Football Ranking every Big Ten head coach's all-time record against AP Top 25 opponents

[Richie O]

Ranking every Big Ten head coach's all-time record against AP Top 25 opponents

CBS Sports ranked current Big Ten head football coaches based on their career win-loss record against AP-ranked Top 25 teams entering 2026.

www.on3.com

 

[MADHAT1]

Thant's Richie
Greg's record is nothing to brag about but he's not the worst and I was surprised to see how Matt Rhule's record was so bad.
His 2-5 record when the Temple HC didn't help
0-11 at Baylor did the trick.

 

[NickRU714]

Interesting fact: All 34 of those "losses" had refs that were biased against Rutgers.
And those 4 wins were over teams that were very underrated and much better than whatever their final record was.

 

[RUGuitarMan1]

A lot of the success has to do where someone coached. The exceptions are Bielema, Campbell, Ferentz, Fisch, Whittingham and of course Cignetti. Most of the other top guys coached at established powerhouses.

 

[Anon1754923206]

4-34…I’m surprised it is that good!

 

[Knight Shift]

Thant's Richie
Greg's record is nothing to brag about but he's not the worst and I was surprised to see how Matt Rhule's record was so bad.
His 2-5 record when the Temple HC didn't help
0-11 at Baylor did the trick.

And let's be real.
18- Braun-- too small of a sample size -9 games
17. Chesney- same-- one game
16-13: Odom, Locksley, Rhule and Schiano are all terrible

A lot of the success has to do where someone coached. The exceptions are Bielema, Campbell, Ferentz, Fisch, Whittingham and of course Cignetti. Most of the other top guys coached at established powerhouses.

Exactly

 

[RUTGERS95]

And let's be real.
18- Braun-- too small of a sample size -9 games
17. Chesney- same-- one game
16-13: Odom, Locksley, Rhule and Schiano are all terrible



Exactly

you think Odom is terrible? He did fairly well at Mizzou, UNLV

2016 Missouri 12 4 8 0 .333
2017 Missouri 13 7 6 0 .538
2018 Missouri 13 8 5 0 .615
2019 Missouri 12 6 6 0 .500
2023 UNLV 14 9 5 0 .643
2024 UNLV 13 10 3 0 .769
2025 Purdue 12 2 10

 

[Knight Shift]

you think Odom is terrible? He did fairly well at Mizzou, UNLV

2016 Missouri 12 4 8 0 .333
2017 Missouri 13 7 6 0 .538
2018 Missouri 13 8 5 0 .615
2019 Missouri 12 6 6 0 .500
2023 UNLV 14 9 5 0 .643
2024 UNLV 13 10 3 0 .769
2025 Purdue 12 2 10

Yeah, at 1-17 in this category

 

[RUTGERS95]

Yeah, at 1-17 in this category

true but his overall records indicate he wins when he's supposed which is what the other cats lack. I would not put him in that group

 

[Knight Shift]

true but his overall records indicate he wins when he's supposed which is what the other cats lack. I would not put him in that group

That not what the story is about..and I checked his record at Missouri, and he beat the worst SEC teams and middling teams.

Don't care what he did at UNLV.

He is the least worst of the horrific group.

 

[RUTGERS95]

That not what the story is about..and I checked his record at Missouri, and he beat the worst SEC teams and middling teams.

Don't care what he did at UNLV.

He is the least worst of the horrific group.

true not what the story is about but in all things RU msg board, it's morphed. lol

so he beat the bad and middling teams which is was good for those teams. The other coaches didn't to my point. Not great but still not terrible. Terrible is a sub .500 record and not sniffing any wins against ranked opponents ala someone we all know.....

I just think 'terrible' is too harsh. Locksley, Greg are terrible

 

[Anon1751565407]

Thant's Richie
Greg's record is nothing to brag about but he's not the worst and I was surprised to see how Matt Rhule's record was so bad.
His 2-5 record when the Temple HC didn't help
0-11 at Baylor did the trick.

Matt Rhule walked on water only a few years ago. I would’ve never guessed he was THAT bad.
Greg has had to rebuild twice and anyone ignoring that fact is arguing in bad faith. That said, being the Head Ball Coach at Old Rutgers is no longer a bad/dead end job.

