CBS Sports ranks ACC Football coaches ahead of 2025 season

The Atlantic Coast Conference boasts one of the most diverse groups of head coaches in college football. Included in the conference is a two-time National Champion, a six-time Super Bowl champion and two more former NFL head coaches. Louisville‘s Jeff Brohm and SMU‘s Rhett Lashlee have also emerged as rising stars in the conference, setting the stage for a fun season.

Just three of the 17 coaches in the ACC have been named ACC Coach of the Year before (Dabo Swinney x2, Mike Norvell and Rhett Lashlee), so the field is wide open to add to that number this season.

CBS Sports ranked the ACC coaches 1-17. The full list is below:

1. Dabo Swinney (Clemson) National Rank: 3

After four consecutive seasons without a College Football Playoff appearance (longest drought in Swinney era), Clemson downed SMU via a walk-off field goal in the ACC Championship Game last season to earn the No. 12 seed in the Playoff. The Tigers fell to Texas 38-24, but established themselves as a player once again in the landscape of college football.

Swinney is entering his 18th season as the head coach at Clemson, where he boasts a 180-47 (109-24) record with two National Championships and nine ACC Championships.

2. Jeff Brohm (Louisville) National Rank: 17

The first two seasons of the Jeff Brohm era at Louisville have been nothing short of stellar, as he has led the Cardinals to a 19-8 (12-4) record with a 2024 Sun Bowl victory. Prior to Brohm’s arrival, the Cardinals had posted just 18 wins in their prior three seasons under now Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield.

Brohm is set up once again to succeed with USC transfer quarterback Miller Moss, his third consecutive four-star transfer quarterback. “I think I’ve really just been fortunate enough to have a lot of experience at [the quarterback] position as a player and a coach,” Brohm said.

3. Mario Cristobal (Miami) National Rank: 20

Miami’s Mario Cristobal seemed poised to lead his first team to the College Football Playoff last season, but the Hurricanes blew a 28-7 halftime lead to Syracuse in their final regular season game. This sunk them to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, where they fell to Iowa State 42-41 after Cam Ward decided to sit out the second half.

Cristobal is embarking on his fourth season in Miami, where he’s led the ‘Canes to a 22-16 (12-12) record. With Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck entering the fold, a College Football Playoff appearance could be vital in ensuring his job security.

4. Rhett Lashlee (SMU) National Rank: 22

SMU‘s Rhett Lashlee was one of two ACC coaches to lead his program to the College Football Playoff last season. The Mustangs were tabbed as the No. 11 seed in the Playoff and fell to Penn State 38-10 in their First Round Matchup.

Lashlee returns for his fourth season at SMU, where he boasts a 29-12 (21-3) record. He has yet to win a bowl game there however, as he is 0-3 with losses in the New Mexico Bowl, Fenway Bowl and the College Football Playoff.

5. Mike Norvell (Florida State) National Rank: 25

The only way to go is up for Mike Norvell and the Florida State program, which went 2-10 last season after narrowly missing the 2023 College Football Playoff.

“The Seminoles never recovered from the College Football Playoff snub in 2023, plummeting to a 2-10 mark last season,” Athlon Sports wrote. “High-profile coordinator hires in Gus Malzahn (offense) and Tony White (defense) should be a massive boost to Norvell in what could be a make-or-break year.” In five seasons, Norvell has led the ‘Noles to a 33-27 (20-20) record.

6. Brent Key (Georgia Tech) National Rank: 30

The first three seasons of the Brent Key era at Georgia Tech have been mostly forgettable, as he’s led the Yellow Jackets to a 18-16 (14-9) record. They did however open the season with an exciting 24-21 win over Florida Statein Ireland and closed the regular season with a 44-42 loss to Georgia in 8OT at Sanford Stadium.

Georgia Tech still however hasn’t posted a 10-win season since 2014.

7. Dave Doeren (NC State) National Rank: 31

The 2024 season was a bit of a disappointment for Dave Doeren and NC State, as it posted its first sub-eight win season since 2019 (6-7). Overall, Doeren has led the Wolfpack to a 87-65 (47-51) record in 12 seasons with three bowl game victories (2014 St. Petersburg Bowl, 2016 Independence Bowl and 2017 Sun Bowl).

He has been incredibly consistent in his time in Raleigh, as he’s reached a bowl game in 10 of 12 seasons with four nine-win campaigns.

8. Pat Narduzzi (Pittsburgh) National Rank: 37

Pittsburgh‘s Pat Narduzzi is back for his 11th season, searching for just his second 10-win campaign (2021) as a head coach.

Last season, the Panthers went 7-6 (3-5) and lost in the GameAbove Sports Bowl to Toledo. Under Narduzzi, Pittsburgh is 72-56 (46-36) since the beginning of the 2015 season.

9. Manny Diaz (Duke) National Rank: 44

Manny Diaz‘s tenure at Miami ended with a bit of a thud, but he re-emerged last season as a very good football coach as he led the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record in his first season at the helm. This tied for its best record since 2014.

With talented Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah entering the mix, Diaz could very well have his Blue Devils pushing towards the upper echelon of the conference this season.

10. Fran Brown (Syracuse) National Rank: 46

The first season of the Fran Brown era at Syracuse was stellar, as the Orange claimed just their third 10-win season since 2000 and downed Washington State 52-35 in the Holiday Bowl. Prior to that epic first season at Syracuse, Brown had been a career defensive assistant.

College football fans will quickly get a glimpse at what Syracuse will look like this season, as it opens the year against Tennessee in the Aflac Kickoff Game.

Coaches 11-17

11. Bill O’Brien (Boston College) National Rank: 50
12. Bill Belichick (North Carolina) National Rank: 54
13. Justin Wilcox (California) National Rank: 55
14. Jake Dickert (Wake Forest) National Rank: 56
15. Brent Pry (Virginia Tech) National Rank: 63
16. Tony Elliott (Virginia) National Rank: 65
17. Frank Reich (Stanford) National Rank: 67