Where do you rank Franklin among Big Ten football head coaches?

[saturdaysarebetter2]

Where do you rank James Franklin among Big Ten football head coaches?

Here is the list of Big Ten schools and their current football head coach:
Illinois - Bret Bielema
Indiana - Curt Cignetti
Iowa - Kirk Ferentz
Maryland - Mike Locksley
Michigan - Sherrone Moore
Michigan State - Jonathan Smith
Minnesota - P.J. Fleck
Nebraska - Matt Rhule
Northwestern - David Braun
Ohio State - Ryan Day
Oregon - Dan Lanning
Penn State - James Franklin
Purdue - Barry Odom
Rutgers - Greg Schiano
UCLA - DeShaun Foster
USC - Lincoln Riley
Washington - Jedd Fisch
Wisconsin - Luke Fickell

Where do you rank James Franklin?

 

[heckmans]

Where do you rank James Franklin among Big Ten football head coaches?

Here is the list of Big Ten schools and their current football head coach:
Illinois - Bret Bielema
Indiana - Curt Cignetti
Iowa - Kirk Ferentz
Maryland - Mike Locksley
Michigan - Sherrone Moore
Michigan State - Jonathan Smith
Minnesota - P.J. Fleck
Nebraska - Matt Rhule
Northwestern - David Braun
Ohio State - Ryan Day
Oregon - Dan Lanning
Penn State - James Franklin
Purdue - Barry Odom
Rutgers - Greg Schiano
UCLA - DeShaun Foster
USC - Lincoln Riley
Washington - Jedd Fisch
Wisconsin - Luke Fickell

Where do you rank James Franklin?

What is your criteria for the ranking?

 

[rrdd2021]

Right behind Ryan Day in the #2 position and just ahead of Rhule who I think has Nebraska going in the right direction

 

[Jerry]

I agree with rrdd above: #2 behind Day.

I'd have to make Lanning #3 at this point. With only three seasons under his belt, I'd want to see a few more years of similar success before elevating him higher on the list.

One thing that strikes you looking at that roster is the number of names once thought to be hot stuff but brought down to earth by some pretty shaky seasons.

 

[rrdd2021]

I agree with rrdd above: #2 behind Day.

I'd have to make Lanning #3 at this point. With only three seasons under his belt, I'd want to see a few more years of similar success before elevating him higher on the list.

One thing that strikes you looking at that roster is the number of names once thought to be hot stuff but brought down to earth by some pretty shaky seasons.

Yea, I was flip flopping between Lanning and Rhule for #3 - it was close

 

[LandoComando]

Yea, I was flip flopping between Lanning and Rhule for #3 - it was close

I think you have Rhule way too high. I'm completely unimpressed but if they do flip things next year that's when I'd bump him up

Top Day (has a title and dominates everyone not named Michigan)
Tier 2Franklin/Lanning (interchangeable)
Ferentz/Cignetti/Riley/BB in the 3rd tier
Then Rhule/Fleck/Fickell/Schiano as the 4th group
I like Foster--he just hasn't accomplished anything yet

I think Rhule is just incredibly overrated right now while Ferentz/BB and Riley aren't liked so they're underrated. Lincoln has to figure shit out quickly though

 

[bdgan]

Where do you rank James Franklin among Big Ten football head coaches?

Here is the list of Big Ten schools and their current football head coach:
Illinois - Bret Bielema
Indiana - Curt Cignetti
Iowa - Kirk Ferentz
Maryland - Mike Locksley
Michigan - Sherrone Moore
Michigan State - Jonathan Smith
Minnesota - P.J. Fleck
Nebraska - Matt Rhule
Northwestern - David Braun
Ohio State - Ryan Day
Oregon - Dan Lanning
Penn State - James Franklin
Purdue - Barry Odom
Rutgers - Greg Schiano
UCLA - DeShaun Foster
USC - Lincoln Riley
Washington - Jedd Fisch
Wisconsin - Luke Fickell

Where do you rank James Franklin?

It's difficult to rank them because each school has a different reputation, facilities, and financial resources. That said I think Franklin is in the top 5.

 

[bdgan]

I think you have Rhule way too high. I'm completely unimpressed but if they do flip things next year that's when I'd bump him up

Top Day (has a title and dominates everyone not named Michigan)
Tier 2Franklin/Lanning (interchangeable)
Ferentz/Cignetti/Riley/BB in the 3rd tier
Then Rhule/Fleck/Fickell/Schiano as the 4th group
I like Foster--he just hasn't accomplished anything yet

I think Rhule is just incredibly overrated right now why Ferentz/BB and Riley aren't liked so they're underrated. Lincoln has to figure shit out quickly though

Indiana struck (fools) gold by getting so many portal transfers. I can't help but to think Indiana was too quick to offer Cignetti an $8 million contract. Let's see how he does having to replace 16 starters. He does get another break in the schedule by avoiding OSU, Michigan, USC, and Washington.

 

[LandoComando]

Indiana struck (fools) gold by getting so many portal transfers. I can't help but to think Indiana was too quick to offer Cignetti an $8 million contract. Let's see how he does having to replace 16 starters. He does get another break in the schedule by avoiding OSU, Michigan, USC, and Washington.

I'm not saying they didn't overpay but what he's done previously plus that is impressive. We'll see if he can sustain it. Playing Oregon and us should be 2 losses

 

[heckmans]

Indiana struck (fools) gold by getting so many portal transfers. I can't help but to think Indiana was too quick to offer Cignetti an $8 million contract. Let's see how he does having to replace 16 starters. He does get another break in the schedule by avoiding OSU, Michigan, USC, and Washington.

