Big Ten Analysis

Big Ten coach rankings

The BIG10.CO Desk ·Updated October 7, 2026 ·2026 season

The Big Ten

1 Curt Cignetti 93

Indiana Hoosiers · FBS rank 1st of 220
2 Dan Lanning 93

Oregon Ducks · FBS rank 3rd of 220
3 Ryan Day 87

Ohio State Buckeyes · FBS rank 13th of 220
4 Bob Chesney 87

UCLA Bruins · FBS rank 17th of 220
5 Kirk Ferentz 85

Iowa Hawkeyes · FBS rank 29th of 220
6 P.J. Fleck 83

Minnesota Golden Gophers · FBS rank 43rd of 220
7 Lincoln Riley 83

USC Trojans · FBS rank 44th of 220
8 Matt Campbell 80

Penn State Nittany Lions · FBS rank 56th of 220
9 Bret Bielema 78

Illinois Fighting Illini · FBS rank 73rd of 220
10 Kyle Whittingham 77

Michigan Wolverines · FBS rank 84th of 220
11 Matt Rhule 77

Nebraska Cornhuskers · FBS rank 86th of 220
12 Jedd Fisch 76

Washington Huskies · FBS rank 92nd of 220
13 David Braun 71

Northwestern Wildcats · FBS rank 122nd of 220
14 Luke Fickell 70

Wisconsin Badgers · FBS rank 133rd of 220
15 Pat Fitzgerald 69

Michigan State Spartans · FBS rank 143rd of 220
16 Greg Schiano 62

Rutgers Scarlet Knights · FBS rank 183rd of 220
17 Mike Locksley 59

Maryland Terrapins · FBS rank 200th of 220
18 Barry Odom 56

Purdue Boilermakers · FBS rank 212th of 220

Where they rank in FBS

All 220 FBS head coaches by overall rating. The 18 Big Ten coaches are highlighted.

