CBS Sports ranks SEC Football head coaches from best to worst ahead of 2025 season

One week after the SEC’s 16 teams invaded Atlanta over four days for its 2025 SEC Kickoff Media Days event, CBS Sports unveiled its ranking of the league’s head coaches ahead of a pivotal season for the league. After winning four straight national titles between 2019-22 and 13 championships over the last two decades, the SEC has watched as the Big Ten has claimed the past two College Football Playoff national championships.

The Big Ten’s recent run of Playoff success aside, the SEC can still claim to winning Ranking Season this offseason, especially when it comes to its head coaches. Since the retirement of his mentor, former Alabama coach Nick Saban, Georgia‘s Kirby Smart continues to reign atop all national head coaching rankings as one of just two current multi-time national championship-winning coaches.

But how about the rest of the SEC? Well CBS Sports provided this week with its definitive ranking of the league’s head football coaches. Check it out below.

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia (National rank: No. 1)

As mentioned above, Smart is one of just two current FBS head coaches with two national championships on his resume after claiming back-to-back natties in 2021 and 2022 (Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney is the other). As the only current SEC coach with such distinction, the 49-year-old Smart once again stands head and shoulders above his league peers in this ranking.

In fact, CBS Sports ranked Smart as the unanimous top-ranked choice among voters, keeping the Georgia coach in the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive season. And while most SEC media members aren’t as confident in this year’s Bulldogs’ chances of repeating as league champs, it’s generally a good idea to never count out a Kirby Smart-coached team.

2. Steve Sarkisian, Texas (No. 4)

The second spot in CBS Sports’ ranking goes to the man who finally brought Texas back to national prominence. That includes leading the Longhorns to the SEC Championship game in their first season in the league, only losing to Smart and Georgia — twice — last season.

Sarkisian, who has led Texas to back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinal appearances, once again has the Longhorns primed for another big season in 2025 as the overwhelming favorites to win the SEC as voted on by league media. And with a stout defense and new QB1 Arch Manning in tow, Sarkisian has all the tools to not only win the SEC but also challenge the Big Ten’s Playoff reign.

3. Brian Kelly, LSU (No. 8)

The 63-year-old Kelly enters a vital 2025 season with intense pressure to get LSU back to the Playoffs in his fourth season at the helm. To his credit, Kelly hasn’t shied away from those expectations, repeatedly saying a College Football Playoff appearance is the bare minimum for LSU this upcoming season.

And while the Tigers have been fairly consistent during his first three seasons, including reaching 10 wins twice before a slight dip to nine in 2024, Kelly understands the standard at LSU is competing for a national title. Of course, having returning QB1 Garrett Nussmeier back after leading the SEC in passing last season means the excuses are out the window. The time is now for Kelly and LSU in 2025.

4. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama (No. 9)

Replacing an all-time coaching legend like Nick Saban is never easy, and despite those somewhat unfavorable circumstances, DeBoer still managed to win 9 games in his first season in Tuscaloosa. Of course, that snapped a 16-year run of 10 or more wins for the Crimson Tide.

Still, the standard is the standard at Alabama, and that means Playoff appearances and annually contending for a national championship, which DeBoer and company have fully embraced entering Year 2. And given DeBoer’s highly-successful coaching resume, hope springs eternal for Crimson Tide fans, especially with the offseason addition of new OC Ryan Grubb.

5. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss (No. 12)

Kiffin enters Year 6 in Oxford having topped the 10-win mark three times, including the past two years. And despite just missing out on a Playoff berth last season, that run of success has certainly elevated Kiffin and Ole Miss onto the national stage entering 2025.

While losing a talent like Rebels all-time leading passer Jaxon Dart could signal a step back, the 50-year-old Kiffin finally appears to have all his ducks in a row both personally and professionally, including talented new QB1 Austin Simmons in tow. If Kiffin can get the most out of Simmons this season, the Rebels could be in line for another serious Playoff push in 2025.

6. Josh Heupel, Tennessee (No. 16)

No SEC coach had a more tumultuous offseason than Heupel, who witnessed returning starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava enter the transfer portal before the end of Spring practice after an NIL dispute. This came despite Tennessee making its first-ever Playoff appearance in 2024.

Heupel found his QB replacement in former UCLA and Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar, but expectations aren’t what they were a year ago entering Iamaleava’s first season as QB1. Much like Kiffin, if Heupel can transform Aguilar into a difference-maker and return the Vols to the Playoff — or even keep them competitive in the SEC — Heupel will continue his climb up these rankings.

7. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri (No. 24)

Drinkwitz is arguably the SEC’s most entertaining coach not named Lane Kiffin, and after back-to-back double-digit win seasons in Columbia, he’s become a regular within coaching carousel rumors whenever a bigger job comes open.

But in the meantime, Drinkwitz has the SEC’s northern-most Tigers primed for another successful season in 2025, especially with former Penn State transfer QB Beau Pribula now leading the Missouri offense. If Drinkwitz can get the most out of Pribula this season, Mizzou could be a serious SEC darkhorse to not only make it to Atlanta for the league title game, but also a potential Playoff appearance.

