Anthony Wilson
When Nick Saban retired in January, the title of best coach in the world college football it was briefly vacant for the first time in over a decade. Saban’s shadow has hung over the sport for years, but it was time for new blood.
Fittingly, the apple comes straight from the tree. Saban protégé and former defensive coordinator Kirby Smart now holds the top spot. The Georgia coach leads the only program to repeat as champion in the college football playoff era and was the first former Saban assistant to take down the king. With Saban out of the picture, Smart now reigns supreme.
Georgia recently named Smart the best coach in college football by giving him the biggest contract in sports — a $130 million, 10-year monster that outpaces second place (Clemson’s Dabo Swinney) at $1.5 million per year. For the rest of college football, that length has to be the scariest factor on the board. Smart is just 48 years old and could coach for most of the next three decades. For comparison, Saban won his first title at age 52.
“I remain grateful and honored by our administration’s commitment to our football program,” Smart said in a statement. “The current culture in college athletics is constantly changing and as challenging as it has ever been, so I truly appreciate the leadership our team continually provides. I am immensely proud to represent my alma mater and I hope this relationship continues. for many years.”
It’s true that expecting a race like Saban’s in Georgia is full of guesswork. Before Saban, only the great Paul “Bear” Bryant went through a similar situation. No other coach since 1970 has eclipsed even three titles; Urban Meyer is the only other to reach the milestone in the unified national title era (since 1998).
To add more intrigue, the 12-team playoff is completely unknown. It’s unclear whether the expanded field will make it easier or harder to reach the top for the elite. The only guarantee? A 12-team CFP will provide more challengers along the way in hopes of ousting Smart from his position.
There’s certainly a chance that Smart will maintain the top spot in the sport for the next decade. Saban held the mantle largely unopposed for nearly 15 years after defeating Meyer’s Florida Gators in the 2009 SEC Championship Game. However, here are some of the names that are best prepared to challenge Smart for the top spot in the coming years. The first group of names are national championship contenders at major programs who could step into the ring soon. In the second group, we took out our crystal ball and looked into the future for some surprise names.
Immediate competitors
Ryan Day, Ohio State: Day’s tenure at Ohio State was defined by failing in key positions against a rival. Losing “The Game” against Michigan in each of the last three years and failing to win the Big Ten since 2020 has tarnished his reputation, but perhaps not irreparable.
Day’s story actually compares favorably to Smart’s, who repeatedly fell short against Alabama before finally advancing into the 2022 CFP National Championship for the Bulldogs’ first title since 1980. And like Smart, Day and his staff recruited in an absurd level. The numerical difference between Ohio State and Texas A&M — the No. 3 and No. 4 teams, respectively, in the 2023 247Sports Team Talent Composition — nearly equaled the gap between the Aggies and Notre Dame, who finished in the 11th class that cycle. For the class of 2025, Ohio State holds commitments from three of the top six overall players. Day also has a ridiculous track record in developing quarterbacks, with three consecutive players (Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, CJ Stroud) becoming first-round picks.
The Day 2024 team has all the ingredients for a squad ready to move forward. At least five players with high NFL Draft potential chose to return in search of the national title. Meanwhile, Michigan is reloading after head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers. When Day, 45, finally arrives, college football could have its coaching rivalry with Smart.
Steve Sarkisian, Texas: When Texas is hot, it might be the best job in college football. Sarkisian has proven to be the right coach to finally bring all the resources together and build a winner in Austin when the Longhorns enter the SEC. Texas won its first Big 12 championship since 2009 under Sarkisian’s watch and enters its new league with one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the sport.
It turns out that Sark has the opportunity to challenge the king immediately. The Longhorns host Georgia on Oct. 19 in a battle of title contenders both in the SEC and on the national stage. A dominant showing would catapult Texas to the top of college football and give Sarkisian a legitimate shot at the No. 1 coaching spot heading into the CFP.
Stepping back, though, Texas is an elite job… when it’s rolling. Infighting and external pressure always remain a threat for the Longhorns with a highly engaged backup corps. Athletic director Chris Del Conte kept everyone happy, but keeping the peace will also be key to Sark’s challenge to Smart. Fortunately, Sarkisian learned from the best politician in the business (Saban) during his time in Tuscaloosa.
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama: DeBoer is new to Alabama, but he’s certainly not new to winning. He led Washington to a 25-3 record in two seasons, with two top-10 finishes and an appearance in the 2024 CFP National Championship. His path coincided with Smart’s at Georgia, but DeBoer took on a worse situation at UW and achieved success even faster.
