Ohio State Football: The Top 5 coaches in the Big Ten
No. 3: Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Having not even coached a down while at Wisconsin, Fickell already cracks the top three on this list. I’m not sure if that says more about the current coaches in the Big Ten or if Fickell is just a darn good coach. But either way, the Badgers are set for a rebound in the Big Ten West following a lackluster 20222 season.
Fickell has brought in Phil Longo to coach the offense and added a legitimate transfer quarterback in Tanner Mordecai, so we should see a high-flying attack. With a 63-25 record while head coach at Cincinnati, his recent years of being relevant in the College Football Playoff equation while at a non-Power Five school makes Fickell worthy of being a top three coach in the Big Ten.
No. 2: Ryan Day, Ohio State
Ryan Day has done just about everything that you want to see out of your head coach. He’s made three out of four CFP chances, including a national title game appearance. He also came within a made field goal of probably winning a national championship last season.
Recruiting continues to roll at a high rate and for all the NIL problems that Ohio State fans thought there were months ago, those seem to have been answered recently. But it’s his 1-2 record against TTUN that keeps him No. 2 on this list. And even more frustrating is that his two losses to Michigan were by a combined score of 87-50, not particularly close in either one.
Next. 3 coaches more annoying than Dabo Swinney. dark
No. 1: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
For all of his quirks and early struggles against the Ohio State football program, Harbaugh has proven to be one of college football’s top coaches over these past two seasons. With a 132-52 overall record as a college coach, Harbaugh is indeed a winner.
His smash-mouth, attacking brand of football has given the Wolverines an identity, after many years of twirling in the wind under Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez. Michigan is even starting to recruit better recently, currently in the top five of this 2024 cycle. Questions will still remain on if Harbaugh can actually compete on the national stage, but for now, he’s the top coach in the Big Ten.