Jon "JR" Rhoades 
Dan Lanning has the opportunity to win Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2024.
As the college football season heats up, the debate over who will win the Big Ten Coach of the Year award has become a hot topic. Zack and JR, two college football analysts, recently revealed their power rankings for the top candidates. Although their lists share some similarities, there are notable differences in how they evaluate the coaches. Below is a breakdown of their rankings:
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Zack’s Top 18 Coaches:
1. Matt Rhule (Nebraska)
– Zack sees Matt Rhule as a top contender, believing that if Rhule can lead Nebraska to a strong season, he will be a lock for the Coach of the Year award.
2. Greg Schiano (Rutgers)
– Schiano’s potential to lead Rutgers to a surprising season makes him a dark horse in Zack’s rankings. If Rutgers hits nine or ten wins, Schiano could be a serious candidate.
3. Dan Lanning (Oregon)
– Lanning’s success at Oregon, especially if they win the Big Ten, could catapult him into the top spot.
4. Curt Cignetti (Indiana)
– Cignetti is seen as a coach who could make waves if he turns Indiana around, potentially making a strong case with a 6-6 record.
5. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
– Ferentz is a perennial contender for the award, and Zack believes a nine-win season could put him in the running again.
6. David Braun (Northwestern)
– Northwestern’s head coach could be in the conversation if he leads the Wildcats to a bowl game, particularly given the challenges the team faces.
7. Sherrone Moore (Michigan)
– Moore is considered a strong candidate if Michigan has another successful season, especially if they make it to the Big Ten Championship game.
8. Ryan Day (Ohio State)
– Day’s ranking is low due to the high expectations at Ohio State, but a dominant season could still put him in contention.
9. James Franklin (Penn State)
– If Penn State finishes with an 11-1 record, Franklin could be a significant contender.
10. Lincoln Riley (USC)
– Zack is cautious with Riley, but a nine or ten-win season, especially against tough competition, could push him into the conversation.
11. P.J. Fleck (Minnesota)
– Fleck’s season could be overshadowed by other teams, making it harder for him to stand out in the Coach of the Year race.
12. Jedd Fisch (Washington)
– Fisch would need an extraordinary season to be considered, but Zack sees a path, albeit a difficult one.
13. Luke Fickell (Wisconsin)
– Fickell has potential, especially if Wisconsin has a standout season, but Zack is not convinced it’s likely.
14. Jonathan Smith (Michigan State)
– Smith is seen as a long shot, especially considering Michigan State’s struggles.
15. Ryan Walters (Purdue)
– Walters could turn heads if Purdue performs well, but it will be tough to surpass other contenders.
16. Deshaun Foster (UCLA)
– Foster is near the bottom of Zack’s list due to low expectations for UCLA this season.
17. Bret Bielema (Illinois)
– Bielema has potential, but like Fleck, may find his achievements overshadowed by others.
18. Mike Locksley (Maryland)
– Locksley rounds out Zack’s list, seen as unlikely to make a serious push for the award.
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JR’s Top 18 Coaches:
1. Dan Lanning (Oregon)
– JR ranks Lanning as his top choice, confident that an Oregon Big Ten Championship would secure the award for him.
2. Sherrone Moore (Michigan)
– Moore is JR’s second pick, believing a 10-2 record with a win over Ohio State could make him a front-runner.
3. Matt Rhule (Nebraska)
– JR agrees that Rhule is a strong contender, especially with a nine-win season, but sees him slightly less likely than Lanning or Moore.
4. Curt Cignetti (Indiana)
– Like Zack, JR sees potential in Cignetti, but places him a bit lower, expecting a .500 season could earn him a tie for the award.
5. Greg Schiano (Rutgers)
– JR also sees Schiano as a dark horse, especially if Rutgers can achieve an impressive season.
6. Lincoln Riley (USC)
– JR has Riley ranked higher than Zack, thinking that a nine-win season could get Riley into the conversation.
7. Luke Fickell (Wisconsin)
– JR is slightly more optimistic about Fickell’s chances, seeing a possible path to Coach of the Year with a standout season.
8. Jonathan Smith (Michigan State)
– Smith is ranked higher on JR’s list, though he still sees the path as challenging.
9. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
– JR is skeptical about Ferentz’s chances, thinking that fatigue with Ferentz could prevent him from winning, even with a 10-win season.
10. Bret Bielema (Illinois)
– JR gives Bielema more credit, seeing a potential strong season for Illinois.
11. Ryan Walters (Purdue)
– Walters is another coach who could stand out with a good season, though JR sees it as a tough battle.
12. Mike Locksley (Maryland)
– Locksley is higher on JR’s list, though still a long shot in his opinion.
13. P.J. Fleck (Minnesota)
– Like Zack, JR believes Fleck’s accomplishments may be overshadowed, keeping him low in the rankings.
14. David Braun (Northwestern)
– Braun is ranked lower by JR, who feels it’s unlikely for him to win back-to-back awards.
15. Ryan Day (Ohio State)
– JR agrees with Zack that Day’s high expectations at Ohio State make it difficult for him to stand out in the Coach of the Year race.
16. Deshaun Foster (UCLA)
– Foster is also near the bottom of JR’s list, with little expectation for a standout season.
17. Jedd Fisch (Washington)
– Fisch is ranked lower by JR, who sees his chances as minimal.
18. James Franklin (Penn State)
– Surprisingly, JR places Franklin at the bottom, citing a challenging path to winning the award even with a strong season.
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Conclusion:
Both Zack and JR have their own perspectives on who will be the Big Ten Coach of the Year, with some overlap but also significant differences in their rankings. Zack places more emphasis on traditional powerhouses and underdogs making surprising runs, while JR seems to favor coaches who might pull off key upsets or navigate challenging schedules. As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see which of these predictions come true and who ultimately takes home the award.
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