ESPN ranks the top 10 college football coaches headed into the 2025 season

[Gerry Hamilton]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45026603/ranking-best-coaches-college-football-2025

[CGG]

Interesting article.  I was surprised that 7 of the coaches who made the top 10 were left completely off at least one of the voters ballots.

[Bevo92]

Thanks @Gerry Hamilton.   3 observations came to mind.

 

1) How can anyone vote Belichick in the Top 10 among college football coaches?   That’s a joke. 

2) As the only coach who has made it to the past 2 CFP Semi-Finals with repeated Top 5 recruiting classes, improving record year over year, the best record against Top 25 of any coach in the SEC……How does Sark get completely left off the Top 10 list by a few of the ‘experts’?   For the voters who said they give more credit to coaches who get more out of less talent, being a head coach is also about recruiting, retaining and developing players.   Don’t punish Sark for building a better roster and developing his players into beasts on the field.  

3) Overall, I didn’t have any big objection to where Sark is ranked and who is above him.   I expect Sark will continue climbing into the Top 2 over next two seasons.  

4) Think it’s pretty funny thinking back 2 years ago when Sark was ranked as only the 8th best coach in the Big 12 (according to CBS Sports) prior to his final season in the conference.   Amazing how much has changed in 2 years.

Hook em!! 🧡🐂🤘🏼
 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Bevo92

[Bevo92]

Pretty funny looking back at these pre-season rankings now 2 years later.  Sarkisian clearly the cream of the crop among Big 12 Coaches but it hadn’t yet fully come together until the 2023 season played out (starting with the big upset win at Bama) followed by thrashing Texas Tech and Oklahoma State for Conf Championship.    Venables is appropriately at the bottom of the pile still, regardless of conference.
Hook em!!  🧡🐂🤘🏼

Here are the 2023 Big 12 Preseason College Football Head Coach Rankings as compiled by CBS Sports.  

1. Sonny Dykes – TCU
   Dykes surged from 11th to 1st after leading TCU to the national title game in his first season, marking a remarkable turnaround for the program.
2. Chris Klieman – Kansas State
   Klieman guided the Wildcats to a Big 12 Championship victory over TCU, showcasing consistent success with a 10-4 record in 2022.
3. Mike Gundy – Oklahoma State
   Despite a down year in 2022, Gundy’s long-standing success with the Cowboys keeps him high on the list, reflecting his 18-year tenure and multiple double-digit win seasons.
4. Lance Leipold – Kansas
   Leipold transformed a struggling Kansas program, leading them to their first bowl game since 2008 and achieving a winning conference record in 2023.
5. Dave Aranda – Baylor
   After a Big 12 title in 2021, Aranda faced challenges in 2022 with a 6-7 record, but his defensive expertise and previous success keep him in the top five.
6. Gus Malzahn – UCF
   Entering the Big 12, Malzahn brings experience from his time at Auburn, aiming to establish UCF as a competitive program in the conference.
7. Matt Campbell – Iowa State
   Although the Cyclones had a 4-8 season in 2022, Campbell’s previous achievements, including a Big 12 Championship appearance in 2020, demonstrate his coaching capabilities.
8. Steve Sarkisian – Texas
   Sarkisian’s tenure at Texas has shown potential, and with a talented roster, expectations are high for the Longhorns as they prepare to transition to the SEC.
9. Kalani Sitake – BYU
   Sitake’s leadership has kept BYU competitive, and as they join the Big 12, his experience will be vital in navigating the new conference landscape.
10. Joey McGuire – Texas Tech
    In his first season, McGuire led the Red Raiders to an 8-5 record, including wins over Texas and Oklahoma, indicating a promising future for the program.
11. Dana Holgorsen – Houston
    Holgorsen’s familiarity with the Big 12 from his time at West Virginia positions him to guide Houston through its transition into the conference.
12. Brent Venables – Oklahoma
    Venables faced a challenging first season with a 6-7 record, but his defensive acumen and recruiting efforts aim to restore Oklahoma’s prominence.
13. Scott Satterfield – Cincinnati
    Satterfield takes over a Cincinnati program transitioning into the Big 12, bringing experience from his tenure at Louisville to navigate the new challenges.
14. Neal Brown – West Virginia
    With a 22-25 record over four seasons, Brown faces pressure to improve the Mountaineers’ performance amidst a competitive conference landscape.

