Analyst Ranks Indiana's Curt Cignetti No. 1 Among Top 10 College Football Coaches
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 12
Analyst Ranks Indiana's Curt Cignetti No. 1 Among Top 10 College Football Coaches
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 12
Summary
Curt Cignetti topped Dan Dakich’s 2026 top-10 coaching list after leading Indiana to a string of program firsts, including an 11-win season, a playoff berth and a national title.
Dakich argued NIL and the transfer portal have made coaching more decisive, rewarding leaders who maximize resources rather than simply stockpiling elite talent.
Kirby Smart ranked No. 2 and Ryan Day No. 3, with Dakich citing Smart’s 2 national championships and Day’s title 18 months ago plus sustained top-tier recruiting and staff hires.
Dan Lanning at No. 4 and Marcus Freeman at No. 5 rounded out the top five, while Steve Sarkisian, Lane Kiffin, Kyle Whittingham, Clark Lea and Lincoln Riley completed the 10-coach list.
The ranking leaned on total résumé, recent success and overachievement relative to resources, underscoring how rapidly changing roster rules are reshaping college football’s coaching hierarchy.