced by a berth in last year’s College Football Playoff. With Quinn Ewers returning, along with a host of elite transfers, there’s a reason to think Texas could compete in the SEC for a conference title right away. In terms of Sarkisian, the redemptive arc he’s enjoyed is quite inspiring. He’s proven that obstacles can be overcome en route to fulfilling your dreams. Additionally, he’s still one of the most potent offensive minds in the sport.
19. Mark Stoops (Kentucky)
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Remember, this is a basketball school. Kentucky’s history in football isn’t all that great. However, when Mark Stoops took over, he reversed the fortunes of the program through player development and ardent recruiting in the states of Ohio and Florida. He’s taken the Wildcats to eight straight bowl-game appearances. To put it contextually, more than a third of the bowl games in the history of Kentucky Football have been played by Stoops-led teams. When thinking about the lack of in-state talent to pull from — coupled with the competition in the area surrounding the state, it’s pretty astonishing for Stoops to achieve multiple 10-win seasons in Lexington.
18. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
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The longest-tenure coach in Division I is Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz who took the job all the way back in 1999. Since then, Ferentz has compiled 196 wins and two Big Ten titles. On four occasions has Ferentz been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Recently, the Hawkeyes have been among the steadiest teams in the conference. Led by one of the country’s stingiest defenses, Iowa has compiled three 10-plus win campaigns in the last four complete seasons. It’d be nice to see a little more offensive firepower, but Ferentz and the Hawkeyes are finding a way to get it done.
17. Chris Klieman (Kansas State)
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Klieman is the best coach the average fan hasn’t heard it. He went 69-6 at North Dakota State before taking over the Kansas State job — one which left a gigantic pair of shoes to fill in the form of Bill Snyder. In five years, K-State has gone a respectable 39-24 under Klieman’s stewardship. He’s navigated the unique challenges of the program quite well — meshing together high school recruiting along with the transfer portal and the junior college ranks. Kansas State will be a top-half team within the Big 12 as long as Klieman is entrenched as the coach.
16. Dave Doeren (NC State)
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Doeren — and frankly, NC State — flies under the radar nationally. He’s a darn good coach and one that succeeds through player development. NC State isn’t going to out-recruit Clemson, Florida State, or North Carolina. However, Doeren’s ability to find ‘his kind of guys’ has led to NC State making nine bowl appearances since 2013. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Doeren get over the hump and make a conference title game sooner than later.
15. Jeff Brohm (Louisville)
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Brohm came back home to Louisville with plenty of support from the local fan base. After helping to revive Purdue, Brohm led the Cardinals to a 10-4 record in Year 1. The combination of transfer portal recruiting coupled with success in the high school ranks has upped the collective talent on the roster in a hurry. Those on the team love playing for Brohm, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Louisville operate as an upper-echelon team within the ACC as long as Brohm is entrenched as the program’s figurehead.
14. Lance Leipold (Kansas)
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One can make the argument Leipold does more with less than any coach in America. It’s no secret that KU is a basketball school. Football will always play second fiddle, and it’s even more difficult when factoring in the lack of talent emanating from the state. It doesn’t matter to Leipold, who’s transformed this dilapidated program into a highly competitive entity within the Big 12. KU went 2-10 in Year 1, and 9-4 in Year 3. Ahead of this current season, the Jayhawks are a sneaky dark horse to win the conference.
13. Mack Brown (North Carolina)
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Brown is the respective Dean of coaches within the ACC. After winning a title at Texas, Brown opted to come back home to UNC — the school he once coached earlier in his career. During this current tenure, Brown has made bowl games in each of the five seasons he’s been back in Chapel Hill (winning one of those contests). With Drake Maye now playing in the NFL, Brown will try to lead North Carolina to a 10-win season for the first time since 2015.
12. Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss)
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We’ve now reached the upper echelon of coaches within the SEC. Kiffin’s attitude is a big reason for what makes him great. We even see glimpses of a flippant yet confident guy playfully poking fun at other programs via his X profile. Kiffin is a fantastic offensive coach, a rock-solid recruiter, and someone who’s positioned Ole Miss to be a national contender in 2024. Despite the volatile tenures with USC, the Raiders, and Tennessee, Kiffin has seemingly learned from those mistakes and as such has developed into a very good head coach.
11. Brian Kelly (LSU)
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Kelly is another guy who’s won at every stop he’s had. From building Grand Valley State and Cincinnati into local powers — to making Notre Dame relevant again, the results speak for themselves. LSU has two straight 10-win seasons under his guidance. Kelly helped Jayden Daniels win the 2023 Heisman Trophy Award and also developed Malik Nabers into a likely top-10 pick. Now having the opportunity to pursue a level of athlete he’s never had before, LSU should be very dynamic for years to come.
