Urban Meyer ranks his top coaches in college football

As a three-time national champion, Urban Meyer knows good coaching when he sees it. On The Triple Option podcast, Meyer revealed who he believes are currently the top coaches in college football.

“I have Ryan Day, Kirby Smart, Dabo [Swinney],” Meyer said. “I just know how hard it is to win a national title, and they won two. Coach Day’s won one. So, I have them there. You’re ‘the man,’ until someone beats the man.”

As it is for most coaches, winning is the most important measuring stick for Meyer. Day, Smart and Swinney are the only three active college football coaches who have won a national championship. As Meyer mentioned, Smart and Swinney have each won two.

With Ohio State currently ranked No. 1 in the country, Day has excellent odds of following in their footsteps this season. Meyer’s praise is an accolade of its own.

He was inducted into the into the College Football Hall of Fame this year and is one of the most-accomplished collegiate coaches of all time. He and Nick Saban are the only two coaches to even win national titles as head coach at multiple schools.

While Meyer respects winning titles above all else, he knows there are plenty of other excellent coaches across the nation. Meyer made sure to give them their flowers, as well.

“Then, I got [Curt] Cignetti, [Lane] Kiffin, [Dan] Lanning, [Jon] Sumrall” Meyer said. “The Sumrall guy—done some research on him at Tulane—I think he’s an up-and-comer. Then, also, I gotta throw these names out, [Kalen] DeBoer and [Kyle] Whittingham. If I’m saying the best coaches I’ve ever been around, Kyle Whittingham is either 1 or 1a.”

Jon Sumrall is the only coach on Meyer’s list who is not currently at the helm of a Power Four program. Sumrall’s name has been popular in the coaching carousel this season, with numerous reports tying him to the opening at Auburn.

Though none of the coaches who later came to Meyer’s mind have won it all, several of them will have a legitimate chance this season. Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers are undefeated and ranked second in the nation. Dan Lanning and Oregon trail just four spots behind at No. 6.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is the most sought-after coach in the country, with LSU and Florida both hoping to lure him out of Oxford, Mississippi. Perhaps one of Urban Meyer’s picks will increase their standing with an excellent postseason this year.