Curt Cignetti ranks first in 2026 college football coach rankings
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 9, 2026, 7:59 PM
Last updated Jun 9, 2026
Curt Cignetti of Indiana is ranked No. 1 in Sporting News' Top 25 college football coach rankings for 2026, succeeding Kirby Smart of Georgia. Cignetti led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and a national championship in 2025. This annual ranking illustrates the competition between the Big Ten and SEC, with the Big Ten having eight coaches on the list compared to seven from the SEC. The rankings consider overall win-loss records and coaching accomplishments over a three-year span. The full list includes notable coaches such as Bret Bielema from Illinois and Kirk Ferentz of Iowa.
- •Cignetti led Indiana to a 16-0 record in 2025.
- •Kirby Smart drops to second after previous top rankings.
- •Big Ten has eight coaches on the list, SEC has seven.
- •The rankings are based on overall and recent records.
- •Bret Bielema and Kirk Ferentz are also cited in the rankings.
- 7:59 PMYahoo Sports — Top 25 college football coach rankings for 2026: Curt Cignetti is No. 1 ahead of Kirby Smart
"There's a new No. 1 atop Sporting News' annual rankings.
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