Ranking the head coaches ahead of CFP quarterfinal games

The quarterfinal round of this season's College Football Playoff commences on New Year's Eve, and the four matchups should prove entertaining both on the field and on the sidelines among an elite group of head coaches.

On Wednesday night, No. 2-seed Ohio State and No. 10 Miami will collide in the Cotton Bowl. On Thursday, fans can ring in the new year with No. 4 Texas Tech against No. 5 Oregon in the Orange Bowl, top seed Indiana versus No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl and, in the nightcap, No. 3 Georgia against No. 6 Ole Miss in a heavyweight Southeastern Conference bout in the Sugar Bowl.

Here, the eight head coaches are ranked, in inverse order, with a focus on how they've fared over the past two seasons.

Ranking the CFP head coaches

8. Pete Golding, Ole Miss
It's unfair to put Golding here, but someone has to be No. 8. Golding took over the Ole Miss program after Lane Kiffin bolted for LSU. Golding has a perfect record as a head coach, going 1-0 after beating No. 11 Tulane in the CFP's first round.

7. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
McGuire had two eight-win seasons with the Red Raiders before Texas Tech broke out in 2025. Texas Tech is 12–1 and won the Big 12 Conference title, with the Red Raiders' only blemish a four-point road loss to Arizona State.

6. Mario Cristobal, Miami
Under Cristobal's leadership, the Hurricanes went a combined 12-13 in his first two campaigns. However, Miami was on the cusp of the CFP last year before a late-season slide. Controversy surrounded the Hurricanes' selection to this year's CFP, but Miami is 11–2 and conquered No. 7 Texas A&M on the road in the first round.

5. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Some felt the Crimson Tide didn't deserve a bid to this year's CFP, but Alabama has made the most of its entry, winning at No. 8 Oklahoma in the first round. DeBoer went 9–4 in his first campaign, but the Crimson Tide's 11–3 mark in 2025 likely has staved off any hot-seat talk. He also took Washington to the national championship game in the 2023 CFP.

4. Dan Lanning, Oregon
In his four seasons with the Ducks, Lanning has never won fewer than 10 games. Last year, Oregon was the CFP's No. 1 seed but got blasted by eventual national champ Ohio State, the No. 8 seed, in the quarterfinals. Lanning, back in this season's CFP quarterfinals, has an overall record of 47–7 in Eugene.

3. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
These last three are tough. Cignetti has done a remarkable job at Indiana in his two seasons. The Hoosiers went 11-2 in 2024 and reached the CFP. This year, Indiana is 13–0, claimed the Big Ten Conference crown and earned the CFP's No. 1 seed.

2. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Day is a remarkable 82–11 overall in Columbus. He won a national title last season, as Ohio State went 14–2. The Buckeyes' only loss in 2025 was by three points to Indiana in the Big Ten title game. Ohio State is a significant contender to repeat as national champs.

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Smart is 117–20 with the Bulldogs and captured national championships in 2021 and 2022. Last year, Georgia, as the CFP's No. 2 seed, fell to No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the quarterfinals, with starting quarterback Carson Beck out due to an injury. This season, Georgia's only setback was by three points to Alabama. The Bulldogs exacted revenge in the SEC title contest, throttling the Crimson Tide, 28-7.