Farrell Ranks the Big Ten Coaches
By Mike Farrell
Ranking the coaches in the Big Ten isn’t easy and will lead to a ton of complaints. But why not?
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1. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
— With back-to-back wins over Ohio State and two playoff appearances in a row he’s clearly at the top of the heap. Funny what a couple of seasons can do for your reputation.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates scoring a two point conversion against Purdue during the second half of the Big Ten Championship game against Purdue at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
2. Ryan Day, Ohio State
— Day has lost to Michigan twice in a row but he’s also 45-6 and has been to the playoff consistently.
Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day yells during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium.
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
3. James Franklin, Penn State
— Franklin won a Big Ten title in 2016 and has an overall great record despite his struggles against Ohio State and Michigan.
Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin celebrates with the trophy after defeating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl.
© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
4. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
— This is where it gets interesting but I have Fickell here as a playoff coach and he should do very well at Wisconsin.
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell chats with an official during The Launch, the Badger football team's intrasquad scrimmage at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. on Saturday April 22, 2023.
© Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
5. Matt Rhule, Nebraska
— I give Rhule the nod here because of the incredible job he did at Baylor. It’s one of the best program-saving jobs I’ve seen and he’s a great fit for Nebraska.
Dec 10, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head football coach Matt Rhule talks to the crowd during halftime of the game against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
© Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
6. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
— You have to respect Ferentz and his level of consistency even if he doesn’t break through. He’s at worst 8-4 every season.
Oct 8, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz reacts after a penalty was called on an assistant coach during a game against the Illinois fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium.
© Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
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7. PJ Fleck, Minnesota
— Fleck has been extremely impressive since his arrival in the Big Ten and if he could only figure out how to beat Ferentz he’d be pushing the top four.
Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck argues with an official during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium.
© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
8. Bret Bielema, Illinois
— His days at Wisconsin are key to this ranking and what he did at Illinois last season was remarkable.
Nov 5, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium.
© Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
9. Mike Locksley, Maryland
- Locks has been very solid at Maryland and gets the nod over Tucker who had that one great year but a massive step back.
Oct 8, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley stands with his team before taking the field against the Purdue Boilermakers at SECU Stadium.
© Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
10. Mel Tucker, Michigan State
— A losing record at Colorado and the awful season last year offset 2021 which looks like an anomaly.
Oct 1, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker looks down the field during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.
© Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
11. Greg Schiano, Rutgers
Schiano has his moments at Rutgers his first time around but it’s been rough in round two.
Nov 26, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano walks off the field at the end of a 37-0 loss to the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium.
© Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
12. Tom Allen, Indiana
— Allen had a remarkable 2019 and 2020, but since then, it’s been the same old Indiana.
Nov 7, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen shakes the hand of Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh after the game at Memorial Stadium. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Michigan Wolverines 38 to 21
© Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
13. Ryan Walters, Purdue
— We haven’t seen what Walters can do yet and he’s very young so this will be interesting.
Purdue Director of Athletics Mike Bobinski and Purdue football head coach Ryan Walters pose for a photo during a press conference introducing Walters as the new head coach, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at the Kozuch Football Performance Complex in West Lafayette, Ind.
© Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
14. David Braun, Northwestern
— The poor guy has inherited a nightmare.
Jul 26, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Northwestern Wildcats interim head coach David Braun speaks to the media during the Big 10 football media day at Lucas Oil Stadium.
© Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
