Top 12 College Football Coaches for the 2024 Season Ranked

Chris Klieman, Kansas State Wildcats

Chris Klieman departed from his successful tenure at North Dakota State to transform the Kansas State Wildcats into a winning team. In 2022, he led them back to the Big 12 title game, where they defeated the TCU Horned Frogs. This achievement appeared to carry on the legacy of legendary head coach Bill Snyder with the Wildcats. This upcoming season could be significant for Klieman as he aims to guide KSU to their first College Football Playoff appearance with the expanded field.

Lance Leipold, Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks have experienced a rapid ascent over the past two seasons under Lance Leipold. Leipold, who won six national championships with his alma mater Wisconsin-Whitewater, then moved to Buffalo, achieving a 24-10 record over his last three seasons in a challenging environment. He faced a similar challenge at KU, which had struggled to find consistent success since the days of Mark Mangino. After a 2-10 record in his first year, the Jayhawks have gone 15-11 over the last two seasons. Now, like their rivals in the Sunflower State, Kansas has a shot at becoming the top team in the Big 12, thanks to the swift progress made by Leipold.

Brian Kelly, LSU Tigers

Brian Kelly sought a new challenge and found it when he left Notre Dame for the LSU Tigers. He achieved success quickly, posting a 20-7 record in his first two seasons in the SEC and winning the SEC West in his first year, surpassing Alabama. Historical trends suggest that Kelly might win a title with the Bayou Bengals within the next two seasons. As the active wins leader in FBS, he clearly has extensive coaching expertise. However, this season could be his toughest yet, as he faces the challenge of compensating for significant losses from last year’s team, including the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

Mike Norvell, Florida State Seminoles

Three years ago, it seemed Mike Norvell was following the same path as many other FSU coaches, heading towards an exit. However, by 2024, Norvell has established himself as one of the top coaches in college football, recently leading his team to an ACC title. Known for his adept use of the transfer portal, he now has the opportunity to guide the Seminoles back to the College Football Playoff in the upcoming season.

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels

Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels have relied heavily on bolstering their roster through the transfer portal, and the 2024 team will continue this trend. Last season, the Rebels set a school record by winning 11 games, and the current roster is poised to contend for the SEC title. To achieve this, Kiffin will need to find a way to compete with powerhouses like Georgia, Texas, and Alabama. This season, the Rebels face Georgia in the regular season and will likely encounter one of these top teams if they advance to the conference title game in Atlanta.

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide

Following a legend like Nick Saban is never easy, but the Alabama Crimson Tide could have done far worse than hiring Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer has a track record of success, winning three NAIA championships and turning around a tumultuous Washington roster to win two Pac-12 titles and secure a national championship berth. Now, he steps in to lead a Crimson Tide team that was eliminated in the CFP Semifinals last season. With abundant talent on the roster, this team looks poised for another deep run in the expanded playoff.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson Tigers

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have experienced a bit of a decline. Once considered the second-best head coach in college football after Nick Saban, Swinney has now been surpassed by Kirby Smart. Nevertheless, Swinney remains one of only two active head coaches with multiple national championships, alongside Smart. It’s an impressive distinction. To regain his position at the top, Swinney needs to lead Clemson back to the College Football Playoff, having missed it in each of the last three seasons.

Ryan Day, Ohio State Buckeyes

Despite former rival head coach Jim Harbaugh’s claim that Ryan Day was “born on third base,” the Ohio State Buckeyes coach has maintained the team’s elite status in college football. Day boasts a career record of 56-8 and narrowly missed playing for a national championship in 2022 by a field goal. With five consecutive top 10 finishes, the only things left for Day to achieve are defeating Michigan (where he currently holds a 1-3 record) and winning another national title.

Steve Sarkisian, Texas Longhorns

Texas has made a resurgence, and much credit goes to head coach Steve Sarkisian. Following a 5-7 season in his first year and an 8-5 season in his second, the Texas Longhorns secured the Big 12 title and advanced to the College Football Playoffs. Despite significant talent losses to the NFL draft, Sarkisian has replenished the roster by leveraging the transfer portal. With Quinn Ewers opting to return for another season, UT appears poised to make a strong impact in the SEC. Their upcoming matchup against Georgia will test just how prepared the Burnt Orange truly is.

Dan Lanning, Oregon Ducks

In just two brief years, Dan Lanning has emerged as one of the premier coaches due to his accomplishments with the Oregon Ducks. Despite not securing a conference title yet, Oregon has established itself as one of the top contenders in college football. Lanning consistently recruits top-tier talent, leading many to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he claims the national championship trophy. As a protege of Kirby Smart, Lanning boasts an impressive record of 22-5, including a 12-win season. He now faces the challenge of proving his abilities in a competitive Big Ten conference in 2024.

Kyle Whittingham, Utah Utes

Kyle Whittingham epitomizes consistency in coaching. Beginning his journey with the Utah Utes as an assistant in 1996, he steadily ascended to the role of head coach in 2005. Currently, he holds the position as the second-longest-tenured head coach in the program’s history. Renowned for his ability to achieve impressive results with limited resources, Whittingham has clinched two Pac-12 titles in the past three years, triumphing over formidable opponents such as the USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks. With such achievements under his belt, the Utes appear well-positioned to contend for the Big 12 title in the upcoming season.

Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs

If there’s a coach who has demonstrated readiness to step into the top coaching role following Nick Saban’s retirement, it’s Kirby Smart of Georgia. Since 2016, Smart has amassed an impressive record of 94 wins and 16 losses, with a 5-1 record in the College Football Playoffs. Particularly noteworthy is his current three-year streak, during which Georgia has achieved a remarkable 32-2 record under his leadership, securing two national titles and maintaining a flawless 5-0 record in bowl games. Interestingly, both of the team’s losses occurred in the SEC title game against Smart’s former mentor, Nick Saban.