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Dabo Swinney Drops Behind Ryan Day in Latest ESPN Rankings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Lockett | Last updated May 16, 2025 3:47 PM ET

ESPN released its 2025 rankings of the top 10 head coaches in college football this week, and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney secured the No. 3 spot, firmly entrenched among the sport’s elite. Only Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Ohio State’s Ryan Day finished ahead of him in a composite ranking voted on by ESPN’s college football reporters.

Swinney’s position in the top three is a reflection of both his long-term résumé and his sustained excellence at Clemson. With a career record of 180-47—all at Clemson—Swinney remains one of the most accomplished active coaches. His 12 career bowl wins are the most in ACC history, and he’s one of only three active coaches with multiple national championships.

“He was ranked no lower than sixth on any ballot,” ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura noted. “There are logical arguments to rank Swinney as high as No. 1. When splitting hairs, I dropped him slightly because recent success hasn’t quite matched his peak—but that’s not a knock on what he’s done. He’s still elite.”

Indeed, the Tigers haven’t returned to the College Football Playoff since 2020, but Swinney’s program remains a perennial ACC contender and a consistent developer of NFL talent. Clemson’s 2023 defense was among the nation’s best, and quarterback Cade Klubnik leads a promising 2025 team that could return Swinney to national title contention.

For context, Kirby Smart topped the rankings for the second straight year, receiving 11 of 12 first-place votes. His back-to-back national championships and staggering 105-19 record at Georgia give him the edge in the post-Saban era. Ryan Day came in second, buoyed by Ohio State’s national championship in 2024 and a .875 career winning percentage—best in the AP poll era.

Still, few coaches in the country have built a legacy as durable and self-sustaining as Swinney. Since taking over Clemson in 2008, he’s not only brought the Tigers into national relevance but turned them into a brand synonymous with winning and player development.

The 2025 season could be pivotal. If Swinney leads Clemson back to the College Football Playoff—or even wins a third national title—he could easily reassert himself in the No. 1 or 2 spot in next year’s rankings.

Top 5 Coaches in ESPN’s 2025 Rankings:

Kirby Smart, Georgia – 105-19
Ryan Day, Ohio State – 70-10
Dabo Swinney, Clemson – 180-47
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame – 33-10
Steve Sarkisian, Texas - 84-52
Dan Lanning, Oregon - 35-6
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama - 9-4
James Franklin, Penn State - 101-42
Kyle Whittingham, Utah - 167-86
Matt Campbell, Lowa State - 64-52

Whether it’s his unmatched bowl record in the ACC, his national championships in 2016 and 2018, or his role in Clemson’s rise to college football royalty, Dabo Swinney’s place among the sport’s best remains undisputed—even if the next chapter could determine how long he stays there.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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