25 Mike Norvell: Norvell rocketed into the highest 10 final yr after an undefeated common season, solely to be ludicrously snubbed by the School Soccer Playoff. However this yr’s rating, like Florida State in 2024, slipped on a banana peel. The excellent news for Norvell is he is nonetheless clinging to a spot within the high 25. The unhealthy information is he is nonetheless solely 33-27 total and 20-20 in ACC play with the Seminoles. The actually unhealthy information is Google Traits has seen a spike in “Mike Norvell buyout” queries in northern Florida. 2024 rank: 8 (-17), Excessive: 12, Low: 41 24 Eli Drinkwitz: It was a sluggish and regular climb for Drinkwitz in Columbia, however we have seen the fruits of his labor over the past two seasons. Missouri’s coming off a 10-3 season and is 21-5 the final two years, together with 11-5 in SEC play. Final yr’s staff did not attain the identical heights because the 2023 squad, however Mizzou has develop into a staff no person’s excited to see on their schedule within the SEC. 2024 rank: 21 (-3), Excessive: 15, Low: 31 23 Bret Bielema: Bielema’s our first newcomer to the highest 25. That is the type of factor that occurs whenever you lead Illinois to its first 10-win season in 23 years. Illinois’ determination to deliver Bielema again raised loads of eyebrows, but it surely’s confirmed to be a sensible rent. He is 28-22 by means of 4 seasons and has his staff being talked about as a playoff contender in 2025. 2024 rank: 36 (+13), Excessive: 12, Low: 41 22 Rhett Lashlee: Permit me to make a daring prediction for the way forward for these rankings. If a coach leads his staff to the School Soccer Playoff when no person anticipated him to, he’ll obtain a serious bump the next yr. It is exhausting to overstate how spectacular SMU was in 2024. It isn’t merely that the Mustangs reached the playoff; it is that they reached the ACC title recreation of their first season within the league, almost received it after which acquired an at-large berth over a reputation model like Alabama. And whereas Alabama followers have been stung, no person thought it was that loopy! That is how properly issues are getting into Dallas. 2024 rank: 45 (+23), Excessive: 14, Low: 27 21 Curt Cignetti: Wow, it solely took my prediction yet another coach to show right. I am a genius! No one was fairly certain what to make of Cignetti when he took the Indiana job. Sure, he’d introduced success to James Madison, however he was speaking a number of smack for anyone who was about to take over at Indiana. It isn’t precisely a program with a storied soccer custom, however none of it mattered. The Hoosiers have been the story of the 2024 season, popping out of nowhere to succeed in the playoff. No one is taking them evenly anymore. 2024 rank: 43 (+22), Excessive: 9, Low: 61 20 Mario Cristobal: I am all the time to see the wide selection of opinions on Cristobal, however they weren’t as far-ranging this yr contemplating the Hurricanes went 10-3 and helped develop the No. 1 total decide within the NFL Draft, Cam Ward. Additionally, it would not damage that he prevented any actually boneheaded teaching selections this yr. Knees have been taken when required! Cristobal stays an elite recruiter, which is much extra vital than many want to admit, however his groups are but to interrupt by means of to the ranks of the elite, so this rating feels proper. 2024 rank: 35 (+15), Excessive: 11, Low: 33 19 Kirk Ferentz: Kirk Ferentz started teaching at Iowa lengthy earlier than we started rating coaches right here, however his place has usually been the identical. He is all the time within the high 20, generally climbing close to the highest 10, relying on how issues went the yr earlier than. He is earned respect for his total physique of labor, even when a few of our voters aren’t precisely thrilled by the model of play Ferentz prefers in Iowa Metropolis. 2024 rank: 18 (-1), Excessive: 9, Low: 34 18 Kenny Dillingham: Dillingham started teaching lengthy after we started rating coaches right here, and his place among the many ranks has various wildly! That is the type of factor that occurs whenever you take over an Arizona State program in a foul spot, go 3-9 in your first yr, then shock the world by going 11-3 the following season whereas successful the Large 12 your first yr within the league. When that occurs, you climb increased within the rankings than every other coach that yr. Dillingham jumps 46 spots! That is 18 greater than the next-highest coach (Deion Sanders, +28). 2024 rank: 64 (+46), Excessive: 7, Low: 50 17 Jeff Brohm: Brohm is the perfect at taking missed or deserted quarterbacks of perceived common capability and turning them into monsters. He is carried out it at a number of stops all through his profession and produced remarkably constant outcomes. We have seen what’s occurred to Purdue since he left, and his first two years at Louisville (19-8, 12-4 in ACC) have been every thing this system hoped for. You may’t assist however really feel it is a matter of if, not when, Brohm will lead the Cardinals to a playoff berth. 