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 Lars Rau NEWS

Kamario Taylor and Fluff Bothwell are expected to miss Mississippi State&#039;s clash with LSU, fueling a major line move amid a chaotic SEC season this year.

Kamario Taylor Injury Shakes Up Mississippi State-LSU

Dabo Swinney&#039;s future at Clemson comes under scrutiny as Oregon and Dan Lanning face questions after a disappointing season that fell short of expectations.

Dabo Swinney's Future & Oregon's Disappointing Year

Florida State weighs Mike Norvell&#039;s costly future as Miami looms, while Jimbo Fisher reunion rumors stir debate over the Seminoles&#039; next coaching move.

Florida State's Mike Norvell Dilemma Ahead of Miami Clash

Florida turns to 19-year-old quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. for his first career start against Texas, hoping the freshman can now end a two-game losing streak.

Florida to Start 19-Year-Old Tramell Jones Jr. Against Texas

LATEST VIDEOS

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini P Lars Rau on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

description

keywords

twitter:card

Lars Rau | Illinois Fighting Illini | P | SportsGrid.com

twitter:title

twitter:description

https://app.sportsgrid.com/assets/images/og-logo_640x334.png

twitter:image

google

og:locale

og:site_name

og:type

og:title

og:description

og:image

og:image:type

og:image:width

og:image:height

og:image:secure_url

article:published_time

article:modified_time

LATEST Lars Rau

HT/WT

Birthplace

Class

#81 · ILL · P

Lars Rau

Lars Rau BIO

Amipeleasi Langi Jr.

Jed Olotu-Judah

Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding

Holden Brown

Rick Moore

Caleb Bishop

Dirrick Goodman

Kyle Miller

Cace Reed

Chris Boykins

Lars Rau is a P for the Illinois Fighting Illini in the NCAAF.

Illinois Fighting Illini

NCAAF

The Lakers have a bigger question larger than a 15 point loss

TST Best Bets: October 17, 2026

Santa Anita Saturday: A Quintet in The Lure

College Football Picks: Miami, Georgia and Top Props

Tennessee vs. Alabama Pick: Back the Vols in Knoxville

Notre Dame vs. BYU & Ole Miss vs. Missouri Best Bets

Oregon vs. Nebraska: Ducks Favored for Strong Bounce Back

HEADLINES

Michigan's Kyle Whittingham Gamble & One-and-Done Possibility

Michigan vs. Penn State Betting Pick: Over 42.5 Total

Wisconsin vs. UCLA Odds, Picks and Under Prediction

Miami vs. Florida State Betting Picks and Predictions

Three observations from Lakers’ preseason finale against Nuggets

TST Images: Nuggets defeat Lakers, 121-106, at Crypto.com Arena

Alex Cerda Leads the Lakers move to the Coachella Valley

Lakers vs. Nuggets: What to watch in preseason finale

Bruins power past Ducks in special teams reversal, 4-2

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

As expected, Knights take care of business in handling Flames, 6-2

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

NFL Jaguars vs. Texans London Preview, Odds and Picks

Browns Bet Gains Steam With Lamar Jackson Ruled Out

Broncos' Bo Nix Problem & Seahawks' Offensive Woes

Josh Jacobs Eligible for Potential Green Bay Packers Return

Rays Face Must-Win ALCS Game 4 Against Guardians Tonight

Rays vs. Guardians: Wind Could Define Crucial Game

Rays vs. Guardians: Windy Weather Shapes Crucial Game

How the Cardinals Are Growing Baseball's Latino Audience

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

NCAAB

Georgia vs. Auburn Picks: Tigers Cover, Stockton Shines

Tennessee vs. Alabama Odds: Back the Vols at Home in Knoxville

Texas vs. Florida Odds, Preview & Jadan Baugh's Prop Line

BYU vs. Notre Dame: Top-8 Clash and Schedule Debate

College Football's 24-Team Playoff Sparks Backlash

Ohio State vs. Indiana Picks: Hoosiers and the Under

Activision built a war zone on Sunset Blvd. –– will you answer the call?

MORE

Expert picks & analysis

Game Picks

Head-to-head breakdowns

Matchups

Powered by SportsGrid's projections

Player Props

Prediction Market HQ

Texans vs. Jaguars London Matchup Prediction

Eagles Face Bleak Outlook Without Jalen Hurts

Is Arch Manning College Football's Most Overrated?