Now, DeBoer’s coaching skills will be put to the test, at perhaps the best program in college football history. Unlike most of the other coaches on this list, DeBoer doesn’t have a track record of recruiting elite talent. His only experience at a power school before getting the Washington job was as offensive coordinator at Indiana. It will be revealing how he handles the transition from Saban.
But talk to college football people and they’ll tell you that winning is winning. DeBoer has a career record of 104-12, with three NAIA national championships. Outside of the pandemic season, his worst record as a coach was 10-3 at Fresno State in 2021. Also worth noting: DeBoer is 49 years old. If DeBoer is successful, the Alabama and Georgia coaches could battle for the next decade.
Dan Lanning, Oregon: Lanning is the hottest name in college football after two years at Oregon, going 22-5 at just 38 years old. He worked with Saban and Smart during stints at Alabama and Georgia, respectively, which gave him a unique perspective and the tools to be great. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that Lanning has recruited at an elite level, securing the third high school class in 2024.
That said, Lanning is 0-4 against DeBoer and Smart combined, which has prevented him from winning conference titles or CFP trips. Lanning’s team quietly needs a marquee win – or at least better than 4-8 Colorado. Circle Oct. 12 vs. Ohio State. Despite everything, the trajectory is upward for the young coach.
Mike Norvell, Florida State: Norvell is the latest obvious addition to the roster after leading Florida State to an undefeated 13-0 ACC championship season. Of course, losing 63-3 to Smart’s Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl after a wave of withdrawals won’t make the job of reaching first place much easier, but repairing the smoldering crater in Tallahassee for a national contender through a mix unique feature of the transfer and development portal earned him a place.
The biggest questions facing Norvell may actually center on the future of Florida State and the ACC. The administration has been open and actively trying to supplement its resource base, but FSU’s future is certainly murkier than others on the list. Win a national title, though, and those questions quickly disappear.
Dark horse candidates
Jedd Fisch, Washington: Time to get off the boat. Fisch has quietly built a monster in Arizona behind some key recruiting wins and shrewd evaluations. Now, he takes his show to Seattle and the Big Ten. Fisch has a long history in NFL, but it fits in with the player development and family atmosphere you see at top college programs. His unique approach has led to solid results, including Tucson’s first 10-win season in a decade.
While Fisch is a great fit in Washington after a long career on the West Coast, keep an eye on his alma mater: Florida. Landing with the Gators in the future would give him a real chance to grow into a smart coach.
Chris Klieman, Kansas State: Is it possible for a coach to reach No. 1 in the country without winning an FBS national championship? Maybe not, but the work Klieman is doing in Manhattan, Kansas, should be a priority. Klieman has won 27 games over the past three seasons, with back-to-back top-20 finishes and the program’s first Big 12 title in a decade. The success allowed the Wildcats to be even more selective in recruiting, signing players like quarterback Avery Johnson and transfer Dylan Edwards.
The State of Kansas could become one of the biggest winners of the expanded PCP in the coming years. The Big 12 champion is all but guaranteed a spot and a bye, and the Wildcats will have a chance almost every year. If the ‘Cats are the Big 12’s new heavyweight, Klieman should at least enter the conversation near the top.
At age 56, Klieman also has a few years behind comparable program creators such as Utah’s Kyle Whittingham (64) and Kansas’ Lance Leipold (59). However, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell (44) is a total wild card.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane: Frankly, Sumrall should already be a power conference coach. The Huntsville, Alabama, native had a 23-4 record in two years at Troy with back-to-back conference titles. For comparison, the Trojans had a 10-13 record in the two seasons prior to his arrival. Sumrall is a hard-nosed defensive coach who specializes in problem solving. Tulane could quickly reach the CFP under Sumrall’s watch, which should also be noted by the sport’s elite programs.
Glenn Schumann, Georgia defensive coordinator: Want to go really off the board? Apparently, Schumann could be the next Smart. Schumann, 34, worked as a student assistant at Alabama starting in 2008 and quickly gained the trust of Saban and Smart. When Smart finally got his first head coaching job, he hired Schumann to coach linebackers at just 26 years old.
Now, Schumann is a rising star in the industry and a potential game-changer if he finds the right show. It’s true that history is full of failed top assistants who failed to recapture the magic of their mentors, but Schumann is worth betting on. Lanning’s success, for example, only makes Schumann more attractive.
