Latest news with #JeddFisch
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the Big Ten's 18 football-basketball head coach duos from worst to best
Ranking the Big Ten's 18 football-basketball head coach duos from worst to best The bridge between spring football practice and the summer recruiting season is often filled with way-too-early power rankings, game-by-game predictions and more. This week, it even included a compilation of the Big Ten's NCAA academic progress rate standings. The month can serve as a reset before the college sports world embarks on the busy upcoming summer, fall and winter calendar. One popular May comparison point is each conference's head coaches, whether football, men's basketball, or otherwise. With our rankings of all 18 Big Ten football and men's basketball coaches already on the books, it's time for a look at how each school's football and men's basketball coaching duo compares to the rest of the conference. The calculation is simple. Each coach's position (No. 1 through 18) is added to his counterpart's for a 'net score.' That score is then compared to the rest of the listed duos, with the lower score reflecting the higher ranking. 18. Washington Huskies (Jedd Fisch, Danny Sprinkle) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Jedd Fisch -- No. 12 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Danny Sprinkle -- No. 17 Net Score: 29 Fisch is likely to be a major riser by this time next year, as expectations are high entering his second season leading the Huskies. Sprinkle's No. 17 standing after a 13-18 debut season brings this overall ranking down. Most programs boast at least one coach in the conference's upper-echelon. That is not the case at Washington, at least until Fisch leads the Huskies to 9+ wins. Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire 17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Greg Schiano, Steve Pikiell) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Greg Schiano -- No. 13 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Steve Pikiell -- No. 15 Net Score: 28 Rutgers has been on the upswing as of late, with Schiano leading the football program to consecutive bowl games and Pikiell's team finishing with consecutive winning seasons from 2019-23. However, the latter underachieved greatly in 2024-25 with top NBA prospects Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey in the lineup. Expectations surrounding both programs are now measured entering 2025-26. Both coaches could drop further with down seasons. 16. Northwestern Wildcats (David Braun, Chris Collins) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: David Braun -- No. 18 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Chris Collins -- No. 10 Net Score: 28* Northwestern is always a 'do more with less' athletic department, seen by Pat Fitzgerald's terrific success on the gridiron from 2006-22 and Collins' current run. Collins has the Northwestern basketball program operating at arguably its peak, with consecutive 22-win seasons and the program's first ever back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Braun has major questions entering his third season at the helm, however, after his team went 4-8 in 2024. (Note: A tiebreaker goes to the school with the highest-ranked coach, in either sport. In this case, Collins bests Braun, Pikiell and Schiano) 15. Maryland Terrapins (Mike Locksley, Buzz Williams) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Mike Locksley -- No. 16 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Buzz Williams -- No. 8 Net Score: 24 Locksley is a potential hot-seat candidate entering 2025 after a 4-8 finish to the 2024 season. A further slide, against what projects to be a manageable schedule, could lead to a change. Remember, Maryland is amid an athletic director search. New ADs often lead to quicker coaching moves, as the new hire works to put their fingerprints on the department. Buzz Williams should be safe after being hired just one month ago. He made the last three NCAA Tournaments at Texas A&M and went 69-36 during that time. 14. Minnesota Golden Gophers (P.J. Fleck, Niko Medved) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: P.J. Fleck -- No. 10 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Niko Medved -- No. 12 Net Score: 22 Fleck may be underrated at No. 10, with bowl appearances in the last six non-COVID seasons and a 58-39 overall record in eight years at the helm. A nine-win season in 2025 could move him closer toward the Bret Bielema, Kirk Ferentz tier of Big Ten football coaches. Medved, meanwhile, is a moderate unknown after seven years at Colorado State. He now takes over a Minnesota program that has proven to be a challenging place to win. 13. USC Trojans (Lincoln Riley, Eric Musselman) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Lincoln Riley -- No. 9 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Eric Musselman -- No. 13 Net Score: 22 Hand up, Riley is likely better than the ninth-best coach in the Big Ten. However, USC is just 15-11 over the last two seasons, plus went 6-6 during the 2024 regular season before a bowl win over Texas A&M. There is a real question surrounding USC's fit in the conference, one which can only be answered by high-level winning. Musselman is in a similar position. He took Arkansas to two Elite Eights and a Sweet 16 from 2020-23. However, he went 16-17 in his final season with the Razorbacks and just 17-18 in his first season with the Trojans. Both coaches should take major jumps forward in 2025-26. However, it's worth noting that each has yet to prove an ability to succeed in the Big Ten. Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions onTrojans Wire 12. Nebraska Cornhuskers (Matt Rhule, Fred Hoiberg) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Matt Rhule -- No. 8 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Fred Hoiberg -- No. 14 Net Score: 29 Hoiberg dropped three spots with Nebraska's late-season collapse. That significant slide halted red-hot momentum after the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade. Still, Hoiberg just led the Cornhuskers to their first stretch of back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1997-99. The context of the program's overall struggles matters when evaluating his tenure. The same can also be said for Rhule, who just broke Nebraska football's eight-year bowl drought. He will now be expected to lead a significant breakthrough in 2025. That season will be critical to the direction of his tenure. Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire 11. UCLA Bruins (DeShaun Foster, Mick Cronin) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: DeShaun Foster -- No. 14 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Mick Cronin -- No. 7 Net Score: 21 Foster impressed over the second half of the 2024 season. He took over the program in a tough situation after former coach Chip Kelly left for the Ohio State offensive coordinator job. While the Bruins went just 5-7, the team improved as the season continued and now has high expectations entering 2025. Cronin, meanwhile, is one of the best coaches in the conference. His Bruins had little trouble competing in their first year in the Big Ten, finishing 23-11 overall and 13-7 in conference play. Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire 10. Penn State Nittany Lions (James Franklin, Mike Rhoades) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: James Franklin -- No. 3 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Mike Rhoades -- No. 18 Net Score: 21 This is a classic combination of a top-end coach on one side and a bottom-ranked one on the other. Franklin has Penn State football operating as a perennial top-10 team nationally. He also just led the program's first College Football Playoff breakthrough. Rhoades, meanwhile, is just 32-32 in two years at Penn State. 2025-26 will be a critical year for his tenure. Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire 9. Purdue Boilermakers (Barry Odom, Matt Painter) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Barry Odom -- No. 17 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Matt Painter -- No. 2 Net Score: 19 File Purdue's coaching duo in the Penn State category. Odom takes over after a disastrous 1-11 final season under Ryan Walters. He's tasked with a top-down overhaul and should get several seasons to get it done. Painter, meanwhile, is either the first or second-best coach in the Big Ten, depending on the year. His Boilermakers are again a projected top team entering next season. 8. Indiana Hoosiers (Curt Cignetti, Darian DeVries) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Curt Cignetti -- No. 6 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Darian DeVries -- No. 11 Net Score: 17 Indiana rocketed up this list after Curt Cignetti's breakthrough debut season, leading his team to an 11-1 regular season and a CFP berth. DeVries, meanwhile, takes over after one year at West Virginia. He previously led Drake on a terrific run from 2018-24. His biggest opponent at Indiana will be the almost unrealistic expectations that surround the program. 7. Ohio State Buckeyes (Ryan Day, Jake Diebler) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Ryan Day -- No. 1 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Jake Diebler -- No. 16 Net Score: 17 Again, a combination of a top coach with one program and the opposite with the other. Day sits atop the Big Ten football coach rankings after leading the Buckeyes to a national title in 2024. Diebler is still in prove-it mode, as his team went just 17-15 in his first full season at the helm. A strong 2025-26 season for the basketball program could see this duo rise to the top of the list. Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire 6. Michigan State Spartans (Jonathan Smith, Tom Izzo) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Jonathan Smith -- No. 15 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Tom Izzo -- No. 1 Net Score: 16 Izzo is our No. 1 basketball coach after Michigan State's Big Ten title in 2024-25. Again, he and Painter are interchangeable at the top. Smith, meanwhile, enters a critical second year at the helm. The Spartans went just 5-7 in 2024, plus are struggling on the recruiting trail. He needs to start winning, and must do so fast. Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions onSpartans Wire 5. Iowa Hawkeyes (Kirk Ferentz, Ben McCollum) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Kirk Ferentz -- No. 5 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Ben McCollum -- No. 9 Net Score: 14 Ferentz's position should go without saying. He enters year 27 at Iowa in 2025. Yet again, the team is projected for eight or nine wins. McCollum is an interesting wildcard, taking over the Hawkeyes after the dismissal of Fran McCaffery. He won four Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State before a breakthrough 2024-25 at Drake. This slot is somewhat speculative, but he appears a great fit for Iowa on paper. Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire 4. Wisconsin Badgers (Luke Fickell, Greg Gard) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Luke Fickell -- No. 11 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Greg Gard -- No. 3 Net Score: 14 Gard's latest program evolution is almost exactly what athletic director Chris McIntosh was looking for when he hired Fickell to lead the football program in 2023. Gard revamped the Badgers' offensive attack, with an assist from Kirk Penney, recruited well out of the transfer portal and reestablished the program as one of the Big Ten's best. That occurred as Wisconsin saw nearly opposite results on the gridiron. Fickell's team went 5-7 in 2024, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2001. He fired air raid offensive coordinator Phil Longo in November, an experienced assistant who was originally brought in to 'revolutionize' the program. 2025 is a critical year for Fickell. The Badgers face one of the nation's toughest schedules, but can't afford to go another season without a bowl trip. 3. Michigan Wolverines (Sherrone Moore, Dusty May) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Sherrone Moore -- No. 7 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Dusty May -- No. 4 Net Score: 11 May was a home run hire in year one, leading Michigan to a 27-10 overall record, Big Ten tournament title and NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. Remember, he took over a program that had just gone 8-24 in the final year under Juwan Howard. Moore, meanwhile, will get some runway after a terrific finish in 2024, with statement wins over Ohio State and Alabama. Top 2025 QB Bryce Underwood will be an important factor in the success of his tenure. Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions onWolverines Wire 2. Illinois Fighting Illini (Bret Bielema, Brad Underwood) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Bret Bielema -- No. 4 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Brad Underwood -- No. 6 Net Score: 10 Bielema's stock is through the roof after Illinois' 10-3 2024 season. The team is now projected in the nation's top 10 entering 2024, as it returns most of its leading contributors and will face a manageable schedule. Underwood also shouldn't be overlooked. His Fighting Illini have been among the four best Big Ten programs over the last half-decade. 1. Oregon Ducks (Dan Lanning, Dana Altman) Football Coach Big Ten Rank: Dan Lanning -- No. 2 Basketball Coach Big Ten Rank: Dana Altman -- No. 5 Net Score: 7 Oregon claims the top spot in this year's coaching duo power rankings. Lanning's position should be clear after the Ducks went 13-1 in their first season in the Big Ten, only falling to Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinal. Altman also factors into the conversation near the top of the Big Ten. He's 370-162 in 14 years leading the Ducks, with zero seasons under 20 wins. Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions onDucks Wire Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Updated Big Ten football power rankings after spring practice, per USA TODAY
Updated Big Ten football power rankings after spring practice, per USA TODAY The month of May provides a valuable temperature check for the Big Ten Conference and where its top teams stand after the spring practice session. The primary contenders entering 2025 are no surprise. Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon all again project to be terrific. Behind that top trio, Michigan appears set for a big jump in year two under Sherrone Moore, an upstart Illinois team should be well-equipped with an easy schedule and Nebraska is building its typical sky-high expectations. Some popular sleeper picks to enter the conversation are Washington in year two under Jedd Fisch, USC if its defense improves and an Iowa team that appears to have finally found a quarterback. In that mix of name-brand programs and two former Big Ten West regulars, where does Wisconsin fall? USA TODAY's Paul Myerberg recently updated his full Football Bowl Subdivision 1-136 power ranking after spring practice. The Badgers hold a startlingly low position. Where every Big Ten team falls in USA TODAY post-spring FBS re-rank Wisconsin's place at No. 15 in the Big Ten and No. 78 in the nation factors in the team's schedule, which ranks as the toughest in the conference. Myerberg projects the Badgers to finish 5-7 against that slate, which includes games against Alabama (No. 10 of 136), Michigan (No. 14), Ohio State (No. 6), Oregon (No. 8), Washington (No. 52), Iowa (No. 24), Illinois (No. 11), Indiana (No. 29) and Minnesota (No. 38). If that prediction comes to fruition, it would mark the Badgers' second straight 5-7 finish, likely the program's first back-to-back seasons without a bowl trip since 1991-92. Of note, the Badgers stood at No. 41 in ESPN SP+'s pre-spring power rating. So while the team's season-long expectations will be measured, it still projects as one of the sport's fringe-top-40 teams. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Big 12 Spotlight: Concern level for programs lagging behind on 2026 class
