There wasn’t much turnover in the coaching ranks in the Big Ten this past offseason as there is just one new head coach in the conference here in 2025. After a disastrous 2024, Purdue fired coach Ryan Walters and hired Barry Odom and entrusted him to lead a major rebuild of that program.
But after the 2025 season, there could be a number of programs that will look for a change at the head coaching spot. CBS Sports went through each college program in the country and ranked each coach to see how hot their seat is. Most coaches are safe, but there are more than a few coaches who better win this year, or at least show some improvement to their fan base, can have some hope for the future.
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We went through the list and focused on each coach in the Big Ten, including Oregon’s own Dan Lanning. Although most coaches are safe in their current positions, that doesn’t mean another school might call or possibly the NFL. Those scenarios aren’t discussed here, but rather if each Big Ten coach is on the hot seat or not.
According to CBS’ rating system, not only is Lannng not on the hot seat (spoiler alert), he might be the safest coach in the nation with his three-year mark of 35-6. The last time we checked, that’s pretty good. Here is how each of the 18 Big Ten coaches rates whether the hot seat is cold, warm or scorching hot.
Bret Bielema – Illinois Fighting Illini
Nov 30, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema looks on against Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Overall record at Illinois (4 years): 28-22
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Hot seat rating: 0.78 (Untouchable)
Curt Cignetti – Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during spring practice at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Overall record at Indiana (1 year): 11-2
Hot seat rating: 0.22 (Untouchable)
Kirk Ferentz – Iowa Hawkeyes
Oct 12, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz arrives before the game against the Washington Huskies at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Overall record at Iowa (24 years): 204-124
Hot seat rating: 1.67 (Safe and secure)
Mike Locksley – Maryland Terrapins
Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley during the second half Southern California Trojans at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Overall record at Maryland (6 years): 33-41
Hot seat rating: 3.22 (Pressure is mounting)
Sherrone Moore – Michigan Wolverines
Sherrone Moore
Overall record at Michigan (1 year): 9-5
Hot seat rating: 2.22 (All good … for now)
Jonathan Smith – Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith watches a play against Michigan during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
Overall record at Michigan State (1 year): 5-7
Hot seat rating: 1.78 (Safe and secure)
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PJ Fleck – Minnesota Golden Gophers
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 03: Head coach P.J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers reacts during the second half of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Bank of America Stadium on January 03, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Overall record at Minnesota: 56-39
Hot seat rating: 1.78 (Safe and secure)
Sep 9, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Ruhle during the fourth quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Overall record at Nebraska (2 years): 12-13
Hot seat rating: 2.11 (All good … for now)
David Braun – Northwestern Wildcats
Jul 26, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Northwestern Wildcats interim head coach David Braun speaks to the media during the Big 10 football media day at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Overall record at Northwestern (2 years): 12-13
Hot seat rating: 2 (All good … for now)
Ryan Day – Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day reacts after his putt on 18 during the Workday Golden Bear Pro-Am at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio on May 28, 2025.
Overall record at Ohio State (6 years): 70-10
Hot seat rating: 0.89 (Untouchable)
Dan Lanning – Oregon Ducks
Oregon coach Dan Lanning oversees his team as the Fighting Ducks face off against Mighty Oregon in the Oregon Ducks spring game on April 26, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.
Overall record at Oregon (3 years): 35-6
Hot seat rating: 0.22 (Untouchable)
James Franklin – Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State football head coach James Franklin greets fans on Curtin Road outside Beaver Stadium before the Blue-White game on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in State College.
Overall record at Oregon (11 years): 101-42
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Hot seat rating: 1.33 (Safe and Secure)
Purdue head football coach Barry Odom speaks during the Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest Indiana National Football Foundation Honors Brunch and Honors Reception in West Lafayette, Indiana on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Overall record at Purdue (First season): 0-0
Hot seat rating: 1 (Safe and secure)
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano leads his team onto the field for the Rate Bowl at Chase Field on Dec. 26, 2024, in Phoenix.
Overall record at Rutgers (16 seasons): 94-101
Hot seat rating: 1.44 (Safe and secure)
DeShaun Foster – UCLA Bruins
Sep 14, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster reacts after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Overall record at UCLA (1 year): 5-7
Hot seat rating: 2.56 (All good … for now)
Lincoln Riley – USC Trojans
Jan 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks the field before the game between the USC Trojans and the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Overall record at USC: 26-14
Hot seat rating: 3.33 (Pressure is mounting)
Jedd Fisch – Washington Huskies
Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch stands on the sideline during the first quarter against the USC Trojans at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Overall record at Washington (1 year): 6-7
Hot seat rating: 1.56 (Safe and secure)
Luke Fickell – Wisconsin Badgers
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 02: Head coach Luke Fickell of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes, at Kinnick Stadium. on November 2, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Overall record at Wisconsin (2 years): 13-13
Hot seat rating: 3.67 (Pressure is mounting)
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Big Ten coaches hot seat ranking ahead of 2025 season
