CBS Sports ranks Big 12 Football Head Coaches from best to worst

CBS Sports ranked all 16 Big 12 football head coaches from best to worst going into the 2025 season. It’s not just based on what they’ve done recently, but it encompasses their history.

The list is fluid of course, considering the upcoming fall could change things long term. Or at least, going into the 2026 campaign when this list is revisited.

So let’s dive into the Big 12 coaching rankings going into the new college football season. Let’s start at the top!

1. Matt Campbell, Iowa State

Campbell is CBS’ top Big 12 coach going into the 2025 season. He led the Cyclones back to the Big 12 title game, a second occurrence for Campbell and crew.

A program record 11 wins last year was the high mark and Iowa State finished No. 15 in the country. He’s 64-51 at Iowa State and has been the model of consistency for a program that was desperately searching for it.

2. Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Whittingham’s been the head coach at Utah, in full anyway, since 2005. Two decades at the helm is a long time and despite two seasons in a row that were disappointing compared to the expectations, he’s still near the top of the Big 12.

Still, he had two Pac-12 titles in a row in 2021 and ‘22 and a rebuilt roster could contend this year. Whittingham is 167-86 in his career.

3. Chris Klieman, Kansas State

Klieman’s been solid at Kansas State, including a Big 12 title in 2022. When you win 28 games in the last three years, it’s not by accident.

Klieman is 48-28 in six seasons, but after tasting conference title success, the College Football Playoff would be the next step. But he’s certainly established himself as one of the best in the conference.

4. Lance Leipold, Kansas

Leipold, given the circumstances, is higher on CBS’ list compared to, maybe, some other lists. Yes, he’s only 22-28 at Kansas, but he rebuilt this program from virtually nothing.

Based on his history, Leipold has won everywhere he went. He went 109-6 at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, 37-33 at Buffalo, including two conference title game appearances and had Kansas finish Top 25 in 2023. He can coach, but likely needs to get back in the postseason to avoid moving down the Big 12 rankings this year.

5. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

Dillingham is on the verge of becoming a coaching superstar nationwide, not just in the Big 12. He’s made Arizona State a real contender, especially after winning the conference last year and making the College Football Playoff.

He rounds out the top five for CBS, but there’s more to prove. Don’t forget, he went 3-9 in his first season. Yes he was rebuilding, but after 2024, there are high expectations moving forward.

6. Kalani Sitake, BYU

Sitake has bowl game appearances in seven of nine seasons, going 4-3. BYU has finished ranked three times in his tenure, including No. 13 last, the Cougars’ second in the Big 12 after years of independence.

Sitake guided BYU to 11 wins last year for the second time in his tenure and has no doubt pushed the right buttons. There’s still room to grow in 2025 and beyond.

7. Deion Sanders, Colorado

Coach Prime goes into Year 3 at Colorado with a new set of weapons. Gone are sons Shedeur and Shilo Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

Deion Sanders can coach and recruit and has resurrected the Buffaloes’ program in college football’s eyes. This year will be a new challenge with a new cast of characters after falling a few plays short of perhaps playing for a Big 12 title last year.

8. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

Gundy has a historic track record at Oklahoma State which includes a Big 12 title in 2011, 169 wins since 2005 and 11 top 25 finishes, including three in the top 10. But last year was eye opening for CBS and others.

Going 3-9 in the new age of college football in which CBS cited Gundy as slow to adapt, essentially, is not great. This could be the tail end of his tenure or Gundy will prove 2024 was just a blip on the radar.

9. Sonny Dykes, TCU

It was only three years ago Dykes led TCU to 13 wins and the College Football Playoff National Championship. Ironically, he still hasn’t won a Big 12 title in three years.

Coming off a 9-4 season, it was a bounce back year for Dykes and the Horned Frogs, following the difficult 5-7 year in 2023. He’s 98-76 in his career with successful stints at SMU and TCU so far, to go along with an uneven time at Cal (19-30) and Louisiana Tech (22-15).

10. Dave Aranda, Baylor

After going 2-7 in his first year, Aranda couldn’t miss in 2021, going 12-2 and leading Baylor to a Big 12 title and Sugar Bowl victory. Since then, he’s 17-21. To be fair, the Bears bounced back last year with an 8-5 record.

Aranda might’ve peaked in Year 2 if it weren’t for last year. He went 9-16 in 2022 and ‘23 combined, but seems to have turned the corner again. It’s a mixed bag, so he’s No. 10 in CBS’ Big 12 rankings, but he might be back on the upswing.

Big 12 coaches ranked by CBS Sports

11. Willie Fritz, Houston
12. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia
13. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
14. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati
15. Scott Frost, UCF
16. Brent Brennan, Arizona