ESPN Ranks Lane Kiffin Among Top 10 Coaches Entering 2026 Season

ESPN college football writers released their rankings of the top coaches in the sport heading into the upcoming season.

First-year LSU head coach Lane Kiffin landed inside the top 10, checking in at No. 7.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti took the top spot, followed by Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Ohio State’s Ryan Day.

Here's what they had to say about Kiffin:

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7. Lane Kiffin, LSU
Record: 116-53, .686 (first year at LSU)

Points: 25

Last year's ranking: Not ranked


Numbers to know: In his six seasons at Ole Miss, Kiffin led the program to three straight 10-win seasons (including 2025), which was the longest streak in program history, and four 10-win seasons overall, tied with Johnny Vaught for the most in program history. ... Under Kiffin, the Rebels spent 48 straight weeks in the AP poll, the second-longest streak in program history (73 from 1957 to 1963). ... Kiffin's .743 winning percentage (55-19) at Ole Miss is second highest in program history behind Vaught's .745 (190-61-12).

Not surprisingly, Kiffin was the most polarizing coach in our poll. Among our voters, you had Kiffin slotted higher than anyone else (fourth). Why are you on Team Kiffin?

For all of his, um, eccentricities, Kiffin has aced his last two head coaching gigs. Florida Atlantic was 9-27 in the three years before his arrival, 27-13 during his three seasons and 15-18 the three years after. Ole Miss enjoyed four top-15 finishes during the 50 years before he was hired and scored four in his six seasons in charge. He might be great at burning bridges, but he's also great at being a head coach. -- Bill Connelly

You were one of three voters to leave Kiffin out of your top 10. What can he do to win you over?

Win big. Aside from two Conference USA titles with Florida Atlantic, Kiffin has yet to win a league championship or national title as a head coach. He has a proven track record as an offensive coordinator and assistant -- there's no shortage of titles there. But in 11 combined seasons at Tennessee, USC and Ole Miss, none of Kiffin's teams has played for a conference championship or finished with fewer than two league losses. So let's start there. -- Heather Dinich

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Here's the complete Top-10:

1. Curt Cignetti (Indiana)
2. Kirby Smart (Georgia)
3. Ryan Day (Ohio State)
4. Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame)
5. Dan Lanning (Oregon)
6. Steve Sarkisian (Texas)
7. Lane Kiffin (LSU)
8. Mike Elko (Texas A&M)
9. Kyle Whittingham (Michigan)
10. (Tie) Mario Cristobal (Miami)
11. (Tie) Kalen DeBoer (Alabama)