CBS Sports has ranked the top 25 coaches in college football entering the 2023 season.
To the surprise of no one, Alabama’s Nick Saban tops the list and is followed closely by Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley and Jim Harbaugh round out the top 5.
Kentucky’s Mark Stoops is on the list at No. 18.
Here is an excerpt:
20 Texas A&M
Jimbo Fisher: That national title Fisher won at Florida State no longer carries him in these rankings. While I can’t speak for everyone else, I know Jimbo fell in my rankings because of his refusal to adjust. He still recruits well, but while other coaches like Nick Saban have adapted to changes in the sport, Jimbo keeps trying to pound square pegs into round holes with his offense. Maybe hiring Bobby Petrino means he’s finally adapting, or maybe it’ll be the same old Jimbo. We could see him climb to the top 10 quickly if it’s the former … but if it isn’t? 2022 rank: 5 (-15)
19 Florida State
Mike Norvell: I’m sure there aren’t any fans out there who will take note of where Norvell is ranked in relation to another former Florida State coach. Norvell made the biggest jump of any coach this year, climbing 28 spots from No. 47 to No. 19. Feels like too big of a jump for me, considering he’s only had one winning season at FSU, but I get why people are hyped. I know I’m high on the Seminoles in 2023, but I need to see Norvell do it two seasons in a row before buying in fully. 2022 rank: 47 (+28)
18 Kentucky
Mark Stoops: It’s a sign of the respect Stoops has garnered for what he’s done at Kentucky that he only dropped two spots after a step back last season. Not much went to plan for the Wildcats as a bad offensive line led to a struggle to reach 7-6. Seeing how things shake out in 2023 now that Tennessee is on an upward trajectory will be interesting. 2022 rank: 16 (-2)
17 Oklahoma State
Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State finished with a 7-6 record last year, tied for the Cowboys’ worst since Gundy took over in 2005. That’s a testament to how strong of a program Gundy has built in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and he has the track record that buys him some benefit of the doubt. After all, the last three times his teams went 7-6, he followed it up with an average of nine wins the next year. 2022 rank: 10 (-7)
