For a long time during the College Football Playoff era, the ACC has relied heavily on its leading team, Clemson. The Tigers added another ACC title in 2024, making it their eighth victory in the last decade and securing a spot in the playoffs for the seventh time. Only Alabama has participated in the playoffs more often, with eight appearances, establishing Dabo Swinney as not only the top coach in the ACC but also among the best nationally.

The debate over how to rank the other coaches behind Swinney continues, raising questions about their standing among peers and in comparison to the wider Power Four. According to CBS Sports’ previous rankings from May, Swinney was the only ACC coach in the top 15. Four coaches fell into the 15-25 range, three found themselves in the 30s, while a total of 11 coaches made the top 50.

This clustering of coaches in the middle ranking demonstrates a conference rich with respected leaders, but with only a few competing at the highest level in college football.

Here’s a summary of the rankings from Nos. 1-68, focusing on the ACC coaches. Each coach’s national rank and their position amongst ACC peers from last year’s standings is noted. Three coaches have made their way onto the list, including Bill Belichick from North Carolina, along with several coaches facing potential job insecurity and noticeable shifts following the 2024 season.