Sporting News ranks the Top 10 college football coaches entering 2022 season

The 2022 college football season is nearly here, with just the summer months separating us from action being resumed on the field. Arguably the craziest coaching carousel ensued during the offseason, meaning the sport will look quite different than it did this time last year. Coaches made surprise moves all across the country before settling in for spring practice.

To celebrate, Bill Bender of Sporting News ranked his top 10 college football head coach entering the 2022 season. There’s no surprise at the top, as college football has been run by a few program at the top for quite some time. However, he does sneak in a surprising name at the end, giving the West Coast a little bit of love.

Top five coaches in college football per Sporting News

1. Nick Saban, Alabama – The resume surrounding Saban speaks for itself. He has seven national championships, with six coming during his time in Tuscaloosa. Saban has shown no signs of slowing down either as his contract is through the 2028 season.

2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson – Swinney had made of habit of making the College Football Playoff with Clemson over the past few years but fell short last season. However, he still has two national championships and has been recruiting at a level where he can still win more. A big bounce-back season is expected from the Tigers’ head coach.

3. Kirby Smart, Georgia – Smart was already considered a top headman in the country but this past January put him in the upper echelon. Winning a first national championship for Georgia after a 41-year dry spell, Smart came back to his alma mater and accomplished his goal. He will have the opportunity to climb the list over the years but will begin by defending his title in 2022.

4. Ryan Day, Ohio State – Some might think Day started on third base but even with the talented inherited, his short resume at Ohio State is still incredible. Two Big Ten Championships, two College Football Playoff appearances, and even a Rose Bowl win. Day may have his best team this upcoming season as well, as he pushes to add a national championship.

5. Luke Fickell, Cincinnati – Fickell did what many thought was impossible — get a Group of Five program into the CFP. Although they fell to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, Fickell showed he can coach at the highest level and compete with the big boys. As Cincinnati transitions into the Big 12 in the next couple of years, Fickell will enter the league highly respected.

Bill Bender of Sporting News rounds out the top 10

6. Brian Kelly, LSU – Notre Dame was one of the most consistent programs in the country while Kelly was in charge, having at least 10 wins seven different times. He will be hoping to bring similar results down south with LSU. There’s no national championship attached to his name but he is a two-time AP College Football Coach of the Year.

7. Lincoln Riley, USC – Riley earned this ranking based on what he did at Oklahoma, winning four Big 12 championships and appearing frequently in the playoff. Not many programs had better offenses during his time in Norman and of course, two Heismans were produced with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Now at USC, Riley will want to climb this list by making more postseason noise.

8. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M – Texas A&M has been on the doorstep of breaking through in the SEC since Jimbo Fisher was hired. But a lot of his credit goes to his time at Florida State, where he won the national championship in 2013 and you can add a College Football Playoff appearance in 2014. Fisher is still trying to prove he can do it at two different programs and will have his chances with the Aggies.

9. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan – When he was hired, Harbaugh was expected to bring Big Ten success to Ann Arbor. He finally delivered during 2021, winning the conference title game and maybe more importantly to Michigan fans, beating Ohio State. Now, he must carry over the success and keep Michigan near the top of college football.

10. Kyle Whittington, Utah – While he may not have the name recognition of the other nine coaches, Whittington has turned Utah into an elite West Coast program. He’s been in charge since the Mountain West days and has led the Utes to two New Year’s Six games. Whittington is entering Year 18 in Salt Lake City and finds himself as a top 10 coach in college football.