Everyone has an opinion about the best head coach in college football. Dave Portnoy has now made his crystal clear, and his list contains more than a few selections guaranteed to start an argument.
Kirby Smart has turned Georgia into a national powerhouse. Dan Lanning has Oregon operating among the sport’s elite. Marcus Freeman has elevated Notre Dame, Lane Kiffin is beginning a highly anticipated tenure at LSU and Ryan Day has Ohio State sitting atop the national rankings. None of them, however, landed at No. 1 on Portnoy’s list.
The Barstool Sports founder recently ranked his 10 best coaches in college football, and defending national champion Curt Cignetti earned the top spot. Perhaps just as noteworthy was where Portnoy placed Day, whom he jokingly labeled “Nipple Ring” Ryan Day, despite Ohio State’s enormous success.
Portnoy revealed his rankings during a college football discussion shared on Facebook.
His complete top 10:
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana
- Kyle Whittingham, Utah
- Kirby Smart, Georgia
- Dan Lanning, Oregon
- Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
- Lane Kiffin, LSU
- Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
- Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
- “Nipple Ring” Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Kalani Sitake, BYU
There is plenty to unpack.
Dave Portnoy Puts Curt Cignetti Ahead of Kirby Smart
Cignetti at No. 1 would have sounded almost unimaginable when Indiana hired him away from James Madison.
Not anymore.
Cignetti inherited an Indiana program coming off a 3-9 season. Two years later, the Hoosiers completed a perfect 16-0 campaign by defeating Miami 27-21 in the national championship game.
Indiana’s transformation provides a compelling argument for Portnoy’s selection. Cignetti didn’t inherit a traditional powerhouse. He turned the Hoosiers into one.
Portnoy’s placement of Whittingham at No. 2 is another fascinating choice, particularly because it pushes Smart down to third. Smart’s resume includes multiple national championships and sustained dominance at Georgia, making any ranking that doesn’t have him first certain to generate debate.
Elephant in the Room
Then there’s Day.
Ohio State entered Saturday ranked No. 1 nationally and promptly crushed Ball State 56-3. Day has already won a national championship with the Buckeyes, yet Portnoy has him behind Cignetti, Whittingham, Smart, Lanning, Freeman, Kiffin, Lea and Dillingham.
And Portnoy couldn’t resist adding his own nickname when listing him.
The final selection, BYU’s Sitake, rounds out a group that blends championship winners, established veterans and coaches who have dramatically elevated programs that historically haven’t lived among college football’s elite.
Fans could debate the order all day.
But Portnoy didn’t hesitate when it came to No. 1.
Right now, he believes the best head coach in college football is Curt Cignetti.
