ESPN College Football Head Coach Rankings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Lentz | Last updated May 20, 2025 11:28 AM ET

As Clemson gears up for what many believe could be a national title run in 2025, ESPN's college football reporters are giving head coach Dabo Swinney his due — placing him among the sport’s coaching elite once again.

Swinney landed at No. 3 overall in ESPN’s updated head coach rankings heading into the new season, earning 87 points in the network’s voting system. He trails only Georgia’s Kirby Smart (119 points) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day (97 points), with the panel noting that there is little separating the coaches in the 3–6 range.

“There’s not a clear line of delineation between No. 3 and No. 6,” ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura wrote. “There are logical arguments that could be used to advocate for Swinney as high as No. 1... this shouldn’t be misconstrued.”

The Only ACC Coach in the Top 10

Swinney stands as the only ACC coach ranked in the top 10, though several of his conference peers did receive votes, including North Carolina’s Bill Belichick (10 points), Louisville’s Jeff Brohm (6), and SMU’s Rhett Lashlee (3). LSU’s Brian Kelly, who will bring his Tigers into Memorial Stadium for a primetime season opener on Aug. 30, was just outside the top 10 with 13 points.

Rounding out the top five behind Swinney are Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman (64 points) and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian (62).

Swinney’s Legacy — Still Among the Game’s Best

Now entering his 17th full season at Clemson, Swinney boasts a remarkable 180-47 career record, making him the winningest coach in both Clemson and ACC history. He has led the Tigers to two national championships, seven College Football Playoff appearances, and nine ACC titles, including eight of the last ten.

Since 2011, Swinney's program has finished with 10 or more wins in 13 of the last 14 seasons, further solidifying its consistency at the top of college football.

He and Kirby Smart remain the only active head coaches with multiple national championships, a testament to Swinney’s ability to not just build, but sustain, a championship-caliber program amid a rapidly changing college football landscape.

Up Next

Swinney and Clemson kick off their 2025 campaign in the spotlight, hosting LSU under the lights on August 30 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. With expectations high and a roster stacked with NFL-caliber talent, the Tigers’ longtime head coach will once again be under the national microscope — exactly where he’s thrived for over a decade.

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

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