As anticipation builds for the 2025 college football season, discussions about who stands as the nation’s best coach have intensified.
After a historic 2024 season, highlighted by Ohio State’s remarkable run through the 12-team College Football Playoff and their eventual national championship, many wondered if Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day had claimed the top spot.
Day, who boasts a career record of 70-10 and now holds a national title, certainly made a compelling case.
Yet, ESPN’s latest rankings reveal that the title of “best coach in all of college football” belongs to Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.
ESPN unveiled their coach rankings, with Smart securing 11 of 12 first-place votes. The outlet explained their choice:
“With more first-round NFL draft picks (20) than losses (19) in his nine seasons as coach of his alma mater and back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, it’s hard to argue it could be anyone other than Smart with Nick Saban retired,” ESPN stated.
“I guess if Ryan Day guided Ohio State to a second straight national title or Dabo Swinney captured his third at Clemson this season, you could make the case they’re better. I don’t think Georgia’s program is going to slip anytime soon.”
Here’s a look at ESPN’s complete top 10 head coach rankings for 2025…
1. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Record: 105-19 (all at Georgia)
2. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Record: 70-10 (all at Ohio State)
3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Record: 180-47 (all at Clemson)
4. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Record: 33-10 (all at Notre Dame)
5. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Record: 84-52 (38-17 at Texas)
6. Dan Lanning, Oregon
Record: 35-6 (all at Oregon)
7. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Record: 46-13 (9-4 at Alabama, plus 67-3 at NAIA Sioux Falls)
8. James Franklin, Penn State
Record: 125-57 (101-42 at Penn State)
9. Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Record: 167-86 (all at Utah)
10. Matt Campbell, Iowa State
Record: 99-66 (64-52 at Iowa State)
What are your thoughts on ESPN’s rankings?
Do YOU agree that Kirby Smart is the best coach in the country???
