As another college football season approaches, there has been a lot of buzz and speculation about the potential top teams, standout players, and most importantly – the coaches who will lead them to glory. While debates about the hottest seat in the coaching world and who has a real shot at the national championship have been raging on, there was a recent announcement that caught many fans off guard. Pro Football Focus (PFF), the renowned football analytics website, released their highly anticipated list of the Top 10 Coaches for the 2025 season and it stirred up quite a storm on the CFB timeline.
No surprises at the top. Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, and Ryan Day – arguably the three biggest names in college football coaching right now – claimed the top three spots on the PFF list. But the real surprise came with the fourth spot, which was taken by none other than Georgia Bulldogs’ head coach, Kirby Smart. While his team has been consistently in the race for a national title, this is the first time Smart has cracked the top five on the PFF list. This is a testament to the tremendous work he has done in building a powerhouse program at Georgia.
With the Bulldogs, Smart has been able to create a team that is not only loaded with talent but also has a winning mentality. Under his guidance, the Dawgs have clinched three consecutive SEC East titles, and also made it to the national championship game in 2017. His coaching prowess has also been recognized by his peers, as he has been named the SEC Coach of the Year twice in his short five-year tenure with Georgia. There is no doubt that Smart has the potential to lead his team to a national championship, and his spot on the PFF list is a reflection of just that.
But Smart wasn’t the only surprise on the list. Coming in at number seven is Notre Dame’s head coach, Brian Kelly. While Kelly is no stranger to the top rankings in college football, his inclusion in the PFF list was met with mixed reactions. Some argue that his success at Notre Dame is due to their relatively easy schedule, while others believe that Kelly has not been able to deliver a national championship despite having a talented team. However, his consistent success with the Fighting Irish, including a spot in the College Football Playoffs in 2018, cannot be ignored. With the recent news of Notre Dame potentially joining the ACC for the 2020 season, it will be interesting to see how Kelly navigates this new challenge and solidifies his spot as one of the top coaches in college football.
But the real bombshell of the PFF list was the inclusion of a major Big 12 surprise at number six – Iowa State head coach, Matt Campbell. This is the first time a Big 12 coach has cracked the top ten in the PFF list, and it comes as no surprise that it is Campbell. His work at Iowa State has been nothing short of remarkable, taking a team that was once considered a perennial underdog and turning them into serious contenders in the conference. In his six years with the Cyclones, Campbell has led them to three bowl victories, including a Fiesta Bowl win in 2021. His ability to recruit and develop players, as well as his innovative coaching style, has put Iowa State on the map and has earned him a well-deserved spot on the PFF list.
While some may argue that the list is just a prediction and has no real significance, it is certainly a reflection of the hard work and dedication these coaches have put into their programs. It is also a testament to the ever-evolving landscape of college football, where teams from non-traditional power conferences are making their mark and challenging the status quo.
As we eagerly await the start of another thrilling college football season, the PFF list has given us a glimpse into the potential top coaches for the 2025 season and has ignited a new wave of excitement and anticipation. With the names on this list, it is clear that the college football world is in good hands, and these coaches will undoubtedly continue to push the boundaries and take their teams to new heights.
