The quarterfinal spherical of this season’s School Soccer Playoff commences on New Yr’s Eve, and the 4 matchups ought to show entertaining each on the sector and on the sidelines amongst an elite group of head coaches.
On Wednesday night, No. 2-seed Ohio State and No. 10 Miami will collide within the Cotton Bowl. On Thursday, followers can ring within the new yr with No. 4 Texas Tech towards No. 5 Oregon within the Orange Bowl, high seed Indiana versus No. 9 Alabama within the Rose Bowl and, within the nightcap, No. 3 Georgia towards No. 6 Ole Miss in a heavyweight Southeastern Convention bout within the Sugar Bowl.
Right here, the eight head coaches are ranked, in inverse order, with a give attention to how they’ve fared over the previous two seasons.
Rating the CFP head coaches
8. Pete Golding, Ole Miss
It is unfair to place Golding right here, however somebody needs to be No. 8. Golding took over the Ole Miss program after Lane Kiffin bolted for LSU. Golding has an ideal file as a head coach, going 1-0 after beating No. 11 Tulane within the CFP’s first spherical.
7. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
McGuire had two eight-win seasons with the Crimson Raiders earlier than Texas Tech broke out in 2025. Texas Tech is 12–1 and gained the Massive 12 Convention title, with the Crimson Raiders’ solely blemish a four-point street loss to Arizona State.
6. Mario Cristobal, Miami
Underneath Cristobal’s management, the Hurricanes went a mixed 12-13 in his first two campaigns. Nevertheless, Miami was on the cusp of the CFP final yr earlier than a late-season slide. Controversy surrounded the Hurricanes’ choice to this yr’s CFP, however Miami is 11–2 and conquered No. 7 Texas A&M on the street within the first spherical.
5. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Some felt the Crimson Tide did not deserve a bid to this yr’s CFP, however Alabama has made probably the most of its entry, profitable at No. 8 Oklahoma within the first spherical. DeBoer went 9–4 in his first marketing campaign, however the Crimson Tide’s 11–3 mark in 2025 doubtless has staved off any hot-seat discuss. He additionally took Washington to the nationwide championship sport within the 2023 CFP.
4. Dan Lanning, Oregon
In his 4 seasons with the Geese, Lanning has by no means gained fewer than 10 video games. Final yr, Oregon was the CFP’s No. 1 seed however received blasted by eventual nationwide champ Ohio State, the No. 8 seed, within the quarterfinals. Lanning, again on this season’s CFP quarterfinals, has an total file of 47–7 in Eugene.
3. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
These final three are robust. Cignetti has accomplished a outstanding job at Indiana in his two seasons. The Hoosiers went 11-2 in 2024 and reached the CFP. This yr, Indiana is 13–0, claimed the Massive Ten Convention crown and earned the CFP’s No. 1 seed.
2. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Day is a outstanding 82–11 total in Columbus. He gained a nationwide title final season, as Ohio State went 14–2. The Buckeyes’ solely loss in 2025 was by three factors to Indiana within the Massive Ten title sport. Ohio State is a major contender to repeat as nationwide champs.
1. Kirby Sensible, Georgia
Sensible is 117–20 with the Bulldogs and captured nationwide championships in 2021 and 2022. Final yr, Georgia, because the CFP’s No. 2 seed, fell to No. 7 seed Notre Dame within the quarterfinals, with beginning quarterback Carson Beck out resulting from an damage. This season, Georgia’s solely setback was by three factors to Alabama. The Bulldogs exacted revenge within the SEC title contest, throttling the Crimson Tide, 28-7.