1 Curt Cignetti Indiana Hoosiers Big Ten 93
2 Kirby Smart Georgia Bulldogs 93
3 Dan Lanning Oregon Ducks Big Ten 93
4 Carmen Cozza Yale Bulldogs 91
5 Kalani Sitake BYU Cougars 91
6 Marcus Freeman Notre Dame Fighting Irish 90
7 Steve Sarkisian Texas Longhorns 90
8 Joey McGuire Texas Tech Red Raiders 90
9 Jack Meagher Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks 90
10 Kalen DeBoer Alabama Crimson Tide 89
11 Mario Cristobal Miami Hurricanes 89
12 Jake Dickert Wake Forest Demon Deacons 88
13 Ryan Day Ohio State Buckeyes Big Ten 87
14 Lane Kiffin LSU Tigers 87
15 Morgan Scalley Utah Utes 87
16 Charley Moran Centre Colonels 87
17 Bob Chesney UCLA Bruins Big Ten 87
18 Dick Sheridan Furman Paladins 87
19 Charles Huff Memphis Tigers 87
20 Billy Napier James Madison Dukes 87
21 James Franklin Virginia Tech Hokies 86
22 Collin Klein Kansas State Wildcats 86
23 Jason Eck New Mexico Lobos 86
24 Aldo Donelli Duquesne Dukes 86
25 Hank Foldberg Wichita State Shockers 86
26 Rey Dempsey Southern Illinois Salukis 86
27 Tim Polasek North Dakota State Bison 86
28 Jock Sutherland Lafayette Leopards 85
29 Kirk Ferentz Iowa Hawkeyes Big Ten 85
30 George Brooke Swarthmore Garnet Tide 85
31 Rhett Lashlee SMU Mustangs 85
32 Len Casanova Santa Clara Broncos 85
33 Joe Kuharich San Francisco Dons 85
34 Rex Enright Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers 85
35 Willie Fritz Houston Cougars 85
36 Matt Entz Fresno State Bulldogs 85
37 Josh Heupel Tennessee Volunteers 84
38 Jon Sumrall Florida Gators 84
39 Eric Morris Oklahoma State Cowboys 84
40 Manny Diaz Duke Blue Devils 84
41 Mike Jacobs Toledo Rockets 84
42 Spencer Danielson Boise State Broncos 84
43 P.J. Fleck Minnesota Golden Gophers Big Ten 83
44 Lincoln Riley USC Trojans Big Ten 83
45 Jimmy Crowley Fordham Rams 83
46 Bill Oliver Chattanooga Mocs 83
47 Brian Hartline South Florida Bulls 83
48 Eli Drinkwitz Missouri Tigers 82
49 Kenny Dillingham Arizona State Sun Devils 82
50 Blake Harrell East Carolina Pirates 82
51 Sonny Dykes TCU Horned Frogs 81
52 George Barclay Washington and Lee Generals 81
53 Will Stein Kentucky Wildcats 81
54 JaMarcus Shephard Oregon State Beavers 81
55 Gus Dorais Gonzaga Bulldogs 81
56 Matt Campbell Penn State Nittany Lions Big Ten 80
57 Jordan Olivar Loyola Marymount Lions 80
58 Paul Brown Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets 80
59 Jeff Brohm Louisville Cardinals 80
60 Jack Curtice California-Santa Barbara Gauchos 80
61 Jeff Monken Army Black Knights 79
62 Brian Newberry Navy Midshipmen 79
63 Jimmy Rogers Iowa State Cyclones 79
64 Clark Lea Vanderbilt Commodores 79
65 Mike Elko Texas A&M Aggies 79
66 Brent Venables Oklahoma Sooners 79
67 Pete Golding Ole Miss Rebels 79
68 J.R. Richards Colorado College Tigers 79
69 Carl Snavely Bucknell Bison 79
70 Homer Norton Centenary (LA) Gents 79
71 Lance Taylor Western Michigan Broncos 79
72 Dan Mullen UNLV Rebels 79
73 Bret Bielema Illinois Fighting Illini Big Ten 78
74 Tony Elliott Virginia Cavaliers 78
75 Dabo Swinney Clemson Tigers 78
76 Alex Golesh Auburn Tigers 78
77 John Bender Haskell Indians 78
78 Jim Miller Detroit Mercy Titans 78
79 Chick Meehan Manhattan Jaspers 78
80 Michael Desormeaux Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 78
81 Scott Frost UCF Knights 78
82 Jeff Traylor UTSA Roadrunners 78
83 Charles Kelly Jacksonville State Gamecocks 78
84 Kyle Whittingham Michigan Wolverines Big Ten 77
85 James Baldwin Lehigh Mountain Hawks 77
86 Matt Rhule Nebraska Cornhuskers Big Ten 77
87 Richard Colman Princeton Tigers 77
88 Eddie Cochems Saint Louis Billikens 77
89 Paul Davis Dickinson Red Devils 76
90 Dave Doeren NC State Wolfpack 76
91 Pat Narduzzi Pittsburgh Panthers 76
92 Jedd Fisch Washington Huskies Big Ten 76
93 Mike Sheppard Long Beach State 49ers 76
94 Neil Wheelwright Colgate Raiders 75
95 Ott Romney Montana State Bobcats 75
96 Art Baker The Citadel Bulldogs 75
97 Neal Brown North Texas Mean Green 75
98 Jason Candle UConn Huskies 75
99 Jerry Mack Kennesaw State Owls 75
100 Parke Davis Amherst Mammoths 74
101 Joseph Yukica Dartmouth Big Green 74
102 Dave Aranda Baylor Bears 74
103 Charles Noble Mississippi College Choctaws 74
104 Brent Brennan Arizona Wildcats 74
105 William Elias George Washington Colonials 74
106 John Hauser Ohio Bobcats 74
107 Butch Jones Arkansas State Red Wolves 74
108 Sonny Cumbie Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 74
109 Ricky Rahne Old Dominion Monarchs 74
110 Clay Helton Georgia Southern Eagles 74
111 Rich Rodriguez West Virginia Mountaineers 73
112 James Phelan Saint Mary's (CA) Gaels 73
113 Edward Doherty Xavier Musketeers 73
114 Gerad Parker Troy Trojans 73
115 Willie Simmons Florida International Panthers 73
116 G.J. Kinne Texas State Bobcats 73
117 Joseph Restic Harvard Crimson 72
118 Harrison Weeks Beloit Buccaneers 72
119 Chuck Martin Miami (OH) RedHawks 72
120 Major Applewhite South Alabama Jaguars 72
121 Ryan Carty Delaware Blue Hens 72
122 David Braun Northwestern Wildcats Big Ten 71
123 Jim Mora Colorado State Rams 71
124 Brent Key Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 71
125 Will Hall Tulane Green Wave 71
126 Jack Hagerty Georgetown Hoyas 71
127 Homer Smith Davidson Wildcats 71
128 Tosh Lupoi California Golden Bears 71