8. Shane Beamer, South Carolina (No. 28)

The 48-year-old son of legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer finally had the Gamecocks on the verge of something special last season, including winning its final six regular-season games. That late-season run of success nearly earned South Carolina its first-ever Playoff appearance.

With preseason All-SEC first-team QB LaNorris Sellers returning, Beamer and the Gamecocks are among several potential league darkhorses that have the talent to make waves in 2025. If Beamer can get South Carolina over the 10-win plateau for the first time since Steve Spurrier roamed the sidelines in Columbia, expect to see him climb these rankings next year.

9. Mike Elko, Texas A&M (No. 29)

The longtime college assistant enters just his fourth season as a head coach, and Year 2 in College Station after leading the Aggies to an 8-5 mark in 2024. Of course, given the emergence of rival Texas in the SEC last season, the pressure is already mounting for Elko at A&M.

Elko and the Aggies return plenty of talent off last year’s squad, including dual-threat QB Marcel Reed, who was thrust into the fire as a true freshman in 2024. While the Playoffs might be a bit of a stretch in 2025, if A&M can make a run at double-digit wins this season and potentially challenge for another SEC title game appearance, Elko will quiet any and all doubters in College Station.

10. Mark Stoops, Kentucky (No. 36)

As the SEC’s longest tenured head football coach, Stoops has certainly built himself plenty of leeway across a dozen years in Lexington. But after averaging more than 7 wins over the prior decade, Stoops and Kentucky took a significant step backwards with just four wins in 2024.

That’s already led to plenty of consternation within Big Blue Nation, and unless Kentucky can reverse course in 2025 and get back over .500 this season, Stoops’ seat will undoubtedly get hotter and hotter with each loss. The pressure is on in Lexington, and whether Stoops remains the SEC’s longest tenured coach could be put to the test this upcoming season.

11. Billy Napier, Florida (No. 45)

Another hot seat candidate, Napier fought off the doubters thanks in large part to a massive assist from talented freshman QB DJ Lagway, who led Florida to a 6-1 mark as the Gators starting QB last season.

Of course, given his quarterback’s success in 2024, expectations for Napier and Lagway have only intensified this upcoming season as Florida fans dream of once again contending for the SEC Championship in 2025. Given those lofty goals, Napier needs to keep momentum rolling in Gainesville if he’s going to be brought back for 2026 and beyond.

12. Hugh Freeze, Auburn (No. 47)

Freeze’s return to the SEC with Auburn hasn’t been nearly as successful as his first run in the league with Ole Miss. In fact, after barely achieving bowl eligibility with six wins in 2023, Freeze’s Tigers took a step back with just five wins last season.

An offseason filled with speculation around his golf game certainly hasn’t helped Freeze’s perception among the Auburn fanbase, and unless he can right the ship in 2025 and get the Tigers back over .500 and once again contending again in the SEC, his seat will only continue to heat up.

13. Brent Venables, Oklahoma (No. 52)

The Sooners coach enters Year 4 in Norman knowing another losing season isn’t going to cut it at Oklahoma. Following a second 6-7 campaign in his first three seasons, Venables overhauled the roster and coaching staff, taking over defensive play-calling duties and hiring Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle.

But more importantly, Venables landed ex-Wazzu QB John Mateer out of the transfer portal to spearhead the Sooners’ new offensive. Mateer is already drawing Heisman Trophy hype and if Venables is going to stick around in Norman beyond 2025, it’ll likely require a big season for Oklahoma.

14. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt (No. 53)

The fifth-year Commodores coach is coming off his first bowl win of his tenure in Nashville after riding the wave created by former transfer QB Diego Pavia in 2024, which included a stunning win over Alabama.

It was Vanderbilt’s first winning season under Lea and the seven victories were the most since the ‘Dores won nine in back-to-back seasons under James Franklin in 2012-13. That turnaround undoubtedly earned Lea a reprieve from any hot seat consideration, especially if Pavia can lead a few more upsets in 2025.

15. Sam Pittman, Arkansas (No. 57)

The 63-year-old Pittman avoided the axe despite considerable hot seat discussion all last season after directing the Razorbacks to its second 7-6 season in the last three in Fayetteville. Of course, that hot seat talk will only intensify if Arkansas continues to struggle in 2025.

Pittman enters Year 6 with a 30-31 record overall and isn’t beating back the critics, despite three winning seasons in his last four years. Not helping matters is Pittman’s potential replacement is already on staff in the form of former head coach-turned-OC Bobby Petrino, who is entering his second season back in Fayetteville. If Arkansas starts slow or struggles early, a change could be in order.

16. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State (No. 68)

The 41-year-old Lebby is the SEC’s youngest head coach and enters Year 2 in Starkville after a difficult Year 1 when the Bulldogs won just two games for its worst record since SEC legend Jackie Sherrill‘s final season in 2003.

While Lebby likely has plenty of leeway from the Mississippi State administration, another two-win season isn’t going to cut it. If senior QB Blake Shapen can stay healthy within Lebby’s explosive offensive scheme, the Bulldogs could become a serious season spoiler in 2025.