ACC Coaches Rankings See Dabo Swinney Fall to No. 2 Behind Miami's Mario Cristobal

USA Today’s ACC coaches poll names Miami head coach Mario Cristobal the top coach in the conference, citing his impressive run to the national championship game and a strong defensive culture. Clemson’s long‑time coach Dabo Swinney, who has nine ACC titles and two national championships, drops to second place after a 7‑6 season that fell short of expectations. The rankings also list James Franklin (Virginia Tech) at No. 3, followed by coaches such as Rhett Lashlee (SMU), Manny Diaz (Duke) and others down to Bill Belichick (North Carolina) at No. 17. A separate ACC analysis highlights several coaches on the "hot seat," noting that Florida State’s Mike Norvell could be dismissed if the team fails to win seven games, while others like Dave Doeren (NC State) and Fran Brown (Syracuse) face scrutiny for middling results.

Overall, the poll reflects shifting perceptions of coaching performance across the ACC ahead of the 2026 season.