College Football Playoff Coach Rankings: CBS Sports ranks CFP coaches 1 through 12

The opening round of the 2024 College Football Playoff officially kicks off in one week’s time.

No. 7 seed Notre Dame (11-1) hosts 10th-seeded Indiana (11-1) to kick off first-round action in the first-ever 12-team Playoff, beginning at 8 pm ET, Dec. 20 on ABC/ESPN.

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The other three first-round Playoff games begin Saturday, Dec. 21, with 6th-seeded Penn State (11-2) hosting No. 11 seed SMU (11-2) at 12 pm ET on TNT/MAX; followed by No. 5 seed Texas (11-2) hosting 12th-seeded Clemson (10-3) at 4 pm ET on TNT/MAX; with No. 8 seed Ohio State (10-2) vs. No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) in Columbus at 8 pm ET on ESPN/ABC.

In the meantime, before those games kick off, CBS Sports took the time to rank each of the 12 head coaches involved in the College Football Playoff. Check it out below:

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia

As one of just two current NCAA head coaches with a national championship under his belt, winning the CFP in two of the last three years, Smart rightfully takes the No. 1 spot. CBS specifically cited Smart’s extensive history in the Playoff, having played in three national championship games since 2018, including winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

CBS Sports also made the point that this year’s 2024 coaching effort might be Smart’s best after navigating a difficult schedule that included road trips to Austin and Tuscaloosa before securing the program’s 15th SEC championship with a 22-19 overtime win over Texas.

2. Dan Lanning, Oregon

CBS gives the No. 2 spot to Lanning, who directed the Ducks (13-0) to college football’s lone undefeated season in 2024 in the program’s inaugural season in the Big Ten, including winning the conference championship with a 45-37 victory over Penn State.

Lanning is 35-5 overall in three seasons as a head coach in Eugene, and has skillfully navigated the modern age of college football by utilizing both elite high school recruiting and the transfer portal to wild success. That continued this season enroute to earning the Playoff’s No. 1 overall seed.

3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson

Swinney is, of course, the only other current NCAA coach with a national championship to his credit after besting his alma mater, Alabama, to claim the 2017 and 2019 titles. Swinney also leads the way with six CFP appearances since 2015, making him the most accomplished CFP coach in the field.

CBS also cited Clemson’s rise as a national superpower despite mostly avoiding the transfer portal. But the Tigers’ ability to bounce back from a season-opening 34-3 loss to Georgia to win the ACC Championship last week deserves great acclaim.

4. Ryan Day, Ohio State

The Buckeyes head coach lands at No. 4 mostly due to his overall resume, including a 66-10 record in Columbus as well as four Playoff appearances overall.

Then again, CBS acknowledges Ohio State “has fallen short” in recent years, including losing four-straight against bitter rival Michigan in The Game, but Day’s consistency overall can’t be denied.

5. Steve Sarkisian, Texas

Sarkisian lands at No. 5 due in large part to his ability to finally bring the Longhorns back as true national championship contenders after more than a decade in mediocrity. That includes winning the Big 12 championship last year and then making the SEC championship game in his first season.

CBS cited Sarkisian’s new status as a “program builder” in his fourth season in Austin, as well as his elite recruiting ability at both the high school level and in the transfer portal, to crack the Top 5.

6. Curt Cignetti, Indiana

The first-year Hoosiers head coach lands in the top-half of CBS’ list after his “transformational season” in Bloomington, where he led Indiana to 10 straight wins to open 2024 before falling to Ohio State 38-15 in Columbus.

CBS valued Cignetti’s ability to completely flip the Indiana roster in one offseason, and cited the Hoosiers’ FBS-best +344 scoring margin of victory that even caught Vegas oddsmakers off guard this season.

7. James Franklin, Penn State

The perennial bridesmaid that couldn’t make the four-team Playoff finally found its way into the expanded field as the Big Ten runner-up this season.

CBS cited Franklin’s impressive 99-41 record leading the Nittany Lions, including three straight double-digit win seasons, for ranking him at the top of the back-half of the field.

8. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame

Freeman has continued to raise his profile throughout his time as Notre Dame’s head coach, improving the Irish’s win total each of his three seasons at the helm. That includes closing the 2024 regular season on a 10-game win streak for a 30-9 overall record in South Bend.

CBS made it clear Freeman can continue to improve his stock among his coaching peers with keeping the momentum going and making a strong showing in the Playoff.

9. Josh Heupel, Tennessee

Another up-and-coming coach to make the Playoff field, Heupel improved on 2023’s breakout season by expertly weaving his way through a difficult SEC schedule in his fourth season at Tennessee.

That included winning his second Third Saturday in October rivalry game in Knoxville, a feat that hasn’t happened since 2004 and 2006. Should the Volunteers upset Ohio State in Columbus next Saturday, Heupel will continue to see his coaching star rise.

10. Rhett Lashlee, SMU

Lashlee’s Mustangs became college football’s Cinderella team while winning nine straight before falling to Clemson in last Saturday’s ACC Championship game, earning his place as the 2024 ACC coach of the year.

CBS cited Lashlee’s ability to “identify talent and build out a roster” — i.e. handing the keys to star QB Kevin Jennings — that proved SMU was capable of making the jump from the AAC to the ACC, including going undefeated in league play this season.

11. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

The first-year Sun Devils’ head coach cracks the list at No. 11 after proving all the doubters wrong to win the Big 12 Championship after Arizona State was picked to finish last in the preseason poll.

Dillingham did all that despite multiple injuries at the quarterback position, transforming into a powerful ground-and-pound team led by fan favorite RB Cam Skattebo (1,568 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns).

12. Spencer Danielson, Boise State

The final coach on CBS’ ranking is another first-year head man who just won his second-straight Mountain West championship after taking over following a midseason coaching change in 2023.

Danielson and Boise State have been doubted all season, but that didn’t stop the Broncos from rolling off 11 straight wins to close out the regular season following a 37-34 loss at No. 1 Oregon in September.