Who are the best coaches in college football? We’re revealing our Top 15 this week, starting with No. 15-11.

We now forge into the Top 10, including a certain SEC newcomer as a head coach.

NO. 10: GUS MALZAHN, AUBURN

Record as a head coach: 20-7

Best season: 12-2 at Auburn in 2013, as the Tigers won the SEC championship and lost to Florida State on a final-drive touchdown in the BCS title game.

Notable player: RB Tre Mason

The case: Known for his textbook (literally) no-huddle, hurry-up offense, Malzahn launched his coaching career at the high school level, then spent six seasons as a college coordinator, mostly in the SEC.

His offenses produced wild success, culminating in a national championship and a Heisman Trophy for Cam Newton in 2010. One-and-done at Arkansas State in 2012, his first college head coaching job, Malzahn then returned to Auburn and led the Tigers back to the national championship game in his first season back on The Plains.

Despite an impressive resume, his defenses at Auburn have limited the team. If newly-hired coordinator Will Muschamp can turn that unit around, Malzahn could contend for more national titles and possibly move up this list. His simple, effective offense will continue to put up points.

NO. 9: DAVID CUTCLIFFE, DUKE

Record as a head coach: 84-77

Best season: 10-3 at Ole Miss in 2003, as the Rebels tied for first in the SEC West at 7-1, won the Egg Bowl, 31-0, on the road and beat a Les Miles-coached Oklahoma State team in the Cotton Bowl to finish the season ranked No. 13 in the AP poll.

Notable player: QB Eli Manning

The case: Ole Miss football has produced two 10-win seasons since John Vaught led the team to 10-0 in 1962. Cutcliffe is responsible for one of those — his fifth consecutive winning season since taking over in Oxford during the 1998 Independence Bowl.

Despite a 4-1 record in bowl games and arguably the second- or third-best season in Rebels football history, the team lost a couple close games the next season and the school dismissed Cutliffe when he refused to fire any staff members.

After four seasons as an assistant, he went to Duke, where he’s turned the Blue Devils into annual contenders in the ACC’s Coastal Division. He’s now led Duke to three consecutive bowl games, including a 19-8 overall record the last two years and an appearance in the ACC championship game.

During the offseason, none other than Peyton Manning seeks him out for coaching. Cutcliffe was Manning’s position coach at UT and helped the Vols win a national title as offensive coordinator.

NO. 8: MARK DANTONIO, MICHIGAN STATE

Record as a head coach: 93-48

Best season: 13-1 at Michigan State in 2013, as the Spartans beat Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship and then beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl to end the season ranked No. 3.

Notable player: RB Le’Veon Bell

The case: Dantonio is 6-2 against in-state rival Michigan, beating the Wolverines by a combined score of 64-17 the last two seasons. Dantonio claims four of the six 10-win seasons in Michigan State football history — all since 2010. He’s led the Spartans to eight bowl games in eight seasons and the team is 32-8 in Big Ten play since ’10.

Dantonio consistently produces some of the country’s best defenses, as only Nick Saban can rival his year-in, year-out defensive stats among power-conference coaches the last five years. He also helped Ohio State win a national championship as defensive coordinator in 2002.

Don’t overlook Dantonio in an increasingly crowded group of touted Big Ten coaches.

NO. 7: MARK HELFRICH, OREGON

Record as a head coach: 24-3

Best season: 13-1 at Oregon in 2014, as the Ducks have made the inaugural College Football Playoff championship (to be played Monday).

Notable player: QB Marcus Mariota

The case: On the heels of Chip Kelly, Helfrich has only been a head coach for two seasons, and must prove he can keep Oregon among the national contenders after Mariota and some of Kelly’s other recruits leave.

But the Ducks never could get it done against physical, powerful teams under Kelly, advancing to just one national championship, where the team lost to Auburn. This year’s Oregon is mentally tough, coming from behind in the second half against a strong Michigan State team and demolishing annual thorn Stanford. For all of Kelly’s brilliance, it could be Helfrich that finally brings a national title to Eugene.

Helfrich also has to get at least some credit as Oregon’s offensive coordinator from 2009-12 as the Ducks made four consecutive BCS bowls while averaging 44.7 points per game.

NO. 6: LES MILES, LSU

Record as a head coach: 103-29

Best season: 13-1 at LSU in 2011, as the Tigers beat Alabama and won the SEC championship, then lost to the Tide in the national title game. (LSU won the national title as a two-loss team under Miles in 2007.)

Notable player: CB/KR Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu

The case: The Mad Hatter has seven 10-win seasons in 10 years at LSU. He’s coached five teams that finished the season ranked in the Top 10 and he’s won two SEC titles in addition to the ’07 championship.

LSU produces NFL talent year after year, including multiple underclassmen, which has hurt the team’s on-field performance in recent seasons. But Les Miles is one of the best recruiters in all of college football. Plus, he’s zany, a great representation of the Cajun culture and a tremendous front man in terms of perception and media attention.

Miles is 5-6 against Nick Saban while coaching LSU and only fell below .500 this season. He also spend four mostly-successful seasons coaching at Oklahoma State.