Clemson enters the 2026 college football season as one of the ACC’s biggest storylines, but the conference as a whole has plenty of intrigue when it comes to its head coaches.
From Clemson legend Dabo Swinney, one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport, to a pair of first-year head coaches still settling into new jobs, the ACC features a wide range of leadership entering the fall. Miami enters the season with plenty of momentum, but the battle behind the Hurricanes should make for one of the conference’s most compelling storylines this year.
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The ACC has taken plenty of criticism nationally over the last few seasons, but that hasn’t stopped the conference from staying relevant on the national stage. Miami reached the College Football Playoff and played for a national championship last season without winning the ACC title, which only added more attention to the league heading into 2026.
With several programs chasing conference title contention and others trying to take the next step, there’s plenty to debate when it comes to the conference’s sideline leadership heading into the fall. Here’s how all 17 ACC head coaches stack up entering the 2026 season.
No. 17: Tavita Pritchard, Stanford Cardinal
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 02: Andrew Luck, General Manager of the Stanford Cardinal football program introduces new head coach Tavita Pritchard to the media at Stanford University on December 02, 2025 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Pritchard spent years with Stanford before taking over for the Washington Commanders as their quarterback coach in 2023. He’s now back but as the Cardinal head coach. We’ll see what he can do.
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No. 16: Tosh Lupoi, Cal Golden Bears
Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi speaks during a media day as the Oregon Ducks arrive on Jan. 7, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Lupoi was Oregon’s defensive coordinator from 2022 until this past season, doing a great job for head coach Dan Lanning. He lacks head coach experience so like Pritchard, he ranks at the bottom.
No. 15: Bill O’Brien, Boston College Eagles
Nov 29, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Boston College Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien reacts against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
I genuinely thought Bill O’Brien would do a good job at Boston College. It’s still early, but he’s not recruiting as successfully as I thought he would and the product of the field is lacking. The former NFL head coach has a lot to prove in the ACC.
Oct 31, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick looks to the clock in the fourth quarter game against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Seeing Belichick this low on any coaching rankings would feel insane just two years ago, but it makes sense now. UNC was brutal in his first season as head coach going 4-8, but that doesn’t mean it can’t change. Something just feels off about this situation.
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No. 13: Fran Brown, Syracuse Orange
Nov 29, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown reacts against the Boston College Eagles during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
I’ve never been a big fan of Fran Brown and last season was validating for me. I’d say it’s tough to argue against Brown having already peaked at Syracuse. After finishing at the bottom of the ACC at 3-9 last season, my expectations for Brown and Syracuse remain very low.
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell leads practice Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Another coach I never truly understood any hype around, Norvell has proven to be just a decent head coach. No matter how you feel about FSU, that’s a program that should be near the top of college football. He has done a mediocre job running that program.
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No. 11: Jake Dickert, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Jan 2, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Jake Dickert and his family receive the traditional mayo dump after Wake Forest Demon Deacons win at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
I’ve got a good feeling about Dickert at Wake Forest. Washington State ended up becoming a mess, but that wasn’t really his fault. A fresh start proved great for both Dickert and Wake Forest, as he had the Demon Deacons at 9-5 in 2025.
No. 10: Pat Narduzzi, Pitt Panthers
Dec 27, 2025; Annapolis, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi reacts during the second half of the Military Bowl against the East Carolina Pirates at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Narduzzi is part of the old guard. He’s been with Pitt for years and his ranking in the middle just feels right. Any given year he can be higher or lower.
No. 9: Dave Doeren, NC State Wolfpack
Dec 19, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren receives the trophy after beating Memphis Tigers in the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Doeren is the classic good, not great coach. Don’t get me wrong, he’s very capable… he’s just been there for a decade and yet to hit double-digit wins. I’m not saying double-digit wins are easy by any means, there’s just been hype around him and this program from time to time and when that hype is there, they fall short.
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No. 8: Tony Elliott, Virginia Cavaliers
Dec 27, 2025; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott looks on before the Gator Bowl against the Missouri Tigers at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images
Tony Elliott and UVA broke out in 2025. Second in the ACC and an 11-3 record, Elliott finally found his footing with the Cavaliers. He’s earned his way up these rankings.
Dec 6, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz celebrates defeating the Virginia Cavaliers during the 2025 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
ACC CHAMPION DUKE BLUE DEVILS?! It still sounds crazy. Last year Diaz was my preseason pick to win ACC Coach of the Year, and he barely lost it to a deserving Tony Elliott. Diaz has done great work early in his tenure at Duke.
No. 6: Brent Key, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Jan 2, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee gestures against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Brent Key is a great head coach. He’s done an awesome job at Georgia Tech over the past few seasons, making this team truly competitive. It feels like any time they step on the field, they can compete. I’m a big fan of Key.
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No. 5: Rhett Lashlee, SMU Mustangs
Louisville’s Jeff Brohm comes out before the game with a Browning Nagle’s #7 on against Louisville in the Spring Football game April 17, 2026
Going 38-16 in his tenure at SMU, Lashlee burst into the ACC and helped lead the Mustangs all the way to the College Football Playoff in 2024. That alone could push him higher up this list, but I’m not fully sold yet. I want to see on more consistent year before Lashlee moved any further up these rankings.
No. 4: Jeff Brohm, Louisville Cardinals
Louisville’s Jeff Brohm comes out before the game with a Browning Nagle’s #7 on against Louisville in the Spring Football game April 17, 2026
I love Brohm as Louisville’s head coach because he knows how to build a winner. He’s brought consistency, toughness, and real excitement back to the program. It feels like Louisville is on the verge of something big with him leading the program. We might even see it this year.
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No. 3: James Franklin, Virginia Tech Hokies
Nov 19, 2025; Blacksburg, VA, USA; L-R, John Rocovich, Timothy Sands, James Franklin and Whit Babcock hold up a Virginia Tech jersey during the press conference celebrating Franklin as head coach at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images
Listen, I get that people like to rag on James Franklin for his tenure at Penn State. He never truly got it done, even when he had the talent to do it. Virginia Tech is a program that has been screaming for help. The fall off has been tremendous, and they turn to Franklin to fix it. With a collegiate head coaching record of 104-45, Franklin know show to win… The Hokies needed someone who knows how to do it.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney talks with media after the annnual Clemson Orange and White spring game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina Saturday, March 28, 2026.
No matter how much I love Dabo Swinney as a coach and what he’s done for the Clemson football program, he is no longer the top coach in the ACC. Going 7-6 last season a year removed from a College Football Playoff appearance with on paper, a far better team than the year prior… it just doesn’t sit well.
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I’ll go even further. I truly believe there are multiple head coaches in college football who would have had Clemson as a playoff team once again in 2025, Swinney just wasn’t that guy.
Is Swinney still among the elite, one of the best coaches in college football? Absolutely! Does he still deserve the No. 1 spot based on history? Unfortunately, no longer.
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal reacts after the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
I was never a huge fan of Cristobal, but the guy has proven me wrong. Miami was outstanding last season and even the year before. I was all over the Hurricanes being a pretender as a National Championship contender last season and was proven very wrong.
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After a National Championship appearance and the clear favorite in the ACC in 2026, Cristobal has earned the top spot.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Ranking ACC head coaches post-spring: Dabo Swinney falls, new No. 1 emerges
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