Mario Cristobal surprisingly snubbed from 2025 Top 25 coaches list

Despite leading Miami to a 10-3 season, Mario Cristobal was snubbed by 247Sports in their "Ranking college football's top 25 coaches as focus shifts to 2025 season." Miami won 10 games for the first time since 2017. Before 2017, Miami last won 10 games when they finished 11-2 in 2003.

Cristobal had Miami on the verge of earning their first ACC Championship game berth since 2017 and its inaugural trip to the College Football Playoff. Miami lost a 21-0 lead in a 42-38 loss in the regular season finale at Syracuse, dropping the Hurricanes to 10-2 and costing them two of their major preseason goals.

Miami was first nationally averaging 43.9 points per game and 537.2 yards per game in 2024. The defense failed Miami. Despite a 10-3 season that fell short of their goals, Miami accomplished a lot in 2024. Quarterback Cam Ward and wide receiver Xavier Restrepo had record-setting 2024 seasons. Ward became the first Miami Heisman Trophy finalist since QB Ken Dorsey and running back Willis McGahee in 2022.

Cristobal and his staff signed their third consecutive top 15 class in as many full recruiting cycles at Miami. Only the coaches at the top of the 247Sports list have accomplished as much in recruiting as Cristobal. The recruiting success should put Cristobal in the Top 25.

Cristobal is fourth on the list among ACC coaches. Dabo Swinney has earned his place on the list as the sixth-best coach nationally and first in the ACC with two national championships in his career. Mike Norvell of Florida State is 16th and former Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, now at SMU is 20th.

Norvell is on the list almost primarily because of leading Florida State to a 23-4 record in 2022 and 2023, despite cratering to 2-10 in 2024. The remainder of the coaches on the list below the top 10 are there primarily because of their 2024 success. Another season like 2024 should put Cristobal in the top 25 coaches nationally.