Top College Football Coaches 2025: Freeman Rises, Venables Struggles

In the ever-evolving world of college football, the head coach’s job keeps changing. Now that colleges pay players directly, coaches juggle being a CEO and staying hands-on with their teams.

The Athletic rolled out its annual ranking of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coaches, breaking them into eight tiers. They looked at resumes, resources, longevity, and recent results to figure out who’s thriving and how they’re adapting to the modern game.

Understanding the New Era of College Football Coaching

College football coaching isn’t what it used to be. Direct player payments mean coaches have to split their focus between administration and the field.

This new reality makes it clearer than ever what separates good coaches from the great ones. You can’t just coast on charisma or old-school tactics anymore.

The Criteria for Ranking

The Athletic’s system dives deep into each coach’s body of work. They consider:

• Resume: Achievements and career milestones.
• Resources: The support and facilities available to the coach.
• Longevity: How long and how consistently they’ve succeeded.
• Recent Results: Recent seasons matter more than distant history.

This isn’t about guessing who’ll overachieve next year. The rankings focus on what coaches have actually done, and the situations they’ve worked in.

Top Tier Coaches: The Champions

Only three active coaches have a national championship under their belt, and they land in the top tier. Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney both own multiple titles.

Even though their teams have dipped a bit lately, they’re still at the top of the sport. You can’t ignore what they’ve built.

Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney

Kirby Smart at Georgia and Dabo Swinney at Clemson have set the bar high. Swinney’s squad bounced back with an ACC championship and another Playoff trip, while Smart’s Bulldogs won the SEC but missed the semifinals again.

Ryan Day: A Tough Placement

Ryan Day at Ohio State is tricky to rank. He’s got a national title, but his record against Michigan and as an underdog raises eyebrows.

Still, his dominance over most Big Ten teams is tough to argue with. It’s a complicated legacy so far.

Consistent Winners: The Second Tier

The second tier features coaches who keep winning but haven’t grabbed the ultimate prize. They keep their teams near the top and make regular playoff runs.

Notable Coaches in the Second Tier

Kalen DeBoer, Marcus Freeman, and Brian Kelly have all reached national championship games but haven’t sealed the deal. James Franklin, Lincoln Riley, and Steve Sarkisian have made the semifinals with mixed results.

Dan Lanning and Curt Cignetti

Dan Lanning at Oregon and Curt Cignetti at Indiana are models of steady success. Lanning’s Ducks went undefeated in the regular season last year.

Cignetti has turned around programs wherever he’s gone, pulling off a big-time rebuild at Indiana.

Rising Stars and Established Names

The third tier’s the biggest, packed with coaches on the rise and steady hands. Bret Bielema, Jon Sumrall, and Rhett Lashlee are all making waves at their schools.

New Entries and Rising Coaches

Dan Mullen is back in the game at UNLV, and Shane Beamer has pushed South Carolina into the top 25. Kenny Dillingham and Deion Sanders have shaken things up in their short time on the job.

Coaches with Highs and Lows

This group also includes coaches with rollercoaster results. Dave Aranda at Baylor and Mike Norvell at Florida State have seen both the highs and the lows—it’s never boring with them.

Coaches with Something to Prove

The fourth tier is for coaches who haven’t quite put it all together yet. David Braun at Northwestern and Sam Pittman at Arkansas are under the microscope.