By Conference expansion seems to be everywhere now, and we are only a few short months away from finally seeing the new conferences in action. One could easily argue that the Big Ten will look the most different, with four elite programs joining the fray in 2024.
All four of those schools (Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington) have a high level coach entering a conference already filled with several big names. Jim Harbaugh is back in the NFL, while newcomers Dan Lanning and Lincoln Riley are big-time coaches who definitely pose a threat to the hierarchy of the Big Ten coaching ranks.
Where does this leave Penn State’s James Franklin or Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell? These are two names that are talked about in high regard but haven’t delivered the dream season both fan bases desire.
Related: James Franklin drops a spot in CBS Sports’ latest ranking
CBS Sports ranked all 68 Power Four head coaches ahead of the season, so we take a look at where each Big Ten coach falls.
DeShaun Foster, UCLA Bruins
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 68
2023 Ranking: Not ranked
Year: 1st year after taking over for Chip Kelly
For more UCLA news, analysis, and opinions, visit Bruins Wire.
Ryan Walters, Purdue Boilermakers
Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 65
2023 Ranking: 64
Year: 2nd season (4-8)
David Braun, Northwestern Wildcats
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 53
2023 Ranking: Not ranked
Year: 2nd season (8-5)
Sherrone Moore, Michigan Wolverines
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 52
2023 Ranking: Not ranked
Year: 1st year after taking over for Jim Harbaugh (4-0 as Michigan’s interim coach in 2023; NCAA records officially credit Moore with a 1-0 record)
For more Michigan news, analysis, and opinions, visit Wolverines Wire.
Curt Cignetti, Indiana Hoosiers
The Herald-Times
Overall Ranking: 43
2023 Ranking: Not ranked
Year: 1st year at Indiana (119-35 overall)
Mike Locksley, Maryland Terrapins
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 41
2023 Ranking: 49
Year: 6th full season at Maryland (29-33; 31-59 overall)
Greg Schiano, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 40
2023 Ranking: 50
Year: 16th season (not consecutive; 87-95 overall)
For more Rutgers news, analysis, and opinions, visit Rutgers Wire.
PJ Fleck, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 39
2023 Ranking: 24
Year: 8th season at Minnesota (50-34; 80-56 overall)
Bret Bielema, Illinois Fighting Illini
Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 36
2023 ranking: 21
Year: 4th season at Illinois (18-19; 115-77 overall)
Jedd Fisch, Washington Huskies
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 31
2023 ranking: 61
Year: 1st season at Washington (17-22 overall)
For more Washington news, analysis, and opinions, visit Huskies Wire.
Matt Rhule, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 29
2023 ranking: 27
Year: 2nd season at Nebraska (5-7; 52-50 overall)
For more Nebraska news, analysis, and opinions, visit Cornhuskers Wire.
Jonathan Smith, Michigan State Spartans
Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Overall Ranking: 27
2023 ranking: 32
Year: 1st season at Michigan State (34-35 overall)
For more Michigan news, analysis, and opinions, visit Spartans Wire.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Hawkeyes
York Daily Record
Overall Ranking: 18
2023 ranking: 30
Year: 26th season at Iowa (196-119 at Iowa; 208-140 overall)
For more Iowa news, analysis, and opinions, visit Hawkeyes Wire.
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin Badgers
Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 17
2023 ranking: 9
Year: 3rd season at Wisconsin (8-6 overall; 71-31 overall)
For more Wisconsin news, analysis, and opinions, visit Badgers Wire.
James Franklin, Penn State Nittany Lions
Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Overall Ranking: 11
2023 ranking: 10
Year: 11th season at Penn State (88-39 with Penn State; 112-54 overall)
For more Penn State news, analysis, and opinions, visit Nittany Lions Wire.
Lincoln Riley, USC Trojans
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 10
2023 ranking: 4
Year: 3rd season at USC (19-8 with USC; 74-18 overall)
For more USC news, analysis, and opinions, visit Trojans Wire.
Dan Lanning, Oregon Ducks
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
Overall Ranking: 9
2023 ranking: 36
Year: 3rd season (22-5)
For more Oregon news, analysis, and opinions, visit Ducks Wire.
Ryan Day, Ohio State Buckeyes
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Ranking: 2
2023 ranking: 48
Year: 6th season (56-8)
For more Ohio State news, analysis, and opinions, visit Buckeyes Wire.
