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 7

USA Today's Big Ten Starting Quarterback Rankings: Going Into Week 7

Ranking The Top 25 College Quarterbacks Right Now: Going into Week 7

ESPN Predicts the Record for All 18 Big Ten Teams Right Now: Going Into Week 7

College Football Week 6 Best Bets: 6 B1GBets Big Ten Expert Picks

Ranking the Top 10 Most Disappointing College Football Teams Going Into Week 6

Phil Steele's  Big Ten Football Order of Finish Predictions: 1-18 Going Into Week 5

Ranking the Top 10 Potential Upsets for College Football Week 5

LATEST James Thompson Jr. NEWS

Texas draws skepticism as Notre Dame, Miami, Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and BYU fuel a chaotic college football playoff race packed with intrigue this weekend.

College Football Playoff Chaos as Texas Doubts Grow

Explore the push for a 24-team College Football Playoff, the sport&#039;s semi-pro shift, SEC parity, and why Florida&#039;s future looks bright under Summerall.

College Football Playoff Expansion and Florida's Future

Smart agencies help young athletes build lasting wealth through money market accounts, stock deals, free car partnerships, and disciplined long-term planning.

How Morgan & Morgan Teach Young Athletes to Build Wealth

Dan Morgan weighs NIL opportunities against the Protect College Sports Act, calling for player representation, unions, guidelines, and fair revenue sharing.

NIL, Player Rights, & the Protect College Sports Act

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View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini DT James Thompson Jr. on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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James Thompson Jr. | Illinois Fighting Illini | DT | SportsGrid.com

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LATEST James Thompson Jr.

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#90 · ILL · DT