Nigel Amstock | CU Sports Report Spring official visits have kicked off around the country and players are still taking unofficial visits to check out spring practices. As we enter a very busy time on the recruiting calendar, which programs currently lagging behind should be truly worried about their recruiting classes and which of them will be just fine? Advertisement We conclude the weeklong series with the Big 12. MORE IN THIS SERIES: Big Ten | SEC | ACC MORE BIG 12: Team recruiting rankings CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker Arizona Current Big 12 recruiting ranking: 13th out of 16 After winning 10 games in 2023, then-coach Jedd Fisch left for Washington and Brent Brennan left San Jose State for Tucson. But even if quarterback Noah Fifita and probable first-round receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the best Arizona player in many years, the Wildcats stumbled to 4-8 last season, including an embarrassing 49-7 loss to end the season. Advertisement Recruiting has not really taken off yet for the 2026 class, either. Arizona has four commitments, all three-stars, but there isn't a marquee player in the bunch yet. However, there are some skilled players including electric WR Caleb Smith. Landing four-star defensive tackle Keytrin Harris, who loves position coach Joe Salave'a, would be a major addition but Arizona needs a spark for Brennan to stay off the hot seat. Level of concern: Medium ARIZONA'S 2026 COMMITMENT LIST SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARIZONA FANS AT Colorado Nigel Amstock/CU Sports Report Current Big 12 recruiting ranking: Tied for last Advertisement Coach Deion Sanders is going to do things his own way and it's been working during his time in Boulder, but the Buffaloes might not see a ton of recruiting gains until closer to signing day. They are going to heavily focus on the transfer portal to remake their roster as they have only one commitment from three-star DB Javion Romer in the class right now. But Colorado closed incredibly strong in the 2025 class and so returns won't be known until Sanders and his staff really start to focus on recruiting and bring in top prospects for late visits prior to the December signing period. The real question at Colorado is this: What does the program look like now that Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, expected first-round picks, and others such as Jimmy Horn Jr. and LaJohtay Wester are off to the NFL. Level of concern: Low COLORADO'S 2026 COMMITMENT LIST Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH COLORADO FANS AT Kansas State Current Big 12 recruiting ranking: 14th out of 16 If there's one team in the Big 12, and maybe the country, that does things its own way and it works all the time it could be Kansas State, which is 28-12 over the last three seasons. The Wildcats also held onto four-star tight end Linkon Cure, who could be an immediate contributor in Manhattan, and they finished strong heading into the December signing period so they could be remaining patient and waiting to pick top prospects later. But Kansas State has only one commitment from three-star DB Brandon Ford right now. The good news is that there are a lot of talented in-state prospects led by four-star tight end Ian Premer but Kansas State has to close on some of them soon – or heading toward signing day. Advertisement Level of concern: Medium KANSAS STATE'S 2026 COMMITMENT LIST SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH K-STATE FANS AT Utah Current Big 12 recruiting ranking: Tied for last There were retirement rumors swirling around coach Kyle Whittingham after last season. The Utes had their first losing season in a decade. Things seemed to be going in the wrong direction for the first time in a long while in Salt Lake City. And now Utah has only one commitment from three-star tight end Colby Simpson out of Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian. Another issue to watch here: The state of Utah is loaded with talented players this recruiting cycle with 10 four-stars so far and none are committed to the Utes yet. Top four-star tight end Brock Harris just chose BYU. Level of concern: High UTAH'S 2026 COMMITMENT LIST SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH UTAH FANS AT
USA Today
24-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Projecting Washington football's next commit in the 2026 class