 

[MADHAT1]

Matt Rhule walked on water only a few years ago. I would’ve never guessed he was THAT bad.
Greg has had to rebuild twice and anyone ignoring that fact is arguing in bad faith. That said, being the Head Ball Coach at Old Rutgers is no longer a bad/dead end job.

Greg will never get the credit he deserves for making RU FB far better than when he took over the program both times
G1 rook aver a program that it's fans just hoped could win nore than it lost and didn't really expect that to happen.
RU's fanbase just hoped the team wouldn't lose too badly and might sneak in a win or two against other bad programs
Schiano (1) built a program that the RU fanbase could be proud of and the fans started to get visions of sugar plums and championships in their head.
Expectations exceded accomplishments and by the time he headeg to pros , many fans were turning against him saying he didn't produce the type of program they expected he would

G2 came saw and improved, but so far the results are middling and not as good as fans demand .
The expectations that were part of Schiano's first tenure has followed him into his second and he's producing the same underwhelming results once he turned the program for the mess he inherited from the burnt Ash .
So it's time for him to do it or get out.
Greg deserves our thanks for what he gas accomplished, but not the type of loyalty from the fanbase that HCs of top programs have earned by making their programs conference championship contenders and possible playoff picks every preseason

 

[Anon1751565407]

Greg will never get the credit he deserves for making RU FB far better than when he took over the program both times
G1 rook aver a program that it's fans just hoped could win nore than it lost and didn't really expect that to happen.
RU's fanbase just hoped the team wouldn't lose too badly and might sneak in a win or two against other bad programs
Schiano (1) built a program that the RU fanbase could be proud of and the fans started to get visions of sugar plums and championships in their head.
Expectations exceded accomplishments and by the time he headeg to pros , many fans were turning against him saying he didn't produce the type of program they expected he would

G2 came saw and improved, but so far the results are middling and not as good as fans demand .
The expectations that were part of Schiano's first tenure has followed him into his second and he's producing the same underwhelming results once he turned the program for the mess he inherited from the burnt Ash .
So it's time for him to do it or get out.
Greg deserves our thanks for what he gas accomplished, but not the type of loyalty from the fanbase that HCs of top programs have earned by making their programs conference championship contenders and possible playoff picks every preseason.

Seems as though the NIL situation has improved greatly with Kelli Zinn…so the leashes will certainly be shorter going forward for both Greg and Steve.

 

[RUTGERS95]

Greg will never get the credit he deserves for making RU FB far better than when he took over the program both times

huh? 1.it's the only reason he still has a job or that very least, the excuse that lives on for poor performance and 2.there isn't a single media person that doesn't mention this or discusses it

He get's plenty of credit and was/is paid handsomely for it.

 

[Knight Shift]

Greg will never get the credit he deserves for making RU FB far better than when he took over the program both times
G1 rook aver a program that it's fans just hoped could win nore than it lost and didn't really expect that to happen.
RU's fanbase just hoped the team wouldn't lose too badly and might sneak in a win or two against other bad programs
Schiano (1) built a program that the RU fanbase could be proud of and the fans started to get visions of sugar plums and championships in their head.
Expectations exceded accomplishments and by the time he headeg to pros , many fans were turning against him saying he didn't produce the type of program they expected he would

G2 came saw and improved, but so far the results are middling and not as good as fans demand .
The expectations that were part of Schiano's first tenure has followed him into his second and he's producing the same underwhelming results once he turned the program for the mess he inherited from the burnt Ash .
So it's time for him to do it or get out.
Greg deserves our thanks for what he gas accomplished, but not the type of loyalty from the fanbase that HCs of top programs have earned by making their programs conference championship contenders and possible playoff picks every preseason

Not sure what point this makes in a thread started by the guy who runs the site on the topic of RECORD AGAINST TOP 25 OPPONENTS!!!

It's an indicator of punching above your weight, which Keli has referred to numerous times. 0 knockouts in 6 years is quite bad.

huh? 1.it's the only reason he still has a job or that very least, the excuse that lives on for poor performance and 2.there isn't a single media person that doesn't mention this or discusses it

He get's plenty of credit and was/is paid handsomely for it.

