SEC coach rankings 2020: Nick Saban holds firm at the top, Ed Orgeron makes sizable leap

The SEC returned to the top of the college football world in 2019, and there was a different face leading the charge. Ed Orgeron led LSU to its first national championship since 2007 and first win over Nick Saban and Alabama since 2011 during one of the most magical seasons in college football history. That season erased any stigma left over stemming from the disastrous 10-25 record Orgeron compiled at Ole Miss from 2005-07, but was it enough to vault Orgeron over some of the nation’s heavy-hitters?

On the other side of the SEC equation, there are four new coaches to rank, two of whom bring significant experience to the conference. Lane Kiffin has taken over at Ole Miss and Mike Leach is in control of intra-state rival Mississippi State. Eliah Drinkwitz took over for Barry Odom at Missouri after just one successful season at Appalachian State, while Sam Pittman is leading the program at Arkansas after a successful stint as an SEC offensive line coach.

Let’s break down how CBS Sports ranked the SEC coaches from top to bottom as we enter the 2020 season.