Georgia Football: Kirby Smart snubbed in top coaches lists
By Eric Taylor
Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic put out their college football head coaches ranking this week. Georgia football fans are going to be quite heated.
The Athletic has put out two lists ranking the head coaches of college football. There are two different lists with two different opinions. Personally I find both are wrong, but that is just my opinion. I think both men are overlooking Georgia football coach Kirby Smart and just what he has done at Georgia while giving too much credit to some coaches who are big names, but have fewer results. Here are their lists:
Stewart Mandel:
1. Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney
3. Ed Orgeron
4. Lincoln Riley
5. Kirby Smart
Feldman:
1. Nick Saban
2. Dabo Swinney
3. James Franklin
4. Ed Orgeron
5. Lincoln Riley
6. Jimbo Fisher
7. Kirby Smart
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The first two coaches on both lists make sense, no arguments there. After those two is when things seem to unravel. So, let me break down just how wrong these lists are using each coach’s last three seasons.
Ed Orgeron – LSU
Let’s begin with Ed Orgeron. He has been the head coach at LSU for the last four years. His combined record over the last three years is 34-7, including a 3-1 bowl record. He has won the SEC West just once over these three years, mainly because of his 1-2 record against Saban’s Crimson Tide. However, he did win the SEC once also, on they way to the College Football Playoffs in 2019 and his Tigers won the whole thing.
Over the last three seasons, LSU has finished No. 18, No. 6, and No. 1 in the final AP polls. Orgeron has also averaged the No. 9 recruiting class over the last three years. They came in at No. 7 in 2017, No. 15 in 2018, and No. 5 in 2019.
Lincoln Riley – Oklahoma
Now let’s take a look at Lincoln Riley. He’s held the head coach position at Oklahoma for the last three years. His combined record over that time is 36-6, including an 0-3 bowl record. He has won the Big XII all three years, making the College Football Playoffs each year as well, and making a first-round exit all three years.
Over the last three seasons, Oklahoma has finished No. 3, No. 4, and No. 7 in the final AP polls. Riley has averaged the No. 8 recruiting class coming in at No. 8 in 2017, No. 9 in 2018, and No. 6 in 2019.