129 Red Drew Birmingham-Southern Panthers 71
130 Warren Woodson Hardin Simmons Cowboys 71
131 Pete Lembo Buffalo Bulls 71
132 Matt Drinkall Central Michigan Chippewas 71
133 Luke Fickell Wisconsin Badgers Big Ten 70
134 John Anderson Brown Bears 70
135 Fran Brown Syracuse Orange 70
136 Paul Petrino Idaho Vandals 70
137 J.W. Hancock Northern Colorado Bears 70
138 Troy Calhoun Air Force Falcons 70
139 Dowell Loggains App State Mountaineers 70
140 Zach Kittley Florida Atlantic Owls 70
141 Tyson Helton Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 70
142 Tre Lamb Tulsa Golden Hurricane 69
143 Pat Fitzgerald Michigan State Spartans Big Ten 69
144 Marchy Schwartz Creighton Bluejays 69
145 Tony Gibson Marshall Thundering Herd 69
146 Sean Lewis San Diego State Aztecs 69
147 Jamey Chadwell Liberty Flames 69
148 Bob Blackman Cornell Big Red 68
149 Jeff Lebby Mississippi State Bulldogs 68
150 Shane Beamer South Carolina Gamecocks 68
151 Andrew Kerr Washington & Jefferson Presidents 68
152 K.C. Keeler Temple Owls 68
153 Rudy Lavik Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 68
154 Scott Satterfield Cincinnati Bearcats 68
155 Timmy Chang Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors 68
156 Alex Mortensen UAB Blazers 68
157 Lance Leipold Kansas Jayhawks 67
158 Neil Wheelwright Holy Cross Crusaders 67
159 Ryan Silverfield Arkansas Razorbacks 67
160 Walter Johnson Presbyterian Blue Hose 67
161 Walter Steffen Carnegie Mellon Tartans 67
162 Bill Yung West Texas Buffaloes 67
163 Bill Belichick North Carolina Tar Heels 66
164 Bob Higgins Washington St. Louis Bears 66
165 Chuck Shelton Pacific Tigers 66
166 Mike Norvell Florida State Seminoles 66
167 Ken Niumatalolo San José State Spartans 66
168 Mark Carney Kent State Golden Flashes 66
169 Ryan Beard Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 66
170 Deion Sanders Colorado Buffaloes 65
171 Casey Woods Missouri State Bears 65
172 Bronco Mendenhall Utah State Aggies 64
173 Tavita Pritchard Stanford Cardinal 64
174 John Maulbetsch Phillips Haymakers 64
175 Lou Holtz William & Mary Tribe 64
176 Ted Shipkey Montana Grizzlies 64
177 Chris Creighton Eastern Michigan Eagles 64
178 Joe Moorhead Akron Zips 64
179 Bill O'Brien Boston College Eagles 63
180 Chuck Shelton Drake Bulldogs 63
181 Kirby Moore Washington State Cougars 63
182 Aldo Donelli Boston University Terriers 63
183 Greg Schiano Rutgers Scarlet Knights Big Ten 62
184 Ernest Bearg Washburn Ichabods 62
185 Jay Sawvel Wyoming Cowboys 62
186 Mal Elward Grinnell Pioneers 62
187 Charles Bernier Hampden Sydney Tigers 62
188 Tony Sanchez New Mexico State Aggies 62
189 Tom Harp Indiana State Sycamores 62
190 Derek Mason Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 62
191 Amos Alonzo Stagg Springfield Pride 61
192 Choc Kelly Carlisle Indians 61
193 Frank Murray Marquette Golden Eagles 61
194 Frank Kimbrough North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters 61
195 Mike Uremovich Ball State Cardinals 61
196 Alonzo Carter Sacramento State Hornets 61
197 Scott Abell Rice Owls 60
198 John McKenna VMI Keydets 60
199 Joe Harasymiak Massachusetts Minutemen 59
200 Mike Locksley Maryland Terrapins Big Ten 59
201 Jeff Choate Nevada Wolf Pack 59
202 Eddie George Bowling Green Falcons 59
203 Blake Anderson Southern Miss Golden Eagles 59
204 Dell McGee Georgia State Panthers 59
205 Ralph Glaze Colorado School of Mines Orediggers 58
206 Jim Weaver Villanova Wildcats 58
207 Aldo Donelli Columbia Lions 57
208 John Roning Denver Pioneers 57
209 Edwin Merrick Richmond Spiders 57
210 Gene Murphy Cal State Fullerton Titans 57
211 Phil Longo Sam Houston Bearkats 57
212 Barry Odom Purdue Boilermakers Big Ten 56
213 Scotty Walden UTEP Miners 56
214 John Van Liew Western Colorado Mountaineers 55
215 Hugh Devore New York University Violets 55
216 Rob Harley Northern Illinois Huskies 55
217 Bryant Vincent UL Monroe Warhawks 55
218 Clark Shaughnessy Chicago Maroons 54
219 Jerry Berndt Pennsylvania Quakers 54
220 Tim Albin Charlotte 49ers 53

How these rankings work

Each coach's overall rating is built from weekly, stats-based coaching grades, recalculated through the season, and is the same number shown on every coach profile. It is a read on results and in-game management, not a career-legacy ranking. For the team-by-team picture, see the Big Ten power rankings and the live conference standings.

The 18 Big Ten head coaches ranked by overall rating, and where each of them sits among all 220 FBS head coaches. Refreshed weekly through the 2026 season.

Written by

The BIG10.CO Desk

Conference Newsroom · Independent Big Ten coverage since 2026

The house desk of BIG10.CO - independent researchers tracking every Big Ten game, stat and storyline.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the top-rated head coach in the Big Ten in 2026?

Curt Cignetti of Indiana Hoosiers tops the Big Ten with an overall rating of 93, and ranks 1st among all 220 FBS head coaches.

How are these coach ratings calculated?

Each coach carries a single overall rating built from weekly, stats-based coaching grades (offensive and defensive scheme, game planning, situational management, comeback factor and more), recalculated through the season. The same number appears on every coach profile.