Ranking The Big Ten Football Coaches: Heading into the 2026 Season

The Big Ten may now be the deepest coaching conference in college football. With established national championship winners, rising stars, and several high-profile coaching changes, ranking all 18 coaches is no easy task. This ranking is based on one question:

If I were starting a program today, which coach would I hire first?

Career accomplishments, program building, recruiting, player development, and current trajectory all factor into these rankings.

18. Mike Locksley — Maryland

Locksley deserves credit for improving recruiting at Maryland and bringing talent into College Park. However, the Terrapins have struggled to turn recruiting wins into consistent success on the field. Maryland remains stuck in the middle of the Big Ten with only occasional flashes of competitiveness against elite opponents. Locksley has elevated the talent level, but the results have not matched expectations. Entering 2026, he faces significant pressure to prove Maryland can become more than a bowl-caliber program. Among Big Ten coaches, he has the most to prove heading into this season.

17. David Braun — Northwestern

Braun took over under difficult circumstances and stabilized Northwestern during one of the most turbulent periods in school history. The Wildcats have remained competitive despite recruiting challenges and limited resources. Braun has shown leadership and toughness, but Northwestern still faces an uphill climb in the expanded Big Ten. His future appears bright, but he lacks the track record of many coaches above him. Continued progress could move him up quickly over the next two seasons.

16. Luke Fickell — Wisconsin

Fickell arrived at Wisconsin with enormous expectations after leading Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff. The results have been mixed thus far, but his overall body of work remains impressive. Few coaches have proven they can build a program the way Fickell did at Cincinnati. Wisconsin remains a sleeping giant, and many believe Fickell can still unlock that potential. The pressure is mounting, however, after a disappointing start in Madison.

15. Greg Schiano — Rutgers

No coach means more to his program than Schiano means to Rutgers. He built the Scarlet Knights into a winner during his first tenure and has restored respectability since returning. However, Rutgers continues to struggle in conference play and has yet to emerge as a true Big Ten contender. Schiano’s leadership is unquestioned, but the ceiling appears limited. Still, his ability to maximize Rutgers’ resources deserves respect.

14. Barry Odom — Purdue

Odom has quietly built a reputation as one of college football’s better program builders. His success at UNLV helped earn him the Purdue job. The Boilermakers need stability after years of inconsistency, and Odom provides exactly that. He understands roster construction and player development. The challenge is competing in a conference loaded with elite coaches and deeper rosters. Purdue fans should feel optimistic, but Odom still has to prove himself in the Big Ten.

13. Bob Chesney — UCLA

Chesney built a strong reputation at the FCS level before arriving in Los Angeles. UCLA believes he can bring consistency and toughness to a program that has struggled to find a long-term identity. While his success at lower levels is impressive, he still must prove he can recruit and win consistently in the Big Ten. The transition from FCS power to major-conference football is significant. Until he demonstrates success against top competition, he starts near the bottom of these rankings. I do believe he will quickly climb these rankings.

12. PJ Fleck — Minnesota

Row the Boat has become one of college football’s most recognizable slogans. Fleck consistently fields disciplined, physical football teams that compete above their talent level. Minnesota rarely beats itself and regularly earns bowl bids. While the Golden Gophers have not broken through to championship contention, Fleck has established one of the conference’s most stable programs. His culture-building ability remains among the best in the country.

11. Matt Rhule — Nebraska

Rhule’s reputation as a program rebuilder is unmatched. He transformed Temple and Baylor into winners before taking on the Nebraska challenge. The Cornhuskers have improved steadily under his leadership and appear closer than ever to returning to national relevance. Rhule develops players, recruits effectively, and creates winning cultures. If Nebraska breaks through in 2026, he will climb even higher.

