In the mega-expanded Big Ten, having an elite mind on the sidelines is the ultimate difference between contending for a national championship and scrambling for bowl eligibility. USA Today ran a comprehensive audit to rank every single Big Ten head coach heading into the 2026 season. From Curt Cignetti crowning an incredible national title run in Bloomington to top Ryan Day and Dan Lanning, to blockbuster moves like Kyle Whittingham taking over Michigan and Matt Campbell landing at Penn State, we break down the entire 18-team hierarchy. Check out our complete tactical breakdown to see where your favorite team's head coach lands entering 2026.

USA Today's Big Ten College Football Head Coaches Ranked 1-18: Going Into Week 8

USA Today's Big Ten Starting Quarterback Rankings: Going Into Week 8

ESPN Predicts the Record for All 18 Big Ten Teams Right Now: Going Into Week 8

ESPN Ranks College Football's 20 1-Loss Teams by Most Likely to Make the College Football Playoff

ESPN Ranks College Football's 36 2-Loss Teams by Strength of Schedule

ESPN Ranks College Football's 20 1-Loss Teams by Strength of Schedule

ESPN Ranks College Football's 6 Undefeated Teams by Strength of Schedule Right Now

Saturday&#039;s college football picks feature Miami&#039;s team total, passing props for Darian Mensah and Gunner Stockton, plus Auburn, Oregon, and Syracuse bets.

College Football Picks: Miami, Georgia and Top Props

LATEST Derek Branch NEWS

Dave shares Week 8 college football picks: Tennessee, Michigan-Indiana under, Utah-Houston over, and New Mexico to cover at home against North Dakota State.

Week 8 College Football Best Bets and Betting Picks

Utah and Houston meet in a top-15 Big 12 clash. With both offenses poised to score and Houston&#039;s defense vulnerable, the over 56.5 is the best bet tonight.

Utah vs. Houston Preview: Bet the Over in Big 12 Shootout

Ole Miss is backed to cover and win outright against struggling Texas, while the Longhorns&#039; team total over 27.5 offers another betting angle to consider.

Texas vs. Ole Miss Picks: Rebels ATS, Team Total Over

Dan Lanning&#039;s quarterback gamble nearly sank Oregon last week. With Dylan Rayola now starting, Illinois +10 is the pick as Oregon faces a tough road test.

Oregon vs. Illinois Betting Pick: Take the Illini +10

LATEST VIDEOS

View the profile of Nebraska Cornhuskers DB Derek Branch on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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LATEST Derek Branch

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#24 · NEB · DB

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Derek Branch is a DB for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the NCAAF.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

NCAAF

SDFC rescue late point in 2-2 draw vs Seattle Sounders

Angel City defeats Bay FC, 2-0, as they get ready for playoffs

Foster drops Navarrete twice, wins unanimous decision to unify three belts

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HEADLINES

TST Images: Gulls defeat Barracuda, 4-1, at Pechanga Arena

Flaws showing as Golden Knights fall to Blue Jackets in OT

Ducks, Carlsson spark comeback in Philly, snap 5-game losing streak

DAZN has bigger ambitions in U.S. sports as LA Kings partnership opens door to regional expansion

Gritty performance from Ty Dieffenbach powers No. 9 UCLA past Michigan State

Key turnovers lead UCLA to 28-10 win over Michigan State

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TST Best Bets: October 24, 2026

UNLV returns to &#39;Hardway Eight&#39; mode in 89-77 exhibition loss to BYU

Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas lead No. 21 USC past San Diego State in 85-68 exhibition win

TST Images: USC defeats San Diego State, 85-68, in San Diego

Ranking the Top 20 Players in College Basketball Right Now

NCAAB

Clippers lose to themselves in 125-117 loss against Lakers

Lakers outlast Clippers behind big three

TST Images: Lakers defeat Clippers, 125-117, at Crypto.com Arena

Lakers vs. Clippers: What to watch in second game of season

Rams&#39; Puka Nacua questionable against Raiders with calf injury, Sean McVay says decision will come Sunday

NFL Week 7 Betting Picks: Colts' Value & a Seattle Edge

Broncos vs. Cardinals Betting Pick: Back the Under

NFL Week 7 Picks: Steelers-Saints and Browns-Titans Bets

World Series Game 1 Preview: Brewers vs. Rays Matchup

Brewers vs. Rays: World Series Game Betting Preview

World Series Game 1: Brewers Host Rays in Milwaukee

Impending MLB Lockout: Key Issues in Collective Bargaining

TST Images: Angel City FC defeat Bay FC, 2-0, at BMO Stadium

Volkanovski and Yan defend titles at UFC 333

A father’s legacy: Denis Bouanga wants to be remembered

El Trafico Preview: The playoff push is on

A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young continue dominance with All-WNBA selections