2024 rank: 19 (+2), Excessive: 11, Low: 37 16 Josh Heupel: I am certain loads of individuals are anxious about how Tennessee will take care of exhibiting the door to Nico Iamaleava, however in terms of QBs and offense, Heupel deserves some good thing about the doubt. He is actually earned the adoration of many Vols followers who’re thrilled to see their program return to nationwide relevance. The Vols made the playoffs final yr and are 37-15 in 4 seasons below Heupel, together with 20-12 within the SEC. 2024 rank: 23 (+7) Excessive: 13, Low: 24 15 Lance Leipold: It is no shock to see Leipold drop after a 5-7 season, however the reality he solely dropped three spots is a testomony to how a lot respect he has amongst our panel. In spite of everything, it is a coach who has made a profession out of successful at locations no person expects success. No one might be shocked if Kansas is within the hunt for the Large 12 title this season. 2024 rank: 12 (-3), Excessive: 9, Low: 31 14 Chris Klieman: Final yr, Klieman and Leipold have been separated by one spot in our rankings, which supplied loads of banter fodder for the folks of the Sunflower State. This yr, they continue to be separated by one spot however have swapped positions as Klieman climbs previous Leipold. Final season was disappointing, because the Wildcats weren’t within the convention title hunt as anticipated, however they nonetheless received 9 video games and completed above .500 in convention. Any time 9 wins really feel like a disappointment, you realize you have constructed a robust program. 2024 rank: 13 (-1), Excessive: 11, Low: 32 13 Lincoln Riley: I used to be stunned by Riley’s rankings after compiling the ballots. I figured he’d drop additional, seeing how he is gone 15-11 his final two years at USC. He was introduced in to revive this system to a nationwide title contender, however he hasn’t. On the similar time, he is nonetheless the coach who led Oklahoma to the playoff 4 instances in 5 seasons and did produce one other Heisman with the Trojans. If he has one other mediocre season in 2025, although, I guess we see the underside fall out on his rating. 2024 rank: 10 (-3), Excessive: 9, Low: 33 12 Lane Kiffin: I did a little bit of a 180 on Kiffin since final season. I used to be in all probability a bit too harsh as a result of whereas I felt he was a very good coach, his lack of ability to “win the large one” in opposition to high groups within the SEC saved me from elevating him in my hierarchy. Whilst you can argue Ole Miss’ 2024 season was a letdown for the reason that staff went all-in chasing a playoff spot, I do not know what extra may be realistically requested of Kiffin in Oxford. 2024 rank: 14 (+2), Excessive: 10, Low: 21 11 Kyle Whittingham: Whereas I am certain each voter on our panel would respect a bit extra honesty from Whittingham in terms of the harm standing of his quarterback, we’ll forgive him for it. He is nonetheless some of the constant coaches within the nation, even when he is coming off a troublesome season. It was Utah’s first dropping season since 2013, and the Utes responded to that season by going 28-11 over the next three. They will be again within the Large 12 hunt this yr. 2024 rank: 6 (-5), Excessive: 9, Low: 37 10 Matt Campbell: I really like watching Campbell on the sidelines. From the hat with a ridiculously curved brim to the rapid-fire expletives I am certain are spitting out of his mouth, he runs the entire gamut of feelings in a single sequence, not to mention a whole recreation. It is among the best reveals within the sport. And, maybe not coincidentally, Campbell is without doubt one of the finest coaches within the sport. There was loads of speak that perhaps Campbell had caught round Ames too lengthy and will’ve bolted for a “higher” job following the 2020 season, however that speak was hushed final yr when the Cyclones went 11-3 and almost reached the playoff. 2024 rank: 25 (+15), Excessive: 8, Low: 19 9 Kalen DeBoer: No one envies the spot DeBoer was put in final season. Properly, OK, loads of coaches in all probability want they might coach at Alabama, however they do not need to be the coach who replaces Nick Saban. All issues thought-about, it went properly sufficient for DeBoer. There have been bumps alongside the best way (in addition to some hilarious dialogue of how DeBoer clothes on recreation days), however the Tide have been nonetheless within the hunt for a playoff spot, which is the expectation each season. I am very curious about seeing what 12 months 2 brings in Tuscaloosa. 2024 rank: 7 (-2), Excessive: 4, Low: 19 8 Brian Kelly: The narratives you hear about Brian Kelly from faculty soccer media and followers at massive do not actually mirror his standing amongst his friends. Sure, you may argue that his time at LSU has been a disappointment to this point. The person did go away Notre Dame for the job as a result of he stated you could not compete for nationwide titles in South Bend, but it was the Irish taking part in for one final season whereas Kelly went 9-4 at LSU. On the similar time, he did not fall outdoors the highest 10 on a single poll amongst our voters. The Tigers might not have been as profitable as they’d hoped throughout his tenure, however there is a purpose he is at LSU within the first place. 