These rankings reflect a combination of past achievements, recent performance, and expectations for the upcoming season. The Big 12’s dynamic nature, with new teams joining and others preparing to depart, adds an extra layer of intrigue to the 2023 season.

[El Pancho]

9 minutes ago, Bevo92 said:

Pretty funny looking back at these pre-season rankings now 2 years later.  Sarkisian clearly the cream of the crop among Big 12 Coaches but it hadn’t yet fully come together until the 2023 season played out (starting with the big upset win at Bama) followed by thrashing Texas Tech and Oklahoma State for Conf Championship.    Venables is appropriately at the bottom of the pile still, regardless of conference.
Hook em!!  🧡🐂🤘🏼

Here are the 2023 Big 12 Preseason College Football Head Coach Rankings as compiled by CBS Sports.  

1. Sonny Dykes – TCU
   Dykes surged from 11th to 1st after leading TCU to the national title game in his first season, marking a remarkable turnaround for the program.
2. Chris Klieman – Kansas State
   Klieman guided the Wildcats to a Big 12 Championship victory over TCU, showcasing consistent success with a 10-4 record in 2022.
3. Mike Gundy – Oklahoma State
   Despite a down year in 2022, Gundy’s long-standing success with the Cowboys keeps him high on the list, reflecting his 18-year tenure and multiple double-digit win seasons.
4. Lance Leipold – Kansas
   Leipold transformed a struggling Kansas program, leading them to their first bowl game since 2008 and achieving a winning conference record in 2023.
5. Dave Aranda – Baylor
   After a Big 12 title in 2021, Aranda faced challenges in 2022 with a 6-7 record, but his defensive expertise and previous success keep him in the top five.
6. Gus Malzahn – UCF
   Entering the Big 12, Malzahn brings experience from his time at Auburn, aiming to establish UCF as a competitive program in the conference.
7. Matt Campbell – Iowa State
   Although the Cyclones had a 4-8 season in 2022, Campbell’s previous achievements, including a Big 12 Championship appearance in 2020, demonstrate his coaching capabilities.
8. Steve Sarkisian – Texas
   Sarkisian’s tenure at Texas has shown potential, and with a talented roster, expectations are high for the Longhorns as they prepare to transition to the SEC.
9. Kalani Sitake – BYU
   Sitake’s leadership has kept BYU competitive, and as they join the Big 12, his experience will be vital in navigating the new conference landscape.
10. Joey McGuire – Texas Tech
    In his first season, McGuire led the Red Raiders to an 8-5 record, including wins over Texas and Oklahoma, indicating a promising future for the program.
11. Dana Holgorsen – Houston
    Holgorsen’s familiarity with the Big 12 from his time at West Virginia positions him to guide Houston through its transition into the conference.
12. Brent Venables – Oklahoma
    Venables faced a challenging first season with a 6-7 record, but his defensive acumen and recruiting efforts aim to restore Oklahoma’s prominence.
13. Scott Satterfield – Cincinnati
    Satterfield takes over a Cincinnati program transitioning into the Big 12, bringing experience from his tenure at Louisville to navigate the new challenges.
14. Neal Brown – West Virginia
    With a 22-25 record over four seasons, Brown faces pressure to improve the Mountaineers’ performance amidst a competitive conference landscape.

These rankings reflect a combination of past achievements, recent performance, and expectations for the upcoming season. The Big 12’s dynamic nature, with new teams joining and others preparing to depart, adds an extra layer of intrigue to the 2023 season.

“Experts” at clickbait but not so much their takes.