College football’s 20 best head coaches of 2025

Competition is at an all-time high, and the game is constantly evolving with the transfer portal and NIL.

However, these 20 individuals have displayed what it takes to be successful. They are dynasty builders, and leaders of young men. With great power, comes great responsibility, and support from the fans goes a long way. Being a head coach takes patience, direction and wisdom.

Some jobs are stepping stones, while others are ideal destinations. Head coaches have to balance it all, while being the face of their respective programs. Everything comes down to being aggressive recruiters, developers of talent and great gameday motivators. After successful seasons in 2024, these 20 coaches are ready to set the game on fire come August.

20. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State: He’s the youngest coach in the Big 12, who led the Sun Devils to a conference championship, and a Playoff berth in his second year on the job. Dillingham has the charisma to relate to today’s student-athletes, and his players work hard for him, which translates to success on the field. It’s mind-boggling that Dillingham only won three games in 2023. However, he posted 11 victories last season, which were the most in the program since 1996. Dillingham even has one of the nation’s best Offensive Coordinators in Mark Arroyo. Not only has Arroyo molded Sam Leavitt into an elite quarterback, but Dillingham has the talent on both sides of the ball for the Sun Devils to repeat as Big 12 Champs.

19. Curt Cignetti, Indiana: He emerged from the shadows last season, and pulled the unthinkable. Cignetti led Indiana to a school-record, 11 victories, and the program’s first-ever, berth in the Playoffs. However, Cignetti is no stranger to success. The Pittsburgh native spent five seasons at James Madison prior to his tenure in Bloomington. Cignetti led the Dukes to an 11-win-campaign in his final year with the program, including a 10-0 start. Not to mention he was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2023. The 64-year old landed plenty of accolades with the Hoosiers in 2024, including the AP Coach of the Year. After all, Cignetti made an immediate splash in the Big Ten. Now fans want to see what he can do for an encore.

18. Bret Bielema, Illinois: He paid his dues for several years as an assistant, and eventually landed the Wisconsin job after Barry Alvarez retired. Bielema’s seven-year tenure with the Badgers resulted in 68 victories, and three Big Ten Titles. Although his five-year tenure at Arkansas was lackluster, Bielema still posted three winning campaigns. After returning to his home state to lead the Fighting Illini, Bielema clearly has the team on the rise. The 55-year old led the Fighting Illini to 10 wins last season, which were the most in the program since 2001. Bielema is 28-22 at Illinois over the past four years, and returns his best team yet for the upcoming season. With a 125-80 overall record as a head coach, Bielema is impressive.

17. Mario Cristobal, Miami: The 54-year old received his first job as a head coach at Florida International, where he posted two winning campaigns in six seasons. After that unsuccessful tenure, the legendary Nick Saban took Cristobal under his wing at Alabama, and expanded his knowledge as an assistant. Cristobal eventually took over for Oregon, and won two Pac-12 Championships through four seasons. He returned home to South Beach to lead his alma mater, and hasn’t looked back. Cristobal has improved Miami’s record every year, and posted 10 victories last season, which were the most in the program since 2017. It appears the Hurricanes are back on the map under Cristobal, and he’s just cracking the surface.

16. Lincoln Riley, USC: The Texas native has one of the brightest offensive minds in today’s game. Riley comes from the legendary Mike Leach Coaching Tree, and is a quarterback guru. After all, three gunslingers have won the Heisman under his watch. Riley had a highly-successful tenere at Oklahoma. He led the Sooners to 55 victories in five seasons, including three Big 12 Championships and three Playoff appearances. Although he hasn’t had the same success so far with USC, Riley has produced three winning campaigns. Naysayers give him criticism for all of the defensive struggles throughout his career, but Riley is still 81-24 overall as a head coach. The 41-year old got a taste of the Big Ten last year, and should have USC ready this fall.

15. Matt Campbell, Iowa State: The Ohio native has been a winner everywhere he’s coached. Campbell made a name for himself in the MAC, and led Toledo to four-straight winning campaigns. He has been at Iowa State since 2016, and blossomed into one of the top coaches in the country. After all, Campbell has stockpiled a 64-51 record with the Cyclones, and took them to new heights in 2024. Although Iowa State came up short in the Big 12 Championship Game, Campbell produced a program-record, 11 wins. All of his success in Ames even drew interest from the Chicago Bears for the franchise’s head coaching vacancy. However, Campbell declined because he’s as loyal as they come, and continues to build Iowa State into a Big 12 power.

14. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: The 69-year old is approaching his 27th season in Iowa City, and also happens to be the nation’s longest-tenured coach. Ferentz’s longevity is noteworthy, considering he’s two conference victories away from becoming the Big Ten’s all-time winningest coach. He has had countless of Hawkeyes selected in the NFL Draft through the years, including five this past April. Ferentz always handles himself with class, and it rubs off on his players. The Hawkeyes are known for being physical, and disciplined, plus Ferentz knows the Big Ten’s style of play like the back of his hand. Not to mention Ferentz has generated a 204-124 record at Iowa, and will be a future Hall of Famer whenever he decides to retire.

13. Chris Klieman, Kansas State: The Iowa native understands what it takes to win at a high level. After all, Klieman won four FCS National Titles through a five-year tenure at North Dakota State. Now he’s entering his seventh season in Manhattan, and continues to pile up the wins. Klieman even led Kansas State to a Big 12 Championship in 2022. He’s also undefeated against in-state rival Kansas. The landscape of the Big 12 has changed through the years, but Klieman has learned to adjust on the fly. Which is why he has a 48-28 record with the Wildcats, including a 32-23 mark against Big 12 opponents. The 57-year old has won three of his past four bowl games too. Klieman will be fielding yet another talented team this season.

12. Kyle Whittingham, Utah: The former BYU linebacker is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the country. Whittingham is also the Utes’ all-time winningest coach. He took over at Utah after Urban Meyer bolted for the Florida job, and never looked back. Which is why Whittingham has produced a 167-86 record through 20 seasons with the program. Whittingham even helped Utah transition to two new conferences. The Utes were Mountain West Champs, and captured back-to-back Pac-12 Titles under his watch. Part of Whittingham’s success is having an elite Defensive Coordinator in Morgan Scalley. Although the Utes suffered a losing campaign in their first year in the Big 12, expect Whittingham to have them improved.

11. Deion Sanders, Colorado: Rather fans love or hate Coach Prime, they can’t ignore his impact on College football. He won 27 games in three seasons at Jackson State, which included two SWAC Titles. He took over a team that was fresh off a one-win campaign in 2022, and captured four victories in his first season in Boulder. Coach Prime put Colorado back on the map in 2024, and won nine games, which exceeded all of the preseason expectations. Not to mention Travis Hunter won the Heisman, Shedeur Sanders took home the Johnny Unitas, and the Buffaloes finished ranked in the final AP Poll for the first time since 2016. Which is why Coach Prime has a $11 million salary now, and Colorado football is must-see television.

10. Josh Heupel, Tennessee: The former Oklahoma signal-caller has one of the nation’s best offensive minds, and is a quarterback whisperer. Heupel’s system is quarterback-friendly, and his offenses are fun to watch. In Heupel’s seven seasons of being a head coach, he has never produced a losing campaign. He won 28 games in three seasons at UCF. That success followed him to Tennessee, considering Heupel has made a tremendous impact on the SEC. The 47-year old is 37-15 with the Volunteers, and they made their first-ever, Playoff appearance last season. Heupel knows what it takes to light up the scoreboard. After all, Tennessee averaged 35.7 points per game last year, 31.8 in 2023, 46.1 in 2022 and 39.3 in 2021.

9. Brian Kelly, LSU: The 63-year old has been one of College football’s most successful coaches over the past three decades. Kelly continues to be a winner everywhere he coaches, and has a noteworthy journey. He won two Division II National Titles at Grand Valley State. Kelly led Central Michigan to a MAC Championship in 2006. Not to mention he completed a perfect regular season at Cincinnati in 2009, and won the Big East twice. Kelly coached for 12 seasons at Notre Dame, and became the program’s all-time winningest coach. The Massachusetts native has won 29 games over the past three seasons at LSU, and coached a Heisman winner. The only thing missing from Kelly’s brilliant resume is a National Championship.

8. James Franklin, Penn State: The 53-year old understands what it takes to win, and continues to be one of the game’s most successful coaches. After all, Franklin led Vanderbilt out of the SEC cellar, and won 25 games in three seasons. He took over a Penn State program that was hit with several NCAA sanctions from the previous regime, and never looked back. Which is why Franklin is 101-42 with the Nittany Lions over the past 11 years, and captured a Big Ten Championship in 2016. Franklin has produced double-digit win campaigns in each of the past three years, including a school-record, 13 victories last season. Penn State made it all the way to the Playoff semifinals, and Franklin has all of the right tools to do it again.

7. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama: The South Dakota native’s journey is truly remarkable, and inspirational. After all, DeBoer led his alma mater Sioux Falls for five seasons, and produced a jaw-dropping, 67-3 record, including three NAIA National Championships. He eventually worked his way up the FBS ranks as an assistant, became Fresno State’s head coach for two years and won 16 of his 18 games. That success followed him to Washington too. DeBoer led the Huskies for two seasons, and during that span they won 25 games, including a Pac-12 Championship and played for a National Title. Although his first season in Tuscaloosa was disappointing, DeBoer won nine games, and Alabama was still in the Playoff discussion after week 14.

6. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame: The Ohio native continues to rise up the ranks in such a short amount of time. Freeman has the swagger, class and respect to relate to today’s student-athletes, and his team loves playing for him. Which is why he’s 33-10 with the Fighting Irish over the past three years. Last season Notre Dame made it all the way to the National Championship Game for the first time since 2012. The success continues, despite Freeman fielding a new quarterback behind center every year in South Bend. That’s because he’s an elite recruiter, who puts an emphasis on defense, and running the ball. Freeman appears to only be cracking the surface following a tremendous run in 2024, and will field another top-five squad this fall.

5. Steve Sarkisian, Texas: A championship mentality was instilled in him when he was part of the Pete Carroll dynasty at USC. Sarkisian is a quarterback guru, and success follows him wherever he goes. The Californian took over a horrible Washington program, and won 29 games in four seasons. Sarkisian kept the wheels rolling at USC, and won 12 of his 18 games. He has put Texas back on the map over the past four seasons, and won a Big 12 Championship, along with a Playoff appearance in 2023.  Sarkisian even led the Longhorns to an appearance in the SEC Championship Game last year, and they made it all the way to the Playoff Semifinals. Now Sarkisian will be fielding his best team yet, with Texas likely starting at the top.

4. Dan Lanning, Oregon: The 39-year old has put together a stellar first three seasons with the Ducks, and it appears the best is yet to come. With three-straight, double-digit win campaigns, there’s no denying that Lanning is one of the best coaches in the game. He’s also a recruiting monster, so there’s major talent all over Oregon’s roster. The Missouri native won the Big Ten Championship, and completed a perfect regular season in his first year in the conference. Lanning is a defensive-minded coach, but understands what it takes to field an elite offense. Which is why the Ducks averaged 38.8 points per game in 2022, 44.2 in 2023 and 44.2 last year. Not to mention Oregon has had countless NFL Draft picks under Lanning’s watch.

3. Ryan Day, Ohio State: His record speaks for itself. Going 70-10 over the past six seasons with the Buckeyes is flat-out phenomenal. Day took over for Urban Meyer, and the rest is history. From recruiting, to utilizing the transfer portal and NIL, Day continues to help Ohio State be the No. 1 power in College football. The naysayers will bring up his 0-4 record against Michigan over the past four seasons, but they can’t forget about his record against the rest of the Big Ten. Day even led Ohio State to the National Championship last season. The Buckeyes continue to have numerous NFL Draft picks under Day’s watch, and despite the loss of talent, they reload instead of rebuild. The reigning National Champs will be the team to beat in 2025.

2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson: He’s one of the longest-tenured coaches in the country, with a resume that’s second to none. Swinney checks all of the boxes for a future first-time ballot, Hall of Famer because of his success and longevity. He’s also one of two current FBS coaches with two College Football Playoff National Championships. Swinney has won a jaw-dropping, nine ACC Titles, including one last season. The Tigers have made seven Playoff appearances under his watch. Not to mention two of his former assistants happens to be head coaches at Oklahoma and Virginia. Swinney continues to put his players in the NFL at a high rate, and is one of the most respected coaches in the sport. Clemson should be top-five worthy this fall.

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia: The 49-year old has ruled the SEC with an iron fist, and was basically handed the torch after Nick Saban retired. Smart has built a dynasty at Georgia, and the program is arguably the No. 1 power in College football, despite no National Titles over the past two seasons. The Alabama native comes from the Saban coaching tree, and understands what it takes to win National Championships. After all, Smart won it all in 2021 and 2022. He’s also the No. 1 recruiter in the game, and keeps a roster full of four and five-star talent. Smart is a jaw-dropping, 105-19 over the past nine years at Georgia, which includes three SEC Championships. As long as Smart is in Athens, the Bulldogs will remain National Title contenders.

Honorable Mention

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: He’s the Big 12’s longest-tenured coach, and the Pokes’ golden boy. However, going winless last season in conference play has tarnished some of Gundy’s legacy. Still, he’s Oklahoma State’s all-time winningest coach, respected by the fans and a future Hall of Famer.

Kalani Sitake, BYU: The 49-year old has led BYU since 2016, with only two losing seasons. The Cougars produced 11 victories in 2024, which was their third double-digit win campaign under Sitake. He ended the losing streak against rival Utah last season too. BYU was Playoff-worthy in 2024, and look the part now.

Jeff Brohm, Louisville: He has been a winner, and made Purdue respectful, and won 17 games over his final two seasons with the program. Brohm has been back at his alma mater since 2023, and won 19 games during that span. The Cardinals will continue to be a force with Brohm in charge.