SEC analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy recently released his rankings of the top coaches in SEC football. As you might imagine, it’s caused quite a stir.
Naturally, the former Crimson Tide star had his former coach Nick Saban at the top of the list. He followed that up by having two-time national champion head coach of Georgia Kirby Smart as his second pick. But then things get interesting.
McElroy ranks LSU head coach Brian Kelly at third, followed by Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel comes in third.
Fans immediately started objecting to the absence of coaches like Mark Stoops, Shane Beamer and the presence of Kelly at No. 3. But some took joy in seeing Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher off the list entirely.
Nick Saban and Kirby Smart have been battling it out for the position of top SEC head coach for several years now. But Saban has gotten the best of Smart in every matchup except the 2021 national championship game.
Meanwhile, the 2022 season saw Saban fall to both Kelly and Heupel in road games, though the margins of defeat were a combined four points.
Until someone decisively beats a Nick Saban team in the regular season consistently, Saban will probably be on top of the mountain – unless Smart wins a few more national titles.
Who do you think is the best head coach in the SEC?