Ben Kenney
June 1, 2024 6:45 am CT
We are kicking off the month of June here at Badgers Wire looking ahead to each aspect of the opponents on Wisconsin’s 2024 football schedule. Today that focus is on the opposing head coaches.
The Badgers’ 2024 schedule will see some new faces on the opposing sideline. It includes Wisconsin’s first contests against Alabama‘s Kalen DeBoer, Oregon‘s Dan Lanning and USC‘s Lincoln Riley. And also second matchups against Nebraska‘s Matt Rhule, Northwestern’s David Braun and Purdue’s Ryan Walters.
Related: Anonymous Big Ten coaches weigh in on Wisconsin football in 2024
The Badgers enter the season needing to cement their place in the new Big Ten landscape. Part of that is Luke Fickell proving his vision and validating the hype he received while at Cincinnati.
Preseason forecasts have the Badger head coach inside the Big Ten’s top third, but not quite at the top. Those select few have their programs competing for conference and national titles — a level Wisconsin is desperate to reach.
As we near the kickoff of the 2024 campaign here is our preseason ranking of every head coach on Wisconsin’s 2024 Big Ten schedule — which includes some of the nation’s best:
10
Honorable Mention: Kalen DeBoer (Alabama)
April 9, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer coaches his team during practice in the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility at the University of Alabama. Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 Record (at Washington): 14-1
DeBoer will not live up to the Nick Saban-sized vacancy in the Alabama building entering 2024. But he is regarded as one of the nation’s best coaches and should have the Crimson Tide immediately competing for SEC and national titles. This might be the best time to beat him and his program, as more time will only lead to more stability.
He doesn’t coach a Big Ten opponent, so he isn’t technically in the ranking. I’d project him at No. 2 overall if this ranking included the entire schedule.
Get more (Alabama) news, analysis, and opinions onRoll Tide Wire
9
Nov 18, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters watches his team play against the Northwestern Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaching Record:4-8 (Purdue 2023-present)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 16
2023 taught us that Jeff Brohm was criminally underrated during his time at Purdue. Ryan Walters struggled out of the gate, and still is yet to establish a program identity.
Purdue sits toward the bottom of the Big Ten and needs incredible work to have its ranking rise.
8
David Braun (Northwestern)
Sep 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Northwestern Wildcats interim coach David Braun shakes hands with Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Jack Kennedy (1) before the game at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaching Record:8-5 (Northwestern 2023-present)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 15
Braun surprisingly led Northwestern to an 8-5 record in 2023 after Pat Fitzgerald was fired during the offseason. He’ll need a few more good years before receiving the benefit of the doubt at a program ill-equipped to succeed in the common age of the sport.
7
Greg Schiano (Rutgers)
Sep 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaching Record:87-95 (Rutgers 2001-2011, 2020-2023)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 14
2024 is an all-in year for Schiano and Rutgers. He has a chance to jump a few tiers if the Scarlet Knights capitalize on a season that sees most of the stars align.
Get more (Rutgers) news, analysis, and opinions onRutgers Wire
6
P.J. Fleck (Minnesota)
Oct 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck watches a replay against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaching Record:80-56 (Western Michigan 2013-2016, Minnesota 2017-2023)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 13
Fleck is starting to slide in the ranking after a 6-7 2023 campaign. The Golden Gophers return most of their 2023 defense and welcome in FCS transfer QB Max Brosmer. 2024 will need to see tangible results or Fleck will continue to drift further from the top.
5
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaching Record:196-119 (Iowa 1999-present)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 7
Kirk Ferentz is a fantastic football coach. His spot on this list shows what Wisconsin is up against this season, and the conference’s depth of coaching talent after adding the four former Pac-12 schools.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis, and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
4
Lincoln Riley (USC)
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) talks with USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley during the first half of the game against No. 6 Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. Credit: Abigail Dollins-USA TODAY NETWORK
Head Coaching Record:74-18 (Oklahoma 2017-2021, USC 2022-present)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 3
I have made an addendum to my previous list and pushed Riley back a few spots. USC has real questions entering the Big Ten after its defense was one of the nation’s worst in 2023. The Trojans will score points with Riley at the helm, but I’m not sure their play style will work in the Big Ten.
Get more (USC) news, analysis, and opinions onTrojans Wire
3
Matt Rhule (Nebraska)
Nov 11, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule during the third quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaching Record:52-50 (Temple 2013-2016, Baylor 2017-2019, Nebraska 2023-present)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 5
Rhule has a history of building during year one at a new program and excelling in year two. Things line up that way for the Cornhuskers with one of the nation’s top defenses and five-star QB Dylan Raiola under center.
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis, and opinions onCornhuskers Wire
2
James Franklin (Penn State)
Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaching Record:112-54 (Vanderbilt 2011-2013, Penn State 2014-present)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 4
Franklin gets national hate for seemingly never defeating Ohio State or Michigan in a must-win big game. There is no defense for the recent record, but the new 12-team College Football Playoff will see Penn State emerge as an annual contender.
I think the pendulum has swung toward Franklin being an underrated coach.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis, and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
1
Dan Lanning (Oregon)
Sep 30, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning walks on the field before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamash*ta-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaching Record:22-5 (Oregon 2022-present)
Big Ten Ranking: No. 1
Lanning is the easy No. 1 on this list. He is one of the sport’s best young coaches and has Oregon ready to compete for national championships in the sport’s new landscape. Don’t be surprised if it happens in year one.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis, and opinions onDucks Wire
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