If Mario Cristobal wants the real respect of the college football media, he simply needs to start collecting trophies.
ESPN recently released its list of top 10 coaches in college football, and Indiana's Curt Cignetti is at the top of the list. No argument there from me. Cignetti has done things at Indiana that no one else in college football would imagine. Cristobal, who coached the only team that gave the Hoosiers any kind of challenge in the playoffs, finished in a tie for 10th with Kalen DeBoer.Â
The rest of the list is about as lazy as you can imagine. Somehow, Ryan Day is still thought to be a top-5 coach, although he's only managed to win one title despite being equipped with the best roster in college football nearly every season. And Ohio State lost twice in that championship season, including one to a .500 Michigan team where Day was outcoached to the point of tears by Sherrone Moore. I also think I remember which team eliminated Ohio State from the CFP last season.Â
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ESPN lists Mario Cristobal as the 10th best coach in college football
ESPN didn't disclose who voted or the exact number of voters; the site simply said that writers who cover college football were involved. Cristobal apparently had four voters that placed him as high as eighth and four more that didn't have him on the ballot at all. That is ridiculous, but it also shows how much a label of a bad moment in a game can tarnish a reputation. Cristobal continues to have the late-game meltdown against Georgia Tech in 2023 held against him. It was a terrible moment, no question, but he's gotten much better since then. He learned from his mistakes and continues to show the ability to adapt as he continues on.Â
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Overall, it's a pretty lazy list, and it's hilarious when you look at it and realize that Cristobal's teams beat three of the nine guys listed ahead of him last year. Mike Elko? What has he ever done? Lane Kiffin? He's done even less than Elko. Dan Lanning is mostly known for winning a lot of games, but none that really matter.Â
Mario Cristobal and Miami don't need the motivation, but it's here
The Miami Hurricanes have to win the ACC this year. It's probably not going to change the college football media's opinion of him, and it's not going to make them respect him anymore. But it eliminates a monkey that has been on the program's back for over 20 years. It won't get the college football media to look past his shortcomings from three seasons ago, much like they will consistently look past all of Day's flaws. But you can't argue with success and championships. The more Miami gets under Cristobal, the less argument there is against him.
As the college football media looks for reasons to slight Cristobal, he'll just keep winning, keep filling the roster with blue-chip talent, and start collecting trophies. That will be impossible to ignore.Â
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