The Big Ten enters the 2026 football season with a fresh set of storylines, as conference analysts have compiled a ranking of the league’s 14 coaches based on their career winning percentages in Big Ten play, excluding those in their inaugural year.
Ranking Methodology
The evaluation focuses solely on conference‑winning percentages accumulated over multiple seasons, stripping away the noise of non‑conference results and giving each coach a clear measure of success within the league.
At the summit sits Curt Cignetti of Indiana, whose 27‑2 conference record translates to an eye‑catching .931 winning percentage, the best among his peers.
Close behind, Ohio State’s Ryan Day holds a .872 mark, having guided the Buckeyes to a dominant stretch since taking the helm.
Oregon’s Dan Lanning follows with a .857 percentage, a testament to his rapid rise after just a few seasons.
Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, a long‑standing figure in the league, sits at .625, reflecting two decades of consistency.
USC’s Lincoln Riley, now in his third year after a high‑profile move from Oklahoma, boasts a .679 record, while Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck rounds out the upper tier with a .600 winning rate.
Mid‑range coaches include Illinois’ Bret Bielema (.587), Washington’s Jedd Fisch (.577), and Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell (.447), each navigating different rebuilding phases.
Rutgers’ Greg Schiano holds a .478 percentage, and the duo of Michigan State’s David Braun and Nebraska’s Matt Rhule each sit at .500, illustrating the fine line between stability and transition.
Purdue’s Barry Odom, in his first year with the Boilermakers, posted a .167 conference record, illustrating the challenge of immediate turnaround.
Maryland’s Mike Locksley, with a .430 mark, and Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell, at .447, round out the lower half of the spectrum.
The data, while a snapshot, offers a glimpse into how each program’s recent trajectory could shape the upcoming season’s competitive balance.