Kirk Herbstreit ranks top college football coaches from Week 2

With several coaches notching big-time wins for their programs in Week 2, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit ranked which ones had the most impact. Texas head man Steve Sarkisian led off the list after directing the Longhorns to victory against Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Sarkisian wasn’t the only Big 12 coach on the list, however, as Kansas’ Lance Leipold also made the cut. He has the Jayhawks off to a 2-0 start after a Friday night victory against Illinois. Additionally, first-year Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield was among Herbstreit’s top coaches as the Big 12 was the only conference with multiple honorees.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal was right behind Sarkisian at No. 2 after a big win against Texas A&M this past week. You can view Herbstreit’s full list of the top coaches from Week 2 below.

1. Steve Sarkisian, Texas

Sarkisian notched what is unquestionably the biggest victory in his three-year tenure in Austin with a 34-24 win against Alabama on Saturday. With that, he avenged a 20-19 loss to the Crimson Tide from last season and put Texas squarely among the contenders to make the College Football Playoff.

Sarkisian went 5-7 in his inaugural season and missed a bowl game before following that up with an 8-5 record in 2022. Although it’s still early in the year, this Longhorns teams looks like it has a chance to be his best yet.

2. Mario Cristobal, Miami

Like Sarkisian, Cristobal went just 5-7 in his inaugural season at his alma mater last year. So far he has them off to a 2-0 start in 2023, however, as the Hurricanes handed Texas A&M a 48-33 loss on Saturday.

Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke looked unstoppable in the win as he went 21-of-30 passing for 374 yards and five touchdowns. Cristobal found previous success in his five seasons at Oregon, leading them to a Rose Bowl win in 2019, and it looks like he his beginning to get things going in Coral Gables.

3. Jake Dickert, Washington State

Dickert led the Cougars to bowl appearances in his first two seasons in Pullman and is off to an excellent start in 2023. After rolling past Colorado State in Week 1, Washington State earned a 31-22 win against No. 19 Wisconsin that propelled it to No. 23 in the AP poll, its first ranking since 2019.

The Cougars defense held a vaunted Badgers rushing attack to just 90 yards on the day for an average of 3.1 yards per carry. Quarterback Cameron Ward was an efficient 20-of-32 passing for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and it looks like WSU could make some noise in a loaded Pac-12 this year.

4. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati

Satterfield has the Bearcats off to 2-0 start in his first season in Cincinnati after four years at Louisville. The latest win came against Pittsburgh in Week 2 as the Bearcats jumped out to a 27-7 lead after the first three quarters and hung on for a 27-21 victory.

Cincinnati totaled 216 yards rushing in that contest as Corey Kiner led the backfield with 153 yards and a touchdown. The Bearcats now have just one game remaining before they kick off their first season of Big 12 play with a major test against Oklahoma.

5. Curt Cignetti, James Madison

Playing in just its second season in the FBS, James Madison earned its first win against a Power 5 opponent with a 36-35 victory against Virginia on Saturday. The Dukes scored the go-ahead touchdown with 55 seconds remaining as Jordan McCloud found Kaelon Black for a 10-yard touchdown.

Cignetti has led James Madison to a 41-8 record over the past five seasons, including an 8-3 record as they tied for first place in the Sun Belt East division. With the way things have started this year, it might not be long before other program come knocking on his door.

6. Lance Leipold, Kansas

Leipold led the Jayhawks to their first bowl appearance in 14 years last season and again has them off to a great start in 2023. Kansas defeated Illinois by a score of 34-23 on Friday night as the offense had no trouble making plays.

Quarterback Jalon Daniels made his return after missing Week 1 and threw for 277 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Jayhawks also rushed for 262 yards to show why they’re poised to take another step forward in Year 3 under Leipold.

7. Mike Bloomgren, Rice

Bloomgren rounds out Herbstreit’s list of the top coaches from Week 2 after leading Rice to a 43-41 upset of Houston in double overtime. Former Georgia and West Virginia quarterback JT Daniels finished with 402 yards, three touchdowns and an interception as the Owls defense stopped a two-point conversion from the Cougars in the second overtime.

Bloomgren has never had a winning season in the past five years at Rice, but perhaps he can use the momentum from this win for better results in 2023. The Owls next face Texas Southern in Week 3.