Curt Cignetti ranks as top college football coach entering 2026 season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 9, 2026, 6:06 PM
Last updated Jul 9, 2026
Curt Cignetti, head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, has been voted the No. 1 college football coach by ESPN's panel ahead of the 2026 season. His impressive 27-2 record over two seasons at Indiana includes the school's first national championship, gaining significant national attention. Cignetti's ranking marks a considerable rise after starting unranked in 2025. He surpassed notable coaches such as Kirby Smart of Georgia and Ryan Day of Ohio State, who placed second and third, respectively. As Cignetti enters his third season, expectations are high for continued success.
- •Curt Cignetti leads Indiana with a 27-2 record.
- •He ranks No. 1 among college football coaches entering 2026.
- •Cignetti won Indiana's first national championship.
- •He was previously unranked before the 2025 season.
- •Cignetti outranks Kirby Smart and Ryan Day in the list.
- 6:06 PMYahoo Sports — Where Curt Cignetti ranks among ESPN’s top college football coaches
"The best head coach in college football is working in Bloomington, per ESPN’s voting panel of reporters.
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