The Sporting News ranks ACC Football Coaches from best to worst

ACC Media Days in Charlotte, NC is just two weeks away, marking the unofficial beginning of the college football season. The Sporting News ranked the league’s coaches as part of its annual list of college football’s top 136 head coaches, released June 28.

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, who is the only ACC head coach on the list to win a National Championship, is unsurprisingly atop the list.

The list also contains three former NFL head coaches and two other coaches that have led their teams to College Football Playoff appearances.

1. Dabo Swinney, Clemson (No. 3 nationally)

After four consecutive seasons without a College Football Playoff appearance (longest drought in Swinney era), Clemson downed SMU via a walk-off field goal in the ACC Championship Game last season to earn the No. 12 seed in the Playoff. The Tigers fell to Texas 38-24, but established themselves as a player once again in the landscape of college football.

Swinney is entering his 18th season as the head coach at Clemson, where he boasts a 180-47 (109-24) record with two National Championships and nine ACC Championships. He dropped one spot from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 2.

2. Jeff Brohm, Louisville (No. 15 nationally)

The first two seasons of the Jeff Brohm era at Louisville have been nothing short of stellar, as he has led the Cardinals to a 19-8 (12-4) record with a 2024 Sun Bowl victory. Prior to Brohm’s arrival, the Cardinals had posted just 18 wins in their prior three seasons under now Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield.

Brohm is set up once again to succeed with USC transfer quarterback Miller Moss, his third consecutive four-star transfer quarterback. “I think I’ve really just been fortunate enough to have a lot of experience at [the quarterback] position as a player and a coach,” Brohm said. He rose three spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 18.

3. Bill Belichick, North Carolina (No. 18 nationally)

After spending 49 years as an assistant/head coach in the NFL, Bill Belichick has jumped to the world of college football.

Belichick is replacing former head coach Mack Brown, who was fired prior to the end of the 2024 season. The six-time Super Bowl winning head coach boasts a career 302-165 record in the NFL, but will start all over at 0-0 this season in Chapel Hill. He was not present in last year’s rankings.

4. Rhett Lashlee, SMU (No. 23 nationally)

SMU‘s Rhett Lashlee was one of two ACC coaches to lead his program to the College Football Playoff last season. The Mustangs were tabbed as the No. 11 seed in the Playoff and fell to Penn State 38-10 in their First Round Matchup.

Lashlee returns for his fourth season at SMU, where he boasts a 29-12 (21-3) record. He has yet to win a bowl game there however, as he is 0-3 with losses in the New Mexico Bowl, Fenway Bowl and the College Football Playoff. He rose 35 spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 58.

5. Mario Cristobal, Miami (No. 24 nationally)

Miami’s Mario Cristobal seemed poised to lead his first team to the College Football Playoff last season, but the Hurricanes blew a 28-7 halftime lead to Syracuse in their final regular season game. This sunk them to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, where they fell to Iowa State 42-41 after Cam Ward decided to sit out the second half.

Cristobal is embarking on his fourth season in Miami, where he’s led the ‘Canes to a 22-16 (12-12) record. With Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck entering the fold, a College Football Playoff appearance could be vital in ensuring his job security. He rose 13 spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 37.

6. Mike Norvell, Florida State (No. 28 nationally)

The only way to go is up for Mike Norvell and the Florida State program, which went 2-10 last season after narrowly missing the 2023 College Football Playoff.

“The Seminoles never recovered from the College Football Playoff snub in 2023, plummeting to a 2-10 mark last season,” Athlon Sports wrote. “High-profile coordinator hires in Gus Malzahn (offense) and Tony White (defense) should be a massive boost to Norvell in what could be a make-or-break year.” In five seasons, Norvell has led the ‘Noles to a 33-27 (20-20) record. He fell 20 spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 8.

7. Bill O’Brien, Boston College (No. 30 nationally)

Boston College‘s Bill O’Brien is one of three former NFL head coaches in the conference, but is the only one of the trio to have prior experience.

