Urban Meyer’s impact hasn’t just benefited Ohio State; i’s helped elevate the entire conference with some of the impact hires that have followed. Jim Harbaugh, Paul Chryst and James Franklin have added depth to the conference, and Mark Dantonio, Kirk Ferentz and Pat Fitzgerald continue to have steady success. The Big Ten has seven coaches ranked in the Top 30 of our overall rankings. You could not say that a few years ago.
MORE: Ranking FBS coaches 1-130
Here’s a closer look at the Big Ten:
1. Urban Meyer, Ohio State
Overall: 2Record: 165-29 (61-6) Lowdown: Meyer remains the standard for Big Ten coaches to follow. The six losses get far more attention than the 61 victories Meyer has piled up in Columbus. That’s a sign of respect. Meyer’s relentless recruiting — which somehow produces a better class with each cycle — will always have the Buckeyes in the hunt for a national championship. Meyer brought in Kevin Wilson to revive the offense, and if that has the same impact Greg Schiano had on the defense then Ohio State will be in the playoff for the third time in four seasons.
2. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Overall: 5 Record: 49-27 (20-6) Lowdown: Harbaugh is the highest-ranked coach without a national championship after back-to-back 10-win seasons with the Wolverines. That turnaround at Michigan has been remarkable, and more success will follow with those top-five recruiting classes. No coach is more entertaining right now, but Harbaugh has substance with that style.
3. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
Overall: 10 Record: 108-59 (90-42) Lowdown: Dantonio is a tough coach to rank. He’s the lowest-ranked coach on the list with a College Football Playoff berth on his resume, and that’s largely because of a 3-9 campaign in 2016. It’s a big season in terms of which direction the Spartans are headed under Dantonio, and that might be just what this program needs. That playoff berth is the biggest reason why we have Dantonio ranked ahead of the next coach.
MORE: Preseason Top 25
4. James Franklin, Penn State
Overall: 15 Record: 49-30 (25-15) Lowdown: This is a huge leap for Franklin, who guided the Nittany Lions to an improbable Big Ten championship run last season and is showing the recruiting chops to keep the program in the mix in the Big Ten for years to come. That’s not bad considering he was on the hot seat midway through last season. Franklin could work into the Top 10 by 2018.
5. Paul Chryst, Wisconsin
Overall: 22 Record: 40-25 (21-6) Lowdown: Chryst is a perfect fit at Wisconsin, where that business-as-usual approach against a brutal schedule led to a Big Ten West championship and a victory in the Cotton Bowl Classic. That no-nonsense approach should have the Badgers back in the Big Ten hunt again in 2017.
MORE: 2017-18 bowl projections
6. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Overall: 25 Record: 135-92Lowdown: Ferentz is now the longest-tenured coach in the FBS, and that steady approach should keep the Hawkeyes in contention in the Big Ten West again. Iowa is almost always good for eight wins, but can they get back to Indianapolis with this same approach?
7. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Overall: 28 Record: 77-62Lowdown: It’s hard to believe Fitzgerald is just 42 years old and already has 11 seasons under his belt with the Wildcats. That includes two 10-win seasons and two bowl victories in the last five years. Northwestern also is a chic sleeper pick in the Big Ten West heading into 2017.
8. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
Overall: 39Record: 30-22 (0-0) Lowdown: Fleck is one of the most intriguing hires of the offseason. The “Row the Boat” mantra helped rebuild Western Michigan and led to a Cotton Bowl appearance. This is Fleck’s first chance in a big-time conference, and his style will shake things up.
9. Mike Riley, Nebraska
Overall: 43Record: 108-91 (15-11)Lowdown: Riley helped Nebraska reach the nine-win threshold again, but the Huskers struggled defensively in the losses and the led to bringing in Bob Diaco as defensive coordinator.
10. D.J. Durkin, Maryland
Overall: 54Record: 6-7 Lowdown: Forget about the results on the field for now. Durkin is recruiting well in an area of the country where that matters, and that’s the Terps’ best hope to compete in a loaded Big Ten East division. Maryland is trending upward because of Durkin.
11. Lovie Smith, Illinois
Overall: 56Record: 3-9 Lowdown: Smith inherited a mess at Illinois, so we’re not concerned about the record yet. Illinois, however, must improve on the recruiting trail. Smith did have a successful NFL coaching career, but that will only matter for so long.
12. Jeff Brohm, Purdue
Overall: 66Record: 30-10 (0-0) Lowdown: We like this hire. Brohm is a quarterback-friendly coach, and Purdue is at its best when it has a quarterback-friendly system. It might take a year or two to build back up, but the Boilers should be competitive again soon.
13. Chris Ash, Rutgers
Overall: 81Record: 2-10 Lowdown: Like Durkin, Ash is recruiting well given the situation, and the Scarlet Knights took their biggest lumps last season. The only question is how much ground Ash can cover over the next few years.
14. Tom Allen, Indiana
Overall: 89 Record: 0-1 Lowdown: Allen inherits a decent situation at Indiana, and the players responded well to him as a defensive coordinator last season. This ranking seems temporary.
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