10. Jedd Fisch — Washington

Fisch engineered one of the best rebuilds in college football at Arizona and now faces a new challenge at Washington. He is an outstanding offensive coach and recruiter who understands how to build modern programs. Washington remains one of the Big Ten’s most intriguing teams because of Fisch’s leadership. If the Huskies take another step forward, he could quickly move into the top tier of conference coaches.

9. Pat Fitzgerald — Michigan State

Fitzgerald returns to the Big Ten after building Northwestern into one of the conference’s most respected programs. His ability to maximize limited resources is legendary. Michigan State hired him to restore toughness and accountability after several difficult seasons. While he has yet to coach a game for the Spartans, his proven track record makes him an immediate factor in the conference hierarchy.

8. Kirk Ferentz — Iowa

The dean of Big Ten coaches continues to prove doubters wrong. Ferentz has built one of the most consistent programs in America over the last two decades. Iowa routinely wins games despite recruiting disadvantages and limited resources. While the Hawkeyes may not generate national headlines, they remain one of the toughest teams in the conference every year. Ferentz’s longevity and consistency are remarkable.

7. Lincoln Riley — USC

Few offensive minds are more respected than Riley. He has produced Heisman Trophy winners, playoff appearances, and explosive offenses everywhere he has coached. While USC has experienced some inconsistency, Riley remains one of the game’s elite offensive architects. The Trojans possess the resources to compete for national championships, and Riley remains one of the most dangerous coaches in college football. This year he needs to live up to the hype.

6. Bret Bielema — Illinois

Bielema has quietly done an outstanding job at Illinois. The Illini have become one of the Big Ten’s most physical and disciplined teams. His extensive Big Ten experience allows him to understand exactly what it takes to win in the conference. Illinois is no longer an easy victory for anyone. Bielema deserves credit for transforming the program into a legitimate contender capable of upsetting conference powers.

5. Kyle Whittingham — Michigan

Whittingham’s move to Michigan immediately elevated the Wolverines’ coaching profile. Few coaches have accomplished more with less during the modern era. His Utah teams consistently exceeded expectations, won conference championships, and competed nationally. Whittingham brings toughness, discipline, and championship-level leadership to Ann Arbor. Even before coaching a game at Michigan, his résumé places him among the conference’s elite.

4. Matt Campbell — Penn State

Campbell’s success at Iowa State made him one of the hottest names in coaching. Now leading Penn State, he inherits one of the nation’s premier programs. Campbell’s teams are disciplined, fundamentally sound, and tough. His ability to develop players and create culture makes him a perfect fit in Happy Valley. Many expect Penn State to remain a national championship contender under his leadership.

3. Dan Lanning — Oregon

Lanning has rapidly transformed Oregon into one of the nation’s premier programs. Elite recruiting, aggressive coaching, and championship-level expectations define his tenure. The Ducks have thrived since joining the Big Ten and remain legitimate national title contenders. Lanning’s combination of youth, energy, and recruiting prowess makes him one of the most valuable coaches in the country.

2. Ryan Day — Ohio State

The numbers speak for themselves. Day has won at an extraordinary level, captured a national championship, and kept Ohio State among the sport’s elite. His winning percentage rivals any coach in the country, and the Buckeyes enter every season expecting championships. The only reason he is not No. 1 is because another coach has accomplished one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history.

1. Curt Cignetti — Indiana

No coach in America has done more to elevate his program than Curt Cignetti. Indiana went from Big Ten afterthought to national power under his leadership. His confidence, player development, recruiting, and culture-building have completely transformed the Hoosiers. Multiple national rankings now place him atop the Big Ten coaching hierarchy, and it is difficult to argue otherwise. Until someone proves they can accomplish more with less, Cignetti deserves the top spot.

Final Thoughts

The Big Ten has never been deeper from a coaching standpoint. Curt Cignetti, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, and Kyle Whittingham give the conference four coaches capable of winning a national championship, while veterans like Kirk Ferentz and Bret Bielema continue to prove experience matters.

If I were hiring today, Curt Cignetti would be my first call.