Without a doubt, the Big Ten Conference has the best college football coaches in the FBS. From top to bottom, the conference has some of the most respected and talented coaches in the nation. There is a clear cut #1 for the best coach in the Big Ten, but you can make plenty of convincing arguments for #2 to #7. The talent pool is loaded.
Is this the year that a Big Ten school not named Ohio State wins the College Football Playoff? In preparation for the upcoming season, here are the coaching rankings for the Big Ten.
14. Illinois – Lovie Smith
Smith has had no love whatsoever since his return to the college game. Smith took the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl but has only managed to win five games in 2 years. The Fighting Illini were extremely short on talent, and a winning culture when Lovie arrived. So his principal job has been teaching his guys how to win and get more talent. Illinois just landed the third-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2019, Isaiah Williams. If the Illini can make improvements this year, with Williams coming in 2019, things could be on the upswing for Smith.
13. Tom Allen – Indiana
When you think of the Indiana Hoosiers, basketball, basketball, and more basketball comes to mind. Football? Not so much. Coach Tom Allen is in his second full season with the Hoosiers and will look to bolster its struggling defense. Although Indiana was 5-7 last year, the Hoosiers lost in overtime to Michigan and lost to Michigan State by 8. Only time will tell if the football program can get as much notoriety as the basketball program.
12. Chris Ash – Rutgers
Rutgers used to be at the top of the Big East with Greg Schiano coaching guys like Ray Rice, and Brian Leonard. However, Rutgers has been anything but good the past two seasons, with records of 2-10 and 4-8. The good news is Chris Ash seems to be doing the right things at Rutgers to stop the bleeding. Although it was only 4 wins last year, it was an improvement from the previous season. Ash won a national championship as co-defensive coordinator Ohio State so look for him trying to transfer some of that magic to the Scarlett Knights.
11. DJ Durkin – Maryland
Maryland and coach DJ Durkin came into the 2017 season with an optimistic attitude and that translated to an opening week upset win over Texas. However, injuries derailed the season as the Terps faded quickly. Despite the woes, Maryland has high hopes for 2018 thanks to Durkin’s successful recruiting campaign, which has the 28th recruiting class on 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. Expect Maryland to make a Bowl game in 2018.
10. PJ Fleck – Minnesota
Row The Boat. If you need inspiration, no one does it better than PJ Fleck. Between his energetic persona and inspiring attitude, Fleck is a master recruiter. Fleck struggled last season in his first year in the Big-Ten, which ended with 5 wins. However, Fleck is known for his long terms plans. Fleck’s Western Michigan team went from 1 win in 2013 to 13 and a Cotton Bowl appearance in 2016. It is a significant step up in competition going from the Mid-America conference to the Big Ten, but history repeats itself, Minnesota will be towards the top of the Big-10 in a few years.
9. Kirk Ferentz – Iowa
Casino Kirk is the longest-tenured FBS coach with one program, and it seems that every year they play spoiler to a team competing for a playoff birth (looking at you, Ohio State). Ferentz and the Hawkeyes are three years removed from their magical run to the Rose Bowl. With Ferentz at the helm, Iowa will always have a shot to represent the West in the Big Ten title game. Now the question is, can Ferentz turn a consistently competitive Big Ten team into a national championship contender.
8. Jeff Brohm – Purdue
Purdue football might be back! Not that we ever remember them being “here” since Drew Brees. In his first year at Purdue, Jeff Brohm became the second head coach in Purdue history to lead the team to a bowl game in his first year. Because a successful first year (7-6), Brohm was rumored to leave Purdue for the Tennessee job. To so many people’s surprise, Brohm decided to stay put and built Purdue to a top tier team. Tennessee swung and missed on Brohm. He is a brilliant offensive mind that turned Western Kentucky around, so look for the Boilermakers to make noise in year two.
7. Scott Frost – Nebraska
The legendary quarterback for the Cornhuskers is now back as the head coach of Nebraska. Scott Frost was one of the most coveted coaches this past offseason after leading UCF to an undefeated season that was capped off with a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn. In the end, the chance to coach for his alma mater was too great of an opportunity for Frost to pass up. Frost made UCF “national champion” and a win over SEC champion Auburn within two years. It’s true if you make your own banner, right?. Can he do the same for one of the most famous programs in the FBS? Frost’s presence in the Big Ten is making the rest of the conference nervous.
6. Pat Fitzgerald – Northwestern
For my money, Pat Fitzgerald is the most underrated coach in Division I. He is very similar to Stanford’s David Shaw. He is leading Northwestern, a school predominantly known for its academics. The fact that Fitzgerald continues to not only find success in the Big Ten is nothing short of remarkable. In two of the past three seasons, Fitzgerald has led the Wildcats to 10-win seasons. Mark my words, Fitzgerald will lead Northwestern to a Rose Bowl appearance one day.
5. Jim Harbaugh – Michigan
What’s not to love about Jim Harbaugh? He’s passionate, energetic, and he loves the game of football more than life itself. Though Michigan has had 18 wins in the last three years, Harbaugh’s tenure at Michigan has been disappointing, for Wolverines fans. Harbaugh was hired to do three things, win Big Ten titles, beat Ohio State, and win national championships. So far, Harbaugh has done none of the above. One of these three has to happen soon, or the “hot seat” discussions will begin to grow. To his credit, the excitement he brought did lead to the athletic department securing a lucrative Jordan brand apparel contract. But, dollars aren’t greater than championships at Michigan.
4. Paul Chryst – Wisconsin
If you were to say Paul Chryst was the second best coach in the Big Ten, it would be hard for me to argue against it. In his three years at the helm for the Badgers, Chryst has 34 wins, and 3 Bowl wins. Last year, he had the Badgers undefeated and on the doorstep of the College Football Playoff. The only thing keeping me from putting Chryst higher on the list is a lack of a Big Ten title and a win against Ohio State. It’s only a matter of time before Chryst wins a Big Ten title and makes the College Football Playoff.
3. Mark Dantonio – Michigan State
The only coach not named Urban Meyer to make the College Football Playoff from the Big Ten is Mark Dantonio. Dantonio has turned Michigan State into a Big Ten power with 100 wins to his name in 11 years. With 6 seasons of 10+ wins, Dantonio has found the secret touch to success in East Lansing. All that’s left for him to do is win a National Championship.
It’s hard to put into perspective the impact that James Franklin has had on Penn State. He has breathed life into a program left for dead because of arguably the biggest scandal in college football history. Even though Bill O’Brien immediately followed Paterno, he was only a temporary band-aid. In 2014, the Penn State football program was still under probation and needed a strong voice and great coach to lead the program back to prominence. Enter James Franklin. In four years, Penn State went from the doghouse to the penthouse, culminating with back-to-back 11 win seasons. Franklin is a top five coach in the country.
1. Urban Meyer – Ohio State
There is no debate over the best coach in the Big Ten. That title belongs to one man and one man only, Urban Meyer. He has a record of 73-8 (!!!) in six years at Ohio State. In 2014, Meyer did the unthinkable. He won the Big Ten and National Championship with his third-string quarterback. Before that season started starting quarterback, Braxton Miller was injured. Meyer turned to JT Barrett, who led the Buckeyes to the Big Ten title game. Then, JT Barrett went down with an injury in the regular season finale. So, Meyer magically coaches his third-string Cardale Jones up, for the Big-10 title game, Sugar Bowl, and National Championship and wins all three games. Meyer is in a league of his own and the undisputed king of the Big Ten.