Saban & Dabo clearly on top. Riley & Day inherited great programs but have shown some signs of greatness early, they have to be next. From there I'm not sure I could make the argument for anyone else before BK. I wish with all of my Irish heart that we could get back on top but can anyone argue against the fact that we are in the best stretch of Irish football since the late 80's? Sure, we still lack a signature playoff win against a top program (although Clemson's scalp last year was quite tasty). Have the BK haters forgotten the lost years in the wilderness? And in the current era of college football name me one school not named Clemson, Alabama or Ohio State that has fared better than the Irish the last 4 years. I think BK has some clear weaknesses but I no longer dread watching the Irish play average teams just hoping they wouldn't lose. I sat in the snow and watched the Irish lose to an awful Syracuse team. I was at the game when Navy broke the streak and quite frankly was a better team than the Irish the next few years when they proved that win was not a fluke. Tulsa (that's on BK). I repeat: Tulsa. Have the BK haters (and I am not a BK lover, just not a hater) forgotten how routine it was for average opposing teams to waltz into Rockne's house and dance all over the field after winning? Those images are burned into my mind.
Darn, that rant got a little long but my wounds are deep and I am in a much better place now as an Irish fan than at any time post-Lou (I never fell for the Charlie era teams at their "height," always knew it was a mirage and that his mouth helped start a golden age for ND haters). If your sole measure of success/happiness is a natty then you are in for a rough ride because this era of college football unfortunately will continue to be dominated in the near future by the Triumvirate Dynasties of Bama, Clemson & OSU.
Oh, I put BK 5th.