4 Big Ten coaches on hot seat entering the conference’s media days
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Tuesday marks the beginning of the Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. With 18 teams in the conference, there will be three full days of coverage.
Each head coach will be in attendance, along with player representatives. Four of those coaches, will have to answer some difficult questions. That’s because they are on the hot seat entering the 2026 college football season.
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Mike Locksley, Maryland
Mike Locksley enters Year 9 as the Maryland Terrapins head coach. He has compiled a meager 37-49 record with the Terrapins. The former Alabama offensive coordinator typically has a desirable offense, and Maryland could be onto something with rising sophomore quarterback Malik Washington at the helm.
But after two straight four-win seasons, Locksley has to make some improvements. It’s not going to be easy for a team like Maryland to contend in the Big Ten Conference with elite programs like Ohio State, Oregon and Michigan, along with defending champion Indiana.
However, Locksley needs to instill hope into the Maryland fan base to continue coaching. The Terrapins have recruited better recently under Locksley, landing five-star edge Zion Elee, and now the team must show improvement on the field.
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
The former Ohio State and Cincinnati head coach enters his fourth full season as the head coach at Wisconsin, and it’s now or never. Fickell has had just one winning season with the Badgers, and that was back in Year 1 when Wisconsin went 7-6, losing its bowl game.
The past two seasons have resulted in five and four wins, respectively. Wisconsin was once a premier brand in the Big Ten, but the Badgers haven’t put up much of a fight under Fickell.
Wisconsin went out and landed some talent via the transfer portal, and the Badgers have around a $25 million roster. Fickell’s fate likely resides around incoming quarterback Colton Joseph, who was a talented dual-threat quarterback at Old Dominion.
Another losing season will likely result in Fickell’s demise. But like Locksley, if he can provide a glimmer of hope in Madison, he could still be on the sideline in 2027.
Matt Rhule, Nebraska
Matt Rhule is an accomplished football coach, winning at both Temple and Baylor. He didn’t have an easy time with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL, and he’s not having an easy time with the historic Nebraska Cornhuskers program.
Entering his fourth year with the team, Rhule has compiled two winning seasons, along with one losing season. But both winning seasons were seven wins. He has yet to accomplish much in Lincoln, and the Nebraska fan base is craving another winning team.
To make matters worse, Rhule lost former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola to the transfer portal, where he ended up at Oregon, backing up Dante Moore. Rhule went out and landed UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea. He will hope the dual-threat gunslinger can provide him another year in Lincoln.
Lincoln Riley, USC
Yes, even a winning coach falls on this list. A big-time coach comes with big expectations, and Lincoln Riley hasn’t lived up to the billing. In his four seasons at USC, Riley has a respectable 35-18 record; however, his best season with the Trojans was back in Year 1, when he went 11-3.
USC is expected to contend for a College Football Playoff spot every year, and with an elite offensive scheme, the Trojans have yet to get to the CFP. A season ago, USC went 9-3 in the regular season with a loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl.
Riley gets back star quarterback Jayden Maiava for one more season, and if he can’t show a hope for the CFP, he could be looking for another team to coach in 2027.
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