CBS Sports ranks Curt Cignetti as top Power Four coach for 2026
The 2026 rankings reveal significant volatility across the Power Four, with two former top-10 coaches dismissed and four others climbing at least 15 positions.
CBS Sports experts have released their rankings of the top 25 Power Four college football coaches ahead of the 2026 season, identifying Curt Cignetti of Indiana as the new number one coach. This marks the first instance in the poll’s history where a coach has risen from outside the top 20 to the top spot in a single year. The release highlights significant volatility in the rankings, with four coaches advancing by at least 15 positions year-over-year.
The list reflects substantial movement, with four coaches climbing at least 15 spots, three of them advancing by at least 20. Two of the previous year's top 10 coaches lost their jobs during the 2025 season. One of these dismissed coaches remains in the top 25 this year, though he is no longer ranked in the top 10. Additionally, four coaches from the 2025 top 10 are no longer considered top 10 in the 2026 rankings.
Cignetti’s ascent follows a dominant 2025 campaign where Indiana secured the national championship. The Hoosiers defeated Oregon in the regular season, beat No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, and won the Rose Bowl against Alabama by 35 points. They followed this with a 34-point victory over Oregon in the Peach Bowl and a win against Miami in the postseason.
Other notable movements include Bret Bielema of Illinois, who climbed 23 spots to rank 23, and Jeff Brohm of Louisville, who slid seven places to 17. Dan Lanning of Oregon remains at number five, while Kirby Smart of Georgia falls to number two. Ohio State’s Ryan Day drops to third, and Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame holds the sixth spot.
The rankings also feature significant shifts for coaches at new institutions. Kyle Whittingham of Utah enters at number 11, while Lane Kiffin of USC is ranked 12th. Mario Cristobal of Miami is at number 13, and Steve Sarkisian of Texas is 14th. Dan Lanning, who has a 48-8 record over four seasons at Oregon, is viewed by many as a future national title contender, though he has yet to win one.
The poll, conducted by a panel of 10 voters, notes there is no set criterion for how coaches are ranked. The 2026 list is described as having the most changes year-over-year since the rankings began 11 seasons ago. The release also directs readers to a separate analysis of coaches who finished outside the top 25.