See above.

 

[RUTGERS95]

Not sure what point this makes in a thread started by the guy who runs the site on the topic of RECORD AGAINST TOP 25 OPPONENTS!!!

It's an indicator of punching above your weight, which Keli has referred to numerous times. 0 knockouts in 6 years is quite bad.

View attachment 1388965

See above.

I was responding to his 'credit' comment but to your point, Redd never was wrong!!!!

also, one of the best sitcoms ever!

 

[Knight Shift]

I was responding to his 'credit' comment but to your point, Redd never was wrong!!!!

also, one of the best sitcoms ever!

Greg 2.0 has 0 top 25 wins. His last top 25 win was in 2009 against #23, which fell out of the rankings permanently. It's been 8 years of coaching since Greg has defeated a top 25 opponent

 

[RUTGERS95]

Greg 2.0 has 0 top 25 wins. His last top 25 win was in 2009 against #23, which fell out of the rankings permanently. It's been 8 years of coaching since Greg has defeated a top 25 opponent

yup
HE
ABSOLUTELY
SUCKS!

no amount of money is going to make that pig look good. He hurts us more than he helps now. The best thing he could do is to simply manage the program and let his coaches free

 

[RU#1fan]

Greg deserves our thanks for what he gas accomplished, but not the type of loyalty from the fanbase that HCs of top programs have earned by making their programs conference championship contenders and possible playoff picks every preseason
[/QUOTE]
Greg 1.0 certainly earned kudos for saving RU Football. In fact 5 of his final 6 seasons were highlighted by 8 or more wins each year ( and we all know the tragedy of the 2010 season). Greg 2.0 following the Ash dumpster fire is far from the same praise. Literally any new HC would have done better than the disaster called Chris Ash. He now needs to beat somebody who were not supposed to. The continuation of 4 or 5 win seasons is no longer acceptable to the Program or fans.

 

[MADHAT1]

yup
HE
ABSOLUTELY
SUCKS!

no amount of money is going to make that pig look good. He hurts us more than he helps now. The best thing he could do is to simply manage the program and let his coaches free

Some consider these HCs top of the line, even with bad records against top 25 programs

Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri 7-19 (.269

Shane Beamer, South Carolina 7-21 (.250)

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt 6-18 (.250)

Jon Sumrall, Florida 2-7 (.222) Heck even the mighty Lane doesn’t light the world on fire. Lane Kiffin, LSU 15-26 (.365) Nor is this HOF worthy Steve Sarkisian, Texas 25-35 (.416) But their records does not excuse Schiano’s poor showing and they get credit for being winners . Schiano isn’t a winner by any means, but not as big as loser as some are inplying. He’s the type of HC that can only do so much then hits a wall before being able to make his program a good one. After getting it fairly good the best that he proved so far. Is make a pretty good team that just falls short of being good enough to keep him . I like what Greg had done after taking over, bith times, but don’t think he’s the HC that can bring Rutgers Football to the promised land . That’s something I refuse to allow as a RU fan and that’s why I say : “do it or get out” even though I admire how me made the program better, but he couldn’t make Rutgers into a constant top 25 program and that’s why I feel Greg needs to go . But I refuse to think of him as a loser, just as a HC that can build from nothing but not make his program among the better ones . He’s a builder of programs that can make bad programs better, but lacks the coaching skills to make his program considered a top 25 team

 

[Anon1754923206]

Some consider these HCs top of the line, even with bad records against top 25 programs

​

Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri 7-19 (.269

Shane Beamer, South Carolina 7-21 (.250)

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt 6-18 (.250)

