Ranking the Big Ten coaches from 1 to 18:
1. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Complain all you want about the losses to Michigan, but with Jim Harbaugh gone he’s clearly No. 1. He’s 56-8 after all.
2. James Franklin, Penn State
He’s a great coach, he should have made the playoff in 2016 and he has his team consistently in the top 15. 88-39 at Penn State is impressive and don’t forget his Vandy days.
3. Dan Lanning, Oregon
Too high? Too early? Maybe. Putting him ahead of guys who made the playoff or are legends at their schools is hard but I think he’s elite. He’s off to a 22-5 start.
4. Lincoln Riley, USC
Three playoff appearances may be because of the team he inherited from Bob Stoops but it’s still pretty impressive. 74-18 as a head coach is quite good.
5. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
A legend at Iowa he’s stubborn and stuck in his ways but the man wins every season. 196-119 at Iowa is pretty solid.
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6. Matt Rhule, Nebraska
Rhule is only 52-50 as a head coach but the job he did saving Baylor is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
7. PJ Fleck, Minnesota
People don’t like Fleck but I do and at 80-56 overall he’s been proven a winner. 50-34 at Minnesota is as good as they can expect.
8. Jonathan Smith, Michigan State
This is where it gets extra hard. Smith did an amazing job at Oregon State which is a tough place to win but he’s only 34-35 overall.
9. Mike Locksley, Maryland
Locks is 31-59 as a head coach but the 2-26 record at New Mexico was not the man we see now who has led the Terps to three straight bowls.
10. Jedd Fisch, Washington
The job he did at Arizona was impressive as he went from 1-11 to 5-7 to 10-3 but he hasn’t been around enough to be ranked higher.
11. David Braun, Northwestern
One season at 8-5 and ahead of long tenured coaches? The job he did cleaning up that mess was absolutely remarkable.
12. Greg Schiano, Rutgers
Schiano is made for the Rutgers job and 87-95 at that program is astonishing.
13. Bret Bielema, Illinois
His Wisconsin days help, his Arkansas days hurt and now he’s in the middle at Illinois. 115-77 is a very solid record.
14. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Too low? After all he led Cincinnati to the playoff and is 71-31 overall but his two years at the Power Five level have been very average.
15. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
James Madison days are impressive and he’s 119-35 overall but I’m reserving a higher spot until he wins at the highest level.
16. Ryan Walters, Purdue
It’s been a disaster so far, can he turn it around?
17. Sherrone Moore, Michigan
Good as a fill-in but massive shoes to fill.
18. DeShaun Foster, UCLA
Brand new and possibly over his head?