Minnesota vs. Iowa Betting Pick: Back the Golden Gophers

USC vs. Wisconsin Big Ten Betting Preview: Take Badgers +3

Miami Escapes FSU, but Notre Dame Test Still Looms

Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Prediction: Wildcats Win Big

LSU vs. Auburn Prediction: Tigers Face Must-Win Test

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CJ Stroud and Texans Poised to Build Momentum

Chargers Must Fire Mike McDaniel After 0-5 Start

Steelers-Saints Paris Game Raises Safety Fears

College Football Playoff Odds: Texas Doubts Rise

SPORTSGRID SHORTS

Ducks bedeviled again on the road, drop 5th straight

Kings edge Islanders 3-2 on Clarke goal in overtime

Chromiak’s game-winning goal leads Reign to first home win of the season

TST Images: Lightning defeat Golden Knights, 6-2, at T-Mobile Arena

2027 Stanley Cup Odds: Colorado, Vegas, and Edmonton Lead Pack

Conn Smythe Market Prices: Mitch Marner Heads to the Top

Stanley Cup Showdown: Vegas vs. Carolina for the Title

Carolina and Vegas Favorites for Stanley Cup Showdown

TST Best Bets: October 22, 2026

TST Best Bets: October 20, 2026

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Ranking the 15 Worst NHL Free Agency Signings of the 2026 Offseason

Cooper Black to Become Tallest Goalie in NHL History

Tkachuk Brothers Make NHL History on Wild Hockey Night

Edmonton Oilers Struggle Defensively, Lose to Canucks

2026-27 NHL Season Begins: Key Teams and Betting Tips

UCLA-Michigan State Preview: Unbeaten Bruins aim to continue historic rise against sputtering Spartans

Predicting the 1st Loss for the Remaining 5 Undefeated College Football Teams Heading Into Week 8

ESPN Predicts the Final Record For All 16 SEC Teams Right Now: Going Into Week 8

12-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Based on the AP Poll Going Into Week 8

College Football Playoff Chaos as Texas Doubts Grow

ESPN Ranks College Football's 36 2-Loss Teams by Most Likely to Make the CFP

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Josh Hoover Passing Prop and Indiana-Michigan Best Bets

Ole Miss vs. Texas Picks: Back the Rebels in Austin

Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith Now the Heisman Trophy Favorite

Ranking the Top 20 5th-Year College Basketball Players Who Could Return for 2026

UCLA women&#39;s basketball hires former WNBA coach Noelle Quinn

Ranking the Top 99 Players in the College Basketball Transfer Portal

What UCLA learned from their exhibition match against Team Canada

Most Outstanding Player Odds: Mara, Reed Lead the Pack

National Championship Odds: Michigan Leads, Arizona Trails Behind

National Championship Odds Analysis: Michigan Leads the Pack

National Championship Odds: Arizona and Michigan Lead the Pack

Hoosiers and Tar Heels Meet in Indy for Exhibition Match

For Pastner, Rebels, it&#39;s about a chemistry test

TST Images: UCLA Men&#39;s Basketball Media Day

UCLA sophomore Lena Bilić to miss 2026-27 season with ACL tear

Exploring NCAA's Reaction to College Basketball Trends

NCAA Fifth-Year Eligibility and Legal Controversies

NCAA's New 5 for 5 Rule: Its Impact on College Sports

Navigating NIL Deals & Early Sports Agent Involvement

The letter that will set the tone for the Lakers

Clippers dethrone the Sacramento Kings in regular-season opener

Walker Kessler delivers in debut as Lakers punish Warriors on opening night

TST Images: Lakers defeat Warriors, 127-105, in Los Angeles

NBA Futures: Predictions for Top Teams and Players This Season

Spurs Lead in Western Conference Odds Over OKC & Denver

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Raiders hoping to finally turn the corner with the injury bug

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Ranking The Top 32 NFL Quarterbacks Right Now: Going Into Week 7

ESPN Predicts the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Right Now: Going Into Week 7

Predicting the 8 NFL Division Winners Right Now: Going Into Week 7

Why the Packers Are a Super Bowl Value Bet at 30-1

Unbeaten 49ers replace Rams as Super Bowl favorites after Los Angeles falls to 2-3

Malik Washington Over 4.5 Receptions: Top Plus-Money Bet

Chiefs vs. Seahawks: Best Bets & Sunday Night Under

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Angels decline Kurt Suzuki’s managerial option

TST Best Bets: October 16, 2026

Dodgers&#39; historic three-peat dream is over, ending a golden era in Los Angeles

Derek Branch

#24 · NEB · DB

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5’9”, 195 lbs

Birthplace

Lincoln, NE, USA

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Senior

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