Every year the Sporting News ranks all FBS head coaches from 1-130. This ranking is based on career accomplishments as well as factoring in both last season and the past three years. It could also factor in head-to-head records between coaches.
Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze is ranked No. 47, up significantly from last year’s No. 80 ranking.
“Freeze’s redemption story is being written at Liberty,” the ranking states. “He took the Flames to a bowl game in his first season. Liberty enjoyed a five-game win streak at one point and gained momentum as an independent. The only question now is how long Freeze sticks around.”
No. 1 on the list is Alabama’s Nick Saban, and he is followed by Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, LSU’s Ed Orgeron, Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley, and Georgia’s Kirby Smart to make up the top 5.
Virginia’s Bronco Mendenhall checks in at No. 24 while Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente is No. 42.
The highest ranked head coach outside of the Power Five conferences is Boise State’s Bryan Harsin at No. 44. Just behind him is UCF’s Josh Heupel at No. 46. Freeze checks in 3rd among non Power Five head coaches on this ranking.
