Top Three Big Ten Head Coaches In Need Of Breakthrough Year In 2024

With the 2024 college football season swiftly approaching, the urgency for some of the sport's most high-profile head coaches continues to grow.

Particularly in the Big Ten, there are quite a few coaches to choose from who are desperate for a breakthrough season with their program to maintain or rebuild trust among the fanbase and future recruits.

Below, we have compiled the top three Big Ten coaches based on the overall ramifications for the coach if they were to falter once again.

No. 1: Ryan Day (Ohio State)

Ryan Day has been the head coach of the Buckeyes since he took over the reins from Urban Meyer in the latter portion of the 2018 season. Day has been highly successful, going 56-8 over six seasons with the Buckeyes. However, three of those six losses have come against the program's hated rival, Michigan, in each of the past three seasons.

Day has had plenty of offensive talent at his disposal with quarterbacks Justin Fields and CJ Stroud under center alongside wide receivers Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, and most recently Marvin Harrison Jr. highlighting the Buckeyes' high-powered offensive over Day's tenure.

Three consecutive losses to Michigan and zero national titles have begun to thin the patience of some Ohio State fans, making the 2024 season a "championship or bust" expectation for Day and the Buckeyes.

With the program bringing in some of the nation's top recruits alongside an impressive transfer portal haul that included quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins, and safety Caleb Downs, the 2024 Ohio State squad is one of the country's most talented teams on paper. Still, the results on the field will be the ultimate determining factor.

No. 2: Lincoln Riley (USC)

The Lincoln Riley experience has started to cause much concern in Los Angeles as Riley has undoubtedly shown his ability to generate elite offensive talent but has continued to struggle defensively. The defensive inconsistency has prevented the Trojans from taking the next step beyond the conference title game. Riley enters this fall's campaign in his third year of a 10-year, $110-million contract with an overall record of 19-8.

While part of this is due to the porous Trojans defense over his tenure that has more often than not forced the team to outscore the opponent to earn victories, a significant concern with Riley is his ability to compete with other premier programs on the recruiting side of college football in a sustainable way.

While the Trojans have the No. 18 ranked 2025 recruiting class and No. 5 within the Big Ten, the sudden decommitments from elite five-star recruits Justus Terry and Isaiah Gibson have caused some to question the future surrounding Riley's status at USC.

As the program enters its first season as part of the Big Ten, Riley must figure out how to survive against the rugged and skilled defenses that characterize the conference. With college football personalities such as ESPN's Paul Finebaum calling out Riley's recent results with USC, the time seems to be ticking on Riley's tenure with the Trojans unless he can break out this season.

No. 3: James Franklin (Penn State)

James Franklin is in a unique situation with Penn State. The program has experienced tremendous success during his tenure but still has only the 2016 Big Ten championship to show for it. This is partly due to the Nittany Lions' combined record against Ohio State and Michigan of 4-20 in Franklin's 10 seasons in State College.

With the Big Ten eliminating the divisional standings format and reshaping its schedule with the inclusion of Washington, USC, UCLA, and Oregon, the Nittany Lions will host the Buckeyes from Beaver Stadium this fall while not facing the Wolverines.

While Franklin's urgency to deliver this fall is not as dire as Ryan Day's or Lincoln Riley's, the relatively favorable schedule concerning their recent struggles against both the Wolverines and Buckeyes makes 2024 the season to make considerable strides and possibly make the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

Only time will tell whether Day, Riley, or Franklin will deliver what is needed to appease their respective fan bases. Still, the pressure is surely mounting as college football season inches closer.

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