Projecting Washington football's next commit in the 2026 class After the Washington Huskies picked up a commitment from three-star defensive back CJ Lavender, which improved coach Jedd Fisch's 2026 class to No. 28 in the country according to 247Sports, there could be several more pledges on the horizon. Here are five options for who could be the next recruit to commit to Washington. 4-star QB Brady Smigiel Even before he cut his list of 33 offers down to four, Washington was the favorite for the elite quarterback, who took his third unofficial visit to Seattle for the Huskies' Junior Day in early March. He's expected to return for an official visit at the end of June but has received crystal ball projections to choose Fisch and offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty from On3 and Sports Illustrated. The top prospect has also emphasized that he wants to assist in helping build a strong recruiting class at his future school, which could make a pledge imminent for the No. 7 quarterback in the 247Sports Composite rankings. "I wanted to commit early because the recruiting process is a lot," he told On3's Josh Newburg in January. "I also want to recruit and build a really good class wherever I'm going, and that's going to be hard if I commit closer to signing day, but I want to see football, there are new quarterback coaches and new offensive coordinators at some of the schools I'm looking at. I haven't really decided when I'm going to commit, but I'm going to take my official see where that leads me." 3-star LB Ramzak Fruean After three-star Wassie Lugolobi flipped his pledge from the Huskies to Stanford, it became even more important for linebackers coach Brian Odom to secure Fruean, who moved to Washington from Hawaii and has seen his recruitment explode following a strong senior season at Bethel High School. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound prospect is a very impressive athlete at the position and plays with the desired speed and physicality to be a versatile piece of defensive coordinator Ryan Walters' scheme, which could make him a valuable defender at the college level. 3-star DL Fa Siale The 6-foot-4, 250-pound prospect from nearby O'Dea High School looks like he could be a building block for a Big Ten defensive line. With plenty of room to add weight to his frame, the local product has proven that he can be a strong run defender and already has an understanding of how to rush the passer as he plays alongside another coveted prospect in David Schwerzel. He could also be drawing close to a decision and the Huskies appear to be among the leaders to secure his services. 3-star TE Landen Miree Fisch's coaching staff made quite the impression on the three-star tight end from Princeton High School in Ohio during his unofficial visit for Junior Day, as did Smigiel. The pair seemed to develop a strong bond over the weekend and were spotted together as most of the recruits in attendance flocked into Alaska Airlines Arena to watch the men's basketball team battle the Oregon Ducks. Following his visit, which included a seemingly tactical phone call with Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, On3's Steve Wiltfong logged a crystal ball prediction for Miree to choose the Huskies. "Oh man, it was everything you could have asked for," Miree told Scott Eklund of the visit. "The feeling you get when you walk in there is pretty special. All of the coaches greeted us and when I walked in, Coach Fisch was on the phone with the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. We're all big Bengals fans, so that was really cool to get to talk to him. That was really special." 3-star DL David Schwerzel Like his O'Dea teammate, Schwerzel is a big, versatile defensive lineman who could be a critical piece of Washington's plans up front in the Big Ten. The Huskies have made a big push for his services over the past few months and after adding safeties coach Taylor Mays, an O'Dea alum, to the staff, that has only intensified. Fisch is rumored to be looking to add as many as six or seven defensive linemen to the 2026 class and could be close to adding the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Schwerzel to the fold.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jedd Fisch gives his Washington recruiting pitch on Good Morning Football
Jedd Fisch gives his Washington recruiting pitch on Good Morning Football Head Coach of @UW_Football Jedd Fisch joins the show🙌 — Good Morning Football (@gmfb) January 30, 2025 Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch has been busy on the recruiting trail, which has taken him all over the country, and eventually landed him in his home state of New Jersey and on the set of Good Morning Football on Thursday. As he discussed Washington, the NFL coaching carousel, and NIL with hosts Peter Schrager and Kyle Brandt, the pair ended the segment by asking Fisch to give his final pitch to get recruits to choose Washington. "For 15 years I've coached in the NFL, I've sat in draft rooms, I know what they're looking for," he said. "The biggest part of the process is to know what it looks like and know what they look for and try to develop you from your high school to your college to your NFL career. And come be a pro at the University of Washington.' In 2025, that pitch worked well for Fisch as the Huskies compiled the nation's No. 24 recruiting class according to 247Sports. Now as the calendar turns over to 2026, his coaching staff will be looking to build on that success. Washington's 2026 class, which holds six commits, headlined by four-star offensive lineman Esun Tafa, is once again ranked No. 24 by 247Sports and has plenty of potential to rise. Fisch's coaching staff is heavily involved with several of the top defensive linemen on the West Coast, like four-star prospects Simote Katoanga, Derek Colman-Brusa, Anthony Jones, and FA Siale, and are hoping that his "Be A Pro" pitch will help it seal the deal as the Huskies look to make some more upgrades in the trenches.
