Syracuse Football: Dino Babers rises in Sporting News 2019 coach rankings

Dino Babers led the Syracuse football squad to a 10-3 record in 2018. Sporting News ranked Babers, but arguably way too low for his merits.

Dino Babers heading into 2019 has if nothing else, built up the expectations of his football team. Syracuse football who comes in with many All-ACC caliber performers on both sides of the ball.

The 10-3 2018 campaign has fans looking for a New Year’s Six Bowl berth and some dreaming at a chance in the College Football Playoff.

The Sporting News once again has published their rankings of college football coaches for the upcoming season. Babers came in ranked at No. 34, a 47 spot jump from 2018 where he checked in at No. 81.

This jump by Babers is the largest jump from anyone who was ranked in both polls. Amongst the ACC Babers ranked 4th behind Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, North Carolina’s Mack Brown, and David Cutcliffe of Duke.

Babers ranking is on par with many other big-name coaches and program alike. Babers found himself in the company of big names just as Mark Stoops, Jeff Brohm, and the returning Les Miles. Babers has found success with his unique offensive style with a defense that proved in 2018 that it can turnover its opponents at some of the highest rates in the country.

This success has been found without top 10 recruiting classes coming to the Loud House year in and year out like some of the coaches above him. You can argue that recruiting is some of the biggest responsibilities a head coach should be judged by. However, Dino should get passing grades for his recruiting. Dino’s three season has seen high production from players almost immediately or as sophomores. Andre Cisco and Andre Szmyt both earning Freshman All-American honors, with Szmyt being a consensus All-American. Taj Harris, Airon Servais, and Nykeim Johnson were other offensive positional players who as underclassmen paid major dividends early in their Syracuse careers.

Babers has also excelled in the transfer department. His son-in-law Koda Martin was third-team All-ACC in 2018 in his one and only season in Orange.

While Abdul Adams from Oklahoma and Trishton Jackson from Michigan State led the Cuse against West Virginia in the only game they were eligible this season during the Camping World Bowl.

Babers isn’t the only coach from a nontraditional college football powerhouse who made a large jump in the polls. Iowa State’s Matt Campbell moved up 11 spots to crack the top 25 coming in at 23 and Pat Fitzgerald of North Western up to 18 from 23.

Inexperience has also been rewarded ahead of Babers with Ryan Day slotted number 22 with only three games as head coach, who receives the benefit of the doubt for inheriting a program such as Ohio State.

Babers isn’t the only Syracuse flavor on the list as a pair of former offensive coordinators have also moved in the rankings:

• Tim Lester is down five spots after a disappointing end of the 2018 campaign.
• Sean Lewis, however, is on the rise up seven spots to 122.

Is Babers ranked too low? An argument can be made based on his success and the growth of the Syracuse program. Make sure you share your opinion in our Twitter poll above!