O’Brien is back for his second season after leading the Eagles to a 7-6 (4-4) record and loss in the 2024 Pinstripe Bowl. This is his fourth season of coaching college football in his career, as he spent 2012 and 2013 as the head coach at Penn State prior to departing for the Houston Texans. He rose 19 spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 49.

8. Dave Doeren, NC State (No. 35 nationally)

The 2024 season was a bit of a disappointment for Dave Doeren and NC State, as it posted its first sub-eight win season since 2019 (6-7). Overall, Doeren has led the Wolfpack to a 87-65 (47-51) record in 12 seasons at the helm.

He has been incredibly consistent in his time in Raleigh, as he’s reached a bowl game in 10 of 12 seasons (3-6). He fell 11 spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 24.

9. Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh (No. 37 nationally)

Pittsburgh‘s Pat Narduzzi is back for his 11th season, searching for just his second 10-win campaign (2021) as a head coach.

Last season, the Panthers went 7-6 (3-5) and lost in the GameAbove Sports Bowl to Toledo. Under Narduzzi, Pittsburgh is 72-56 (46-36) since the beginning of the 2025 season. He fell nine spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 28.

10. Fran Brown, Syracuse (No. 42 nationally)

The first season of the Fran Brown era at Syracuse was stellar, as the Orange claimed just their third 10-win season since 2000 and downed Washington State 52-35 in the Holiday Bowl.

College football fans will quickly get a glimpse at what Syracuse will look like this season, as it opens the year against Tennessee. He rose 32 spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 74.

11. Brent Key, Georgia Tech (No. 48 nationally)

The first three seasons of the Brent Key era at Georgia Tech have been mostly forgettable, as he’s led the Yellow Jackets to a 18-16 (14-9) record. They did however open the season with an exciting 24-21 win over Florida State in Ireland and closed the regular season with a 44-42 loss to Georgia in 8OT at Sanford Stadium.

Georgia Tech still however hasn’t posted a 10-win season since 2014. He remains at the same spot he was in last year’s rankings (No. 48).

12. Manny Diaz, Duke (No. 50 nationally)

Manny Diaz‘s tenure at Miami ended with a bit of a thud, but he reemerged last season as a very good football coach when he led the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record in his first season at the helm.

With talented Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah entering the mix, Diaz could very well have his Blue Devils pushing towards the upper echelon of the conference. He rose 17 spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 67.

13. Justin Wilcox, California (No. 61 nationally)

California head coach Justin Wilcox seems to be clinging to his job, as he has led the Golden Bears to just a 42-50 (23-43) record since he took over in 2017.

In the seasons that he has reached a bowl game, he’s 1-2 with a lone win in the 2019 Redbox Bowl (Illinois). His best season came in 2019, when he led Cal to an 8-5 record. He rose two spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 63.

14. Brent Pry, Virginia Tech (No. 62 nationally)

Virginia Tech‘s Brent Pry returns for his fourth season in Blacksburg, where he’s led the Hokies to a disappointing 16-21 (10-13) record. He fell five spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 57.

CBS Sports listed Pry as one of the nine college football head coaches on the hot seat this season.

15. Jake Dickert, Wake Forest (No. 63 nationally)

Head coach Jake Dickert is in his first season as Wake Forest‘s head coach after making the jump from Washington State. In his four seasons there, Dickert led the Cougars to a 23-20 (9-14) record with losses in all three of his bowl games.

The Demon Deacons are desperately seeking some success, as they’ve posted a 10-win season just twice in program history. He fell seven spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 56.

16. Frank Reich, Stanford (No. 65 nationally)

Frank Reich is the third of the former NFL head coach trio and will take over as Stanford‘s interim head coach this season, by orders of GM and former player under Reich, Andrew Luck.

In six seasons as an NFL head coach, Reich posted a 41-43 record. He was not present in last year’s rankings.

17. Tony Elliott, Virginia (No. 77 nationally)

Virginia‘s Tony Elliott is ranked dead last among ACC coaches, coming in at No. 77 nationally. He fell five spots from last year’s rankings, where he came in at No. 72.

In three seasons at Virginia, Elliott has led the Cavaliers to a poor 11-23 (6-17) record.