With ESPN recently releasing their rankings of the top coaches in NCAA Football going into the 2025/26 season, Georgia’s Kirby Smart topped the charts after being voted as the top coach in College Football by 11 out of 12 voters.
Going into his tenth season, Smart has won back-to-back NCAA championships, claiming the program’s 15th SEC title last season after a thriller against Texas Tech. Georgia ultimately crashed out of the playoffs after a Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame.
ESPN Ranks Georgia Coach Kirby Smart No. 1 in College Football
Also releasing their rankings on their website, ESPN went into detail discussing why they believe Kirby Smart is the No. 1 coach in College Football, topping the list for the second year in a row.
“We left it up to our college football reporters to interpret the question how they saw fit and to weigh those factors (and any others) in whatever manner they thought made the most sense. We took their rankings, 1 through 10, and awarded points based on their picks — 10 points for first place, 9 points for second place, and so on.”
Recording 119 points, the Bulldogs’ Head Coach secured 11 out of 12 voters for First Place, making it a non-contest as he topped the rankings by a wide margin.
“With more first-round NFL draft picks (20) than losses (19) in his nine seasons as coach of his alma mater and back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, it’s hard to argue it could be anyone other than Smart with Nick Saban retired.” Explained College Football Writer Mark Schlaback.
“He’s a good dude, hell of a recruiter, intense, kids loved him, defensive backs love him at Georgia, that’s for sure,” CFB Analyst Rusty Mansell also claimed, recently appearing on the SEC Football Podcast.
The Bulldogs had a defensive back drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft through Malaki Starks, who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
Ryan Day Trails Kirby Smart in Rankings Despite National Title, Critics Cite Michigan Struggles and Playoff Format
With the Georgia Bulldogs’ Head Coach topping the rankings with 119 points, the closest contender to him was still nowhere close to that mark, with Ohio State’s Ryan Day finishing with 97 points after winning the National Championship last season.
“I guess if Ryan Day guided Ohio State to a second straight national title or Dabo Swinney captured his third at Clemson this season, you could make the case they’re better. I don’t think Georgia’s program is going to slip anytime soon.” Schlaback also wrote.
One writer in particular who was largely critical of Day was Andre Adelson, who claimed that Ryan Day’s track record against Michigan is a clear blemish on his record.
“The most important game on the schedule every year. He is 1-4 against the Wolverines and lost last season as a prohibitive favorite.” Adelson explained.
” You might be thinking the national title is reason enough to have Day ranked higher. But in any other season, that Michigan loss would have ended the Buckeyes’ season.” The ESPN writer also claimed, suggesting that Ryan Day’s National Title was down to the flaws of the NCAA playoff system.
KEEP READING: Georgia Coach Kirby Smart Issues Stark Warning About NIL Chaos and What’s Coming Next for College Sports
“They got a second chance only because of the newly expanded 12-team playoff. For those reasons, I have Day at No. 4,” Adelson concluded.
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