Josh Pate recently unveiled his rankings for the top 10 college football coaches over the past three years, spotlighting a strong SEC presence with five coaches making the cut. The list features Georgia’s Kirby Smart at No.
2, LSU’s Lane Kiffin at No. 6, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer at No.
7, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian at No. 8, and Texas A&M’s Mike Elko at No. 10.
Interestingly, Pate ranked Ohio State’s Ryan Day above both Indiana’s Curt Cignetti and Smart.
Other notable mentions include Oregon’s Dan Lanning, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, and Miami’s Mario Cristobal. Pate’s rankings, shared on social media, come with a playful challenge to those ranked and unranked alike.
Pate’s criteria for these rankings involve a rolling three-year blend focusing on:
- On-field results, with a slight lean towards recent performances
- Talent acquisition and development
- Culture and organizational strength
- A subtle predictive element
The debate around these rankings is lively, especially with Curt Cignetti’s impressive achievements at Indiana. In just two seasons, he led the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff twice and clinched a national championship. Cignetti’s ability to elevate Indiana to such heights is nothing short of remarkable.
Most of the coaches in Pate’s rankings are also among the favorites to reach the College Football Playoff next season, according to odds from Kalshi. This underscores the competitive landscape and the ever-evolving dynamics of college football coaching.