10. Lincoln Riley (USC)
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Lincoln Riley is one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. He lit up Big 12 scoreboards at Oklahoma for five seasons before moving out to Southern California. Former Sooner QB Caleb Williams joined him on the trip out West, forming one of the country’s most potent offenses. A strong 11-3 campaign in Year 1 had many believing USC could challenge for a College Football Playoff berth. Instead, the Trojans disappointed en route to an 8-5 record. It will be intriguing to see just how long Riley will continue to deny potential NFL openings.
9. James Franklin (Penn State)
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James Franklin leading Penn State back into national relevancy cannot be understated. The Nittany Lions hadn’t had a double-digit season in five years before Franklin took over in 2014. He’s compiled four 11-win seasons since earning the job. Last year, Penn State boasted one of the nation’s toughest defenses, finishing third in PPG allowed (13.5). However, Franklin’s group has routinely come up short against the Big Ten’s elite. Penn State is 0-6 against Ohio State and Michigan over the last three seasons.
8. Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State)
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Gundy has spent most of his life coaching in Stillwater. He previously was a quarterback at the school before becoming a WR coach, QB coach, and offensive coordinator. Since 2005, he’s been the head coach. The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year has made this program into a consistent entity. Gundy routinely has OSU winning 8-9 games on an annual basis. He’s even accrued eight years with at least 10 wins (including 12-win seasons in 2011 and 2021). Even more impressive, Gundy has led the Pokes to 18-straight bowl appearances.
7. Mike Norvell (Florida State)
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Norvell needs to win a National Title before leapfrogging the No. 1 coach on our list. However, he’s currently accrued the most momentum of any program leader within the ACC. After two rebuilding years, the Seminoles have gone a combined 23-4 over the last two years. Florida State finished last year with a stellar 13-1 record. While this year’s team has to replace a ton, Norvell is recruiting at a very high level — and as such the Seminoles might be on the cusp of becoming the top dog within the conference sooner than later.
6. Dan Lanning (Oregon)
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Oregon enters its first year in the Big Ten with third-year coach Dan Lanning. Over his previous two seasons, Lanning led the Ducks to a 22-5 record with two Bowl wins. Last year, Lanning struck an ideal balance on both sides of the ball. The Ducks finished second in PPG (44.2) and ninth in PPG allowed (16.5). While Lanning doesn’t have the extensive resume as some others in the conference, what we’ve seen from his Oregon team so far grants him a place near the top of this list.
5. Kalen DeBoer (Alabama)
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DeBoer is a culture guy through and through. His bread-and-butter exists on the offensive side of the ball — though more so in the realm of player development. He didn’t always have the best recruits at Washington. Yet, he and his staff worked tirelessly to make a handful of them into All-Conference types and also NFL-caliber talents. He won’t have any issues garnering elite athletes at Alabama. The question will be whether DeBoer can withstand the immense expectations set forth by Nick Saban. Few would want to walk in those footsteps considering what preceded them in Tuscaloosa.
4. Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
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Swinney remains atop the coaching totem pole in this conference. Though Clemson has dipped a bit recently, one cannot deny the body of work he’s put together. The two-time National Champion has led Clemson to 10 bowl victories, 16 bowl appearances, and eight conference titles since taking over in 2008. The Tigers are hoping to reemerge as a playoff contender with veteran quarterback Cade Klubnik under center. If Clemson stumbles again (relative to expectations), the talk around Swinney’s unwillingness to recruit the transfer portal might become louder and louder.
3. Kyle Whittingham (Utah)
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Whittingham is one of the best coaches in the entire country. His program has been fortified by pillars of toughness, fundamentals, discipline, and energy. While the state of Utah has seen an uptick in prep talent, it’s still not close to the likes of other states. As such, Whittingham and his staff have cultivated deep relationships with high school programs in Hawaii, California, Texas, and Florida. His teams play with terrific enthusiasm — particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Initially, the equivalent of a mid-major program when joining the former Pac-12, Whittingham led Utah to two conference titles and four division crowns. He also led Utah to a Sugar Bowl win over a Nick Saban-led Alabama squad in 2008. Based on the profile of this program, Utah might be the best team from the jump within the Big 12 in 2024.
2. Ryan Day (Ohio State)
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Looking across the Big Ten, nobody is getting it done at a higher level than Ohio State’s Day. Taking over for Urban Meyer is no easy task. The Buckeyes’ job comes with high expectations and the fans expect a perennial contender. Since claiming the full-time job in 2019, Day boasts a 53-8 record while suffering just three losses in conference play. Day has led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff twice, with a runner-up finish in the 2020 season. With Kansas State transfer Will Howard likely to take over at quarterback, Day should have the Buckeyes in contention once again.
1. Kirby Smart (Georgia)
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If you look out across the country, Kirby Smart is atop the head coaching totem pole at this given time. The fiery personality has led Georgia to two National Championships, two SEC titles, and six SEC East Division titles. When you’ve accrued a 94-16 career record — including a 56-9 record in the toughest conference in the country, you’re surely doing something right. When factoring in the talent pool in the state of Georgia and throughout the Southeast, this machine isn’t going to slow down anytime soon.
