College Football: 25 greatest head coaches of the 21st century

We are approaching the 20th college football season of the 21st century. Who are the greatest coaches in the college ranks since 2000?

College football has grown in the past two decades. We went from a BCS system to the College Football Playoff. Recruiting has expanded. The transfer portal has basically enabled free agency. With teams rotating in and out of relevancy, Alabama has built a dynasty under Nick Saban.

Other teams have grown since 2000. Whether it’s Florida, Clemson or Ohio State, the powers have shifted over the past 20 years. A lot of the shift relies on great coaches. Whether they inherit a good program and turn it into a great one or build a program from the ground up, a lot of success in college football relies on the people in charge of developing those teams.

Being a good coach involves many things. Recruiting well is important, but you also need to develop the talent you have on the roster. Many will look at a coach’s overall record, but things like bowl record and consistency throughout seasons matter as well. You also have to think about longevity and overall accolades.

In this ranking of the top 25 college football head coaches in the 21st century, all these things were considered. However, one caveat had to be made. We are only focusing on what these coaches have done since 2000.

There are legends like Bobby Bowden who have coached in the 21st century, but most of their achievements could not be counted. I also could not consider NFL accomplishments for coaches who coached in both the college and professional ranks.

So, who are the 25 best college football head coaches since 2000? Let’s take a look.