Joel Klatt, FOX Sports' lead college football analyst, released his top 10 head coaches list this week and slotted Mario Cristobal at No. 9, crediting Miami's 2025 run to the College Football Playoff title game as the separator.
Klatt said he's avoided ranking coaches in the past, but he feels the sport has changed enough that it's time to judge who's thriving in the NIL and transfer portal era.
"He knocked off two giant stigmas this year that have been plaguing him throughout his career as a head coach. The first being that he doesn't win big games. Well, they won those big games this year and it started all the way back in week one when they were able to topple Notre Dame. That was a huge win and it started this trajectory of things that we haven't seen him be able to do."Joel Klatt
Mario Cristobal comes in at No. 9 on Joel Klatt's list
Klatt openly admitted the Hurricanes' postseason run is what pushed Cristobal into the top 10. Klatt said Cristobal checked off two lingering critiques: winning big games and finishing the season strong.
The Hurricanes opened the season with a statement win over Notre Dame, and beat Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss in the CFP. The Canes ultimately fell 27-21 to Indiana in the national title game.
Klatt said coaches on his list had to excel "post-COVID" and, more specifically, in the past few years as the portal and NIL has reshaped the sport.
Joel Klatt's list of top 10 coaches in college football
- 1. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
- 2. Ryan Day, Ohio State
- 3. Kirby Smart, Georgia
- 4. Dan Lanning, Oregon
- 5. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
- 6. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
- 7. Kyle Whittingham, Michigan
- 8. Kalani Sitake, BYU
- 9. Mario Cristobal, Miami
- 10. Lane Kiffin, LSU