(Disclaimer: Mike Farrell is the national recruiting director for Rivals and a renowned troll, so take this FWIW)...
So far my hottest to coolest seat opinions for the SEC, ACC and Big 12 have drawn the ire of numerous fan bases – no surprise there. So it’s time to head to the Big Ten and likely tick off more people. Here’s my list for a conference with few, if any, coaches looking over their shoulder.
1) Chris Ash, Rutgers – With four years left on his contract after a horrendous 2-10 season and 0-9 finish in the Big Ten, Ash isn’t in jeopardy of losing his job. So clearly, as the guy on the hottest seat here, no one in the Big Ten is truly in trouble. He gets the nod because of the embarrassing losses (58-0 to Ohio State, 78-0 to Michigan) which can’t become a habit.
2) Lovie Smith, Illinois – Another coach coming off his first season, Illinois was bad at 3-9 (2-7 in conference), but they were clearly more competitive than Rutgers and beat them head to head. Smith has five years left, so even longer than Ash to turn things around.
3) Mike Riley, Nebraska – Third on this list? Riley has been expected to be an upgrade over Bo Pelini and he has been on the recruiting trail, but 15-11 in two seasons in a pressure cooker like Lincoln means you’re one bad year away from trouble.
4) Tom Allen, Indiana – Kevin Wilson had a bit of success, at least keeping his teams in games and heading to recent bowl games, that Allen will be under pressure early. Hard to say a 26-47 record (12-37 in conference) are big shoes to fill, but who would you put ahead of him?
5) Mark Dantonio, Michigan State – What? Dantonio is signed through January of 2023 and despite a bad season last year, has been amazing for Michigan State. So why so high on this list? Because there’s no one else to put ahead of him, that’s how solid the Big Ten is, and the off-field stuff is concerning a bit.
6) Jeff Brohm, Purdue – He’s even in the top half here entering his first season for one reason – the last few head coaches haven’t lasted that long and it’s been a decade since Joe Tiller had his success.
7) DJ Durkin, Maryland – A 6-7 record and a bowl was a good first year, especially following the Randy Edsall debacle, so Durkin is safe but those below him are even more secure.
8) PJ Fleck, Minnesota – Fleck was a big name hire for Minnesota and the Gophers made a national splash landing him, so he’s going to get many years to prove his worth.
9) Paul Chryst, Wisconsin – Chryst is 21-6 after two seasons and is coming off a division title. He’s in great shape.
10) James Franklin, Penn State – Remember when he was on a warm seat last year after the Minnesota game? Now he’s amongst the most secure coming off a Big Ten title.
11) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa – Have you see his contract? Iowa is with Ferentz until he retires.
12) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern – Fitzgerald is 77-62 at Northwestern and is a legend at his alma mater so he’s the head coach for as long as he wants.
13) Jim Harbaugh, Michigan – Choosing between Harbaugh and Meyer was tough here as both are untouchable.
14) Urban Meyer, Ohio State – A national title and the recruiting is the difference maker for me in making Meyer the safest.
https://n.rivals.com/news/three-point-stance-more-key-commits-big-ten-hot-seats-hand-dui
So far my hottest to coolest seat opinions for the SEC, ACC and Big 12 have drawn the ire of numerous fan bases – no surprise there. So it’s time to head to the Big Ten and likely tick off more people. Here’s my list for a conference with few, if any, coaches looking over their shoulder.
1) Chris Ash, Rutgers – With four years left on his contract after a horrendous 2-10 season and 0-9 finish in the Big Ten, Ash isn’t in jeopardy of losing his job. So clearly, as the guy on the hottest seat here, no one in the Big Ten is truly in trouble. He gets the nod because of the embarrassing losses (58-0 to Ohio State, 78-0 to Michigan) which can’t become a habit.
2) Lovie Smith, Illinois – Another coach coming off his first season, Illinois was bad at 3-9 (2-7 in conference), but they were clearly more competitive than Rutgers and beat them head to head. Smith has five years left, so even longer than Ash to turn things around.
3) Mike Riley, Nebraska – Third on this list? Riley has been expected to be an upgrade over Bo Pelini and he has been on the recruiting trail, but 15-11 in two seasons in a pressure cooker like Lincoln means you’re one bad year away from trouble.
4) Tom Allen, Indiana – Kevin Wilson had a bit of success, at least keeping his teams in games and heading to recent bowl games, that Allen will be under pressure early. Hard to say a 26-47 record (12-37 in conference) are big shoes to fill, but who would you put ahead of him?
5) Mark Dantonio, Michigan State – What? Dantonio is signed through January of 2023 and despite a bad season last year, has been amazing for Michigan State. So why so high on this list? Because there’s no one else to put ahead of him, that’s how solid the Big Ten is, and the off-field stuff is concerning a bit.
6) Jeff Brohm, Purdue – He’s even in the top half here entering his first season for one reason – the last few head coaches haven’t lasted that long and it’s been a decade since Joe Tiller had his success.
7) DJ Durkin, Maryland – A 6-7 record and a bowl was a good first year, especially following the Randy Edsall debacle, so Durkin is safe but those below him are even more secure.
8) PJ Fleck, Minnesota – Fleck was a big name hire for Minnesota and the Gophers made a national splash landing him, so he’s going to get many years to prove his worth.
9) Paul Chryst, Wisconsin – Chryst is 21-6 after two seasons and is coming off a division title. He’s in great shape.
10) James Franklin, Penn State – Remember when he was on a warm seat last year after the Minnesota game? Now he’s amongst the most secure coming off a Big Ten title.
11) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa – Have you see his contract? Iowa is with Ferentz until he retires.
12) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern – Fitzgerald is 77-62 at Northwestern and is a legend at his alma mater so he’s the head coach for as long as he wants.
13) Jim Harbaugh, Michigan – Choosing between Harbaugh and Meyer was tough here as both are untouchable.
14) Urban Meyer, Ohio State – A national title and the recruiting is the difference maker for me in making Meyer the safest.
https://n.rivals.com/news/three-point-stance-more-key-commits-big-ten-hot-seats-hand-dui