Ohio State vs. Indiana: Hoosiers Can Win

SPORTSGRID SHORTS

College Football Week 7 Best Bets: 4 B1GBets Big Ten Expert Picks

Predicting the 1st Loss for All 9 Undefeated College Football Teams Heading Into Week 7

Ranking the Top 10 Potential Upsets for College Football in Week 7

ESPN Predicts the Final Record For All 16 SEC Teams Going Into Week 7

ESPN Ranks College Football's 9 Undefeated Teams by Strength of Schedule Right Now

Jeremiah Smith's Heisman Chances Despite Ohio Setbacks

Keelon Russell's Rising Heisman Chances: A Preview

Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith Now the Heisman Trophy Favorite

Nico Expected to Surpass 184.5 Passing Yards Against Ducks

Exploring Faison Brandon's Bet on Over 33.5 Rushing Yards

LSU & Texas A&M Aim For Air Attack: QB Props in Play

Ole Miss vs. Missouri Prediction: Rebels Cover at Home

LSU vs. Mississippi State Over 55.5 Betting Pick and Odds

Oklahoma vs. Kentucky Betting Preview: Take the Points

Houston vs. Oklahoma State: Big 12 Title Race Preview

Redick confident Lakers will find chemistry, rhythm

TST Images: Warriors defeat the Lakers, 101-89, at T-Mobile Arena

Lakers vs. Warriors: What to watch in Las Vegas

Sunday Lakers Report: Kessler returns to full practice, starting lineup still unsettled

Five players the Lakers could grab at No. 25

NBA Futures Analysis: OKC, Spurs, & Knicks Betting Odds Breakdown

NBA Futures: How Will Giannis Impact the Odds in the East?

2027 NBA Future Predictions: Spurs, Thunder, and Nuggets Insights

Two Clippers rookies make their case in preseason finale win over Nuggets

Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Who's the True GOAT?

LeBron James' 76ers Helicopter Commute Sparks Debate

Lakers vs. Warriors: Kessler’s debut, Reaves’ big night and second-half struggles

Post-LeBron Era: Lakers Now Built Around Luka Doncic

Jaylen Brown Set to Be Top NBA MVP Candidate in 2026-27

Isiah Thomas Returns to the Knicks as Board Member

29-Year-Old Braiden Bell Loses Dream NBA Announcer Job Over Tweet

Kings remain winless, fall to Oilers on Frozen Frenzy

Golden Knights find form late to defeat Predators, split road trip

TST Images: Oilers defeat Kings, 4-1, at Crypto Arena

Ducks dumped late by winless Flames, 4-2

2026 NHL Draft prospects that would fit the Golden Knights

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 15, 2026

Tkachuk Brothers Make NHL History on Wild Hockey Night

TST Images: Reign defeat Gulls, 3-2, at Pechanga Arena

Ontario Reign defeat Coachella Valley Firebirds, 3-2 (OT), at Acrisure Arena

Edmonton Oilers Struggle Defensively, Lose to Canucks

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

Carolina Hurricanes Owner's Controversial Stanley Cup Move

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

Chargers vs. Chiefs I preview, prediction and how to watch

ESPN Predicts the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Right Now: Going Into Week 6

Inside the Rams dark psychology of survival

Predicting the 1st Loss for the NFL's 3 Remaining Undefeated Teams Going Into Week 6

Predicting the 8 NFL Division Winners Right Now: Going Into Week 6

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

NFC East Odds Analysis: Dallas' Struggles & Giants' Potential

Brock Purdy's MVP Odds & Chances After First 3 Weeks

Week 6 Start &#39;Em, Sit &#39;Em Fantasy Quarterbacks

Josh Allen and Davante Adams Anytime Touchdown Odds

TST Best Bets: October 12, 2026

Pro Football Today Sunday Crunch: The Best NFL Prop Bets Picks

How the Peanut Punch Is Driving NFL Fumbles Higher

Troy Aikman Signals Monday Night Football Exit as ESPN Deal Ends

Packers vs. Cowboys Pick: Green Bay Primed to Roll

Drake Maye Must Stay Composed With A.J. Brown's Return

TST Best Bets: October 16, 2026

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

Miguel Rojas announces retirement after Brewers sweep Dodgers in NLCS

Dodgers eliminated as Brewers complete NLCS sweep

Brewers replace Dodgers as World Series favorites after taking 2-0 NLCS lead

The Dynamics of a Potential Dodgers vs. Brewers NLCS

MLB Futures Ods: Updated Markets After Wildcard Rounds

Can anyone stop the Dodgers? The biggest World Series threats according to prediction markets

Lars Rau

#81 · ILL · P

HT/WT

6’3”, 195 lbs

Birthplace

Novato, CA, USA

Class

Junior

LATEST Lars Rau NEWS

EDITOR'S PICKS

For the Best of SportsGrid, Grab the App