Jon Sumrall, Florida 2-7 (.222) Heck even the mighty Lane doesn’t light the world on fire. Lane Kiffin, LSU 15-26 (.365) Nor is this HOF worthy Steve Sarkisian, Texas 25-35 (.416) But their records does not excuse Schiano’s poor showing and they get credit for being winners . Schiano isn’t a winner by any means, but not as big as loser as some are inplying. He’s the type of HC that can only do so much then hits a wall before being able to make his program a good one. After getting it fairly good the best that he proved so far. Is make a pretty good team that just falls short of being good enough to keep him . I like what Greg had done after taking over, bith times, but don’t think he’s the HC that can bring Rutgers Football to the promised land . That’s something I refuse to allow as a RU fan and that’s why I say : “do it or get out” even though I admire how me made the program better, but he couldn’t make Rutgers into a constant top 25 program and that’s why I feel Greg needs to go . But I refuse to think of him as a loser, just as a HC that can build from nothing but not make his program among the better ones . He’s a builder of programs that can make bad programs better, but lacks the coaching skills to make his program considered a top 25 team

Lea beat #1 bama, Tenn twice
Kiffin had three consecutive 10+ seasons in the SEC and 13 wins last year
Sark took tx to the CFB semis and has signature wins.
Drink and Beamer could coach several circles around GS 1.0 or 2.0

 

[RU#1fan]

Greg 2.0 has 0 top 25 wins. His last top 25 win was in 2009 against #23, which fell out of the rankings permanently. It's been 8 years of coaching since Greg has defeated a top 25 opponent


This says it all. The Schiano apologists need to stop. We need to move on next season if he flounders again.

 

[RUTGERS95]

Some consider these HCs top of the line, even with bad records against top 25 programs

​

Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri 7-19 (.269

Shane Beamer, South Carolina 7-21 (.250)

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt 6-18 (.250)

Jon Sumrall, Florida 2-7 (.222) Heck even the mighty Lane doesn’t light the world on fire. Lane Kiffin, LSU 15-26 (.365) Nor is this HOF worthy Steve Sarkisian, Texas 25-35 (.416) But their records does not excuse Schiano’s poor showing and they get credit for being winners . Schiano isn’t a winner by any means, but not as big as loser as some are inplying. He’s the type of HC that can only do so much then hits a wall before being able to make his program a good one. After getting it fairly good the best that he proved so far. Is make a pretty good team that just falls short of being good enough to keep him . I like what Greg had done after taking over, bith times, but don’t think he’s the HC that can bring Rutgers Football to the promised land . That’s something I refuse to allow as a RU fan and that’s why I say : “do it or get out” even though I admire how me made the program better, but he couldn’t make Rutgers into a constant top 25 program and that’s why I feel Greg needs to go . But I refuse to think of him as a loser, just as a HC that can build from nothing but not make his program among the better ones . He’s a builder of programs that can make bad programs better, but lacks the coaching skills to make his program considered a top 25 team

just stop, trying in vain like this diminishes your legitimacy

 

[RUTGERS95]

Lea beat #1 bama, Tenn twice
Kiffin had three consecutive 10+ seasons in the SEC and 13 wins last year
Sark took tx to the CFB semis and has signature wins.
Drink and Beamer could coach several circles around GS 1.0 or 2.0

the record against top 25 teams is somewhat misleading as the metric should be against teams with winning records. People try to put lipstick on the pig without understanding it's the face behind it that needs the work

Across Greg's entire 18-year college head coaching career, He has a 14-87 (.138) record against teams that finished the season with a winning record.

in 2.0, he has beaten 0 p4 teams with a winning record

the last coach to beat a p4 team with a winning record was Coach Flood

Rutgers holds the top spot for p4 teams with the longest time for not beating a p4 team with a winning record

 

[Caliknight]

Those stats are putrid. Greg’s lack of coaching acumen really showed in the old watered down BE days when he had more funding than anyone. He still couldn’t win a crappy conference. It was very telling.

 

[mugrat86]

the record against top 25 teams is somewhat misleading as the metric should be against teams with winning records. People try to put lipstick on the pig without understanding it's the face behind it that needs the work

Across Greg's entire 18-year college head coaching career, He has a 14-87 (.138) record against teams that finished the season with a winning record.

in 2.0, he has beaten 0 p4 teams with a winning record

the last coach to beat a p4 team with a winning record was Coach Flood

Rutgers holds the top spot for p4 teams with the longest time for not beating a p4 team with a winning record

Wow. I had no idea about zero wins against teams with a winning record. Pretty damning