ESPN ranked the top 10 coaches in college football entering the 2025 season.
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney received 87 points in the voting from ESPN’s college football reporters — good for third place on the list behind Georgia’s Kirby Smart (119 points) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day (97).
“No shade here,” ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura wrote regarding Swinney’s ranking. “There’s not a clear line of delineation between No. 3 and No. 6, and there are logical arguments that could be used to advocate for Swinney as high as No. 1. So when splitting hairs, I think I dropped Swinney below the consensus because his recent success hasn’t matched his peak success.