Ranking the top 20 college football coaches for 2021

8. Matt Campbell, Iowa State

Much in the same vein as Fitzgerald, Matt Campbell is at the head of a program that just isn’t accustomed to winning, especially with any kind of consistency. Iowa State has an all-time program record of just 548-658-46. Campbell’s predecessor, Paul Rhoads, had just one winning season in seven years at the helm.

Enter Campbell in the 2016 season. Admittedly, he got off to an inauspicious start after four seasons at Toledo and coming off winning MAC Coach of the Year. He went only 3-9 in that first year but hasn’t won fewer than seven games in the four seasons since, including going 9-3 and winning the Big 12 regular season title last year as well. The Cyclones also finished as the No. 9-ranked team in the final AP Poll, the highest that the team has ever finished in the final rankings in program history.

There’s a reason that Campbell’s name consistently comes up as one of the top targets when the coaching carousel gets to swirling. Not only has he proven his ability to recruit above expectations in a tough market but his ability to cultivate talent is second to almost none in college football. Campbell has raised a program to a tier they’ve never been at before.

How much higher can he take Iowa State? That remains to be seen and, probably sooner rather than later, we won’t have the chance to find out once he inevitably leaves for a bigger job.