2024 rank: 4 (-4), Excessive: 7, Low: 10 7 James Franklin: There’s an argument to be made that Franklin stans and Franklin haters all bought what they wished final yr. Penn State’s season may need been Franklin’s finest but, together with that convention title-winning marketing campaign in 2016. The Nittany Lions reached the semifinals of the School Soccer Playoff, successful two playoff video games. But, the haters can nonetheless level out losses to Ohio State and Oregon within the common season, and their two playoff wins got here in opposition to SMU and Boise State. So the mocking “Large Recreation James” moniker nonetheless suits. All people wins! As does Franklin, who climbs again into the highest 10 this yr. 2024 rank: 11 (+4), Excessive: 5, Low: 9 6 Marcus Freeman: The Marcus Freeman skeptics not have stable floor on which to face. In the event you wished to dismiss Notre Dame’s 10-win season in 2023 as a fluke, Freeman adopted it up with a 14-2 marketing campaign and reached the nationwide title recreation in 2024. Positive, there was that loss to Northern Illinois, however there was additionally an absence of the sport day errors you noticed from Freeman in his first couple of years in cost. He continues to recruit like a beast, and he is getting higher as a recreation day coach. What extra are you able to ask? He is taken what Brian Kelly inbuilt South Bend and improved upon it. 2024 rank: 24 (+18), Excessive: 5, Low: 8 5 Dan Lanning: Final season had a horrible ending for the Geese. There is not any denying the blowout loss to Ohio State within the Rose Bowl stunk for all concerned. Nonetheless, it should not erase the actual fact Oregon received the Large Ten it in its first yr within the league. It beat Ohio State within the common season. It beat Penn State within the Large Ten Championship Recreation. The Geese established themselves as one of many league’s powers the second they stepped foot within the door. It is a testomony to the job Lanning and his employees have carried out buying and growing expertise. The following step is postseason success, and no person might be stunned by it when it comes. 2024 rank: 9 (+4), Excessive: 3, Low: 8 4 Steve Sarkisian: In the event you have been to ask our panel of voters about which coach with out a nationwide title could be the following to win it, Steve Sarkisian would win the ballot. I do know this as a result of we have carried out it! Within the phrases of my Cowl 3 Podcast co-host and fellow voter Chip Patterson, one of the best ways to summarize what Sark has carried out in Austin is he is robbed us of our capability to make “Texas is Again!” jokes. As a result of Texas is again among the many elite. It almost received the SEC in its first season and is the favourite to take action in 2025. He is all the time been among the best play callers in soccer, however now he is added the flexibility to run a program to the resume. I would guess on him remaining a mainstay in our high 10 for everything of his run at Texas. 2024 rank: 5 (+1), Excessive: 4, Low: 6 3 Dabo Swinney: Keep in mind when Nick Saban requested, “Is that this what y’all need soccer to be?” about up-tempo offenses, after which instantly pivoted to having a extra fashionable offense at Alabama? I’m wondering if Dabo lastly hitting the switch portal is his “Is that this what y’all need soccer to be?” second. Not that I consider Dabo will stay within the portal like so many different coaches, however that he’ll use it to fill sufficient gaps to return Clemson to nationwide title contender standing. Loads of folks his 2025 roster really feel he is already carried out it. 2024 rating: 3 (0), Excessive: 2, Low: 6 2 Ryan Day: Ryan Day completed second in our rankings final season regardless of dropping to Michigan once more, however a number of it was resulting from Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh leaving the game. Now Day has a nationwide title to his title, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to vault him to the highest spot. Maybe a second would do the trick? Both manner, what’s there to say? Whereas he must get the Michigan Monkey off his again, Day is 70-10 at Ohio State, and no person expects this program to drop off any time quickly. He is by no means misplaced greater than two video games in a season! 2024 rank: 2 (0), Excessive: 2, Low: 3 1 Kirby Sensible: The King stays The King. Kirby Sensible was a unanimous selection at No. 1 amongst our panel, which ought to come as no shock. Sure, the Bulldogs have did not win a nationwide title the final two years, however when a season that features an SEC championship is seen as one thing of a letdown, it says so much about this system that is been inbuilt Athens. Additionally, who is aware of what would have occurred if Carson Beck hadn’t been injured within the SEC Championship Recreation final yr? 2024 rank: 1 (0), Excessive: 1, Low: 1