Joel Klatt Unveils Top-10 College Football Coaches List

Ranking focuses on modern success in NIL and transfer portal era

Feb. 27, 2026 at 8:50pm

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Sports analyst Joel Klatt has revealed his first-ever public top 10 ranking of the best college football coaches. The list is focused on current success rather than lifetime achievements, with a heavy emphasis on performance in the new NIL and transfer portal era. Some surprising names made the cut, including Lane Kiffin, Mario Cristobal, and Kalani Sitake, while legendary coaches like Dabo Swinney were left off. Klatt's top pick is Indiana's Curt Cignetti, who has led the historically struggling Hoosiers to a national championship in just two seasons.

Why it matters

Klatt's ranking provides a fresh perspective on the current state of college football coaching, moving beyond traditional metrics to focus on the new realities of recruiting, roster management, and in-game strategy. As the sport continues to evolve, this list highlights the coaches best equipped to navigate the modern landscape and build championship-caliber programs.

The details

Klatt's top 10 list is as follows: 1. Curt Cignetti, Indiana; 2. Ryan Day, Ohio State; 3. Kirby Smart, Georgia; 4. Dan Lanning, Oregon; 5. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame; 6. Steve Sarkisian, Texas; 7. Kyle Whittingham, Michigan; 8. Kalani Sitake, BYU; 9. Mario Cristobal, Miami; 10. Lane Kiffin, LSU. Klatt emphasized that this ranking is not a lifetime achievement award, but rather a reflection of who is currently excelling in the new NIL and transfer portal era of college football.

  • Klatt unveiled his top 10 list on the latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show.

The players

Joel Klatt

A sports analyst who has close relationships with many college football coaches and programs.

Curt Cignetti

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, who has led the historically struggling program to a national championship in just two seasons.

Ryan Day

The head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who Klatt describes as one of the most insightful and excellent coaches he interacts with.

Kirby Smart

The head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, who Klatt calls "the standard" in the SEC and has led the team to back-to-back national titles.

Dan Lanning

The head coach of the Oregon Ducks, who Klatt says is gaining on the best teams in college football each season.

Marcus Freeman

The head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who Klatt describes as the personification of class, integrity, and toughness.

Steve Sarkisian

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns, who Klatt calls "one of the great game planners in college football."

Kyle Whittingham

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, who Klatt says has turned Utah into a perennial top-15 program.

Kalani Sitake

The head coach of the BYU Cougars, who Klatt says has led a team that "takes on the character of the coach" with their physical, dominant style of play.

Mario Cristobal

The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, who Klatt says has brushed off stigmas about not winning big games and not finishing strong late in the season.

Lane Kiffin

The head coach of the LSU Tigers, who Klatt says "can coach football" despite the messy exit from Ole Miss.

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What they’re saying

“Whatever you want to think of all of that, the guy can coach football. This list would not be complete without him on it.”

— Joel Klatt, Sports Analyst (The Joel Klatt Show)

“You do not beat Oregon unless you are the best teams in college football. And you can make an argument that he's gaining on those teams. and gaining on those teams every single year.”

— Joel Klatt, Sports Analyst (The Joel Klatt Show)

“Kirby runs that conference. You think of the SEC, it's Georgia. It's Georgia. It's Georgia. It's Georgia. You got to take down Georgia in order to to to be crowned the champion in that league. And certainly it's been tough to do.”

— Joel Klatt, Sports Analyst (The Joel Klatt Show)

What’s next

Klatt's ranking is sure to spark debate among college football fans and analysts. As the sport continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these coaches adapt and whether any new names emerge in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

Klatt's top 10 list provides a fresh perspective on college football coaching, moving beyond traditional metrics to focus on the new realities of recruiting, roster management, and in-game strategy. The inclusion of some unexpected names highlights the changing landscape of the sport and the coaches best equipped to lead programs in the modern era.