Ranking the Top 10 Most Disappointing College Football Teams Going Into Week 9

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 9

USA Today's Preseason Big Ten Quarterback Rankings: Stats Going Into Week 9

ESPN Predicts Final Record for All 18 Big Ten Teams Right Now: Going Into Week 9

Ranking the Top 50 College Football Running Backs Right Now: Going Into Week 9

Ranking the Top 10 Potential Upsets for College Football Week 9

As the 2026 college football season approaches, USA TODAY Sports assembled a 10-voter panel to power rank the top 25 head coaches in the country. Following a chaotic expanded playoff season and a wild coaching carousel, the master list features major shifts across every power conference. From established heavyweights holding down the top tier to rising program builders like Rhett Lashlee, Jon Sumrall, Clark Lea, Josh Heupel, and Sonny Dykes cracking the rankings, we break down every coach's career record, key achievements, and 2026 outlook. Check out our full 25-coach power rankings to see where your team's leader sits.

USA TODAY's Top 25 College Football Coaches: Records Going Into Week 9

Going 12-0 in modern college football is arguably the hardest feat in sports. As kickoff for the 2026 season approaches, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) supercomputer simulated thousands of regular-season scenarios to calculate the exact win-out probabilities for every FBS program. Factoring in roster depth, efficiency ratings, and schedule difficulty, we expanded our master index to power rank the 10 teams most likely to finish the regular season undefeated. From Notre Dame, Texas Tech, Georgia, Indiana, and Ohio State leading the unblemished board to Miami, Oregon, Texas, Penn State, and UNLV lurking, we break down every program's FPI profile, team record, and path to perfection. Check out our full 10-team breakdown to see who could run the table.

ESPN Ranks College Football's 3 Undefeated Teams From Most to Least Likely to Win Out Ahead of Week 9

LATEST Riley Thompson NEWS

Get Saturday College Football picks on Florida, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Oregon State, and Northwestern, plus top underdog plays and best bets today.

Saturday College Football Picks, Best Bets and Underdogs

Back Oregon State over 32.5 points against Fresno State, then examine whether Jesse Legree&#039;s prolific season could affect Jeremiah Smith&#039;s Heisman bid.

Oregon State Team Total Bet and Heisman Receiver Debate

Back Iowa on the moneyline at home against Wisconsin in a defensive Big Ten clash projected to stay low scoring and finish around 17-14—every point matters.

Iowa vs. Wisconsin Betting Pick: Back Hawkeyes at Home

Indiana vs. Minnesota betting analysis favors the under 40.5, with both Big Ten teams pairing strong defenses with weak offenses and quarterback injuries.

Indiana vs. Minnesota Prediction: Bet the Big Ten Under

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View the profile of Penn State Nittany Lions P Riley Thompson on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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Riley Thompson

#14 · PSU · P

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6’1”, 224 lbs

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Melbourne,, AUS

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