Weren't most of the transfers from James Madison? If he took G5 recruits (and potentially some that were recruited JMU as an FCS program) and finished 11-2, it's hard to say that that is striking gold. Even without playing some of the top B2G teams, that's pretty impressive. Gotta be something there to Cignetti as a coach, no?

 

[rrdd2021]

I think you have Rhule way too high. I'm completely unimpressed but if they do flip things next year that's when I'd bump him up

Top Day (has a title and dominates everyone not named Michigan)
Tier 2Franklin/Lanning (interchangeable)
Ferentz/Cignetti/Riley/BB in the 3rd tier
Then Rhule/Fleck/Fickell/Schiano as the 4th group
I like Foster--he just hasn't accomplished anything yet

I think Rhule is just incredibly overrated right now while Ferentz/BB and Riley aren't liked so they're underrated. Lincoln has to figure shit out quickly though

I'd have Riley up there with Day-Franklin if his teams could ever figure out how to play defense or hire the right DC. If-when that happens, watch out for USC

 

[saturdaysarebetter2]

What is your criteria for the ranking?

Best coach. All encompassing criteria.

 

[psu00]

I'd have Riley up there with Day-Franklin if his teams could ever figure out how to play defense or hire the right DC. If-when that happens, watch out for USC

I’d put Day followed by Lanning. Then Franklin and Riley in the same general group pending Riley learning how to play defense.

 

[PSU4U]

Indiana struck (fools) gold by getting so many portal transfers. I can't help but to think Indiana was too quick to offer Cignetti an $8 million contract. Let's see how he does having to replace 16 starters. He does get another break in the schedule by avoiding OSU, Michigan, USC, and Washington.

The guy has won everywhere he has been it's what he does but he has a big job ahead of him.

 

[heckmans]

Best coach. All encompassing criteria.

Well, then you have to boil this down to success on the field since all the encompassing criteria are about winning football games against your peers.

 

[Hugh Laurie]

At this moment, somewhere in the top 5.

 

[wilbury]

Third behind Day and Lanning but ahead of Rhule who might not even be 4. Overall, coaching in the Big Ten isn't really great.

 

[PSU20]

Weren't most of the transfers from James Madison? If he took G5 recruits (and potentially some that were recruited JMU as an FCS program) and finished 11-2, it's hard to say that that is striking gold. Even without playing some of the top B2G teams, that's pretty impressive. Gotta be something there to Cignetti as a coach, no?

I believe there were about 10 from JM; the other 17 or so from all over.

 

[MacNit2.0]

I agree with rrdd above: #2 behind Day.

I'd have to make Lanning #3 at this point. With only three seasons under his belt, I'd want to see a few more years of similar success before elevating him higher on the list.

One thing that strikes you looking at that roster is the number of names once thought to be hot stuff but brought down to earth by some pretty shaky seasons.

Played a game on a neutral field? Who won?

 

[Jerry]

Played a game on a neutral field? Who won?

I don't think you can hinge the ranking on one single game. I mean, Ohio State played a game in its own stadium against 20-point underdog Michigan...and lost. That doesn't by itself make Sherrone Moore a better coach than Ryan Day.

I think we need to see more from Lanning than one great year to rocket him near the top of the list. Come to think of it, Oregon is coming to town next September. That should be interesting.

Beyond that, you look at all those names in the OP and it kind of hits home that hey, Franklin ain't so bad even with the big-game albatross hanging around his neck. I mean, he's won a lot more sort-of-big games than most anyone on that roster of conference coaches. And the only guy on there who really qualifies in the big-game category is Day.

 

[dailybuck777]

I'd have Riley up there with Day-Franklin if his teams could ever figure out how to play defense or hire the right DC. If-when that happens, watch out for USC

Amazing to me how good Riley is in coaching offense and how terrible his teams are on defense. About 6 years ago he hired in Ohio State defensive coordinator who was a failure at Ohio State and of course he was a failure at Oklahoma.

 

[rrdd2021]

Amazing to me how good Riley is in coaching offense and how terrible his teams are on defense. About 6 years ago he hired in Ohio State defensive coordinator who was a failure at Ohio State and of course he was a failure at Oklahoma.

One of the CF head scratchers - no doubt.

 

[NittanyIllinois]

Day
Franklin
Lanning

Big gap after that.

Then probably Riley. Then some combination of Ferentz, Cignetti, Beilema, Rhule.

 

[rrdd2021]

Indiana struck (fools) gold by getting so many portal transfers. I can't help but to think Indiana was too quick to offer Cignetti an $8 million contract. Let's see how he does having to replace 16 starters. He does get another break in the schedule by avoiding OSU, Michigan, USC, and Washington.

"Getting so many" is misleading. Keep in mind, many kids (not all) are in the Portal due to lack of playing time at their previous school. Without going back and double-checking, I believe that the NC game schools had only had 6 (OSU) and 7 (ND) Portal transfers and most of them were big contributors in 2024......especially OSU.

 

[ryoder1]

Just looking at wins and losses he is probably 2nd or 3rd behind Day and possibly Lanning. Cignetti is good but jury still out. Bielema is good but loses to Franklin (mostly). Rhule is not better until he shows better results than what we have seen. Riley has not performed at USC.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

The book on Franklin has been known for nearly a decade. It has been consistent. He was the right answer when hired because he is a great recruiter and can motivate players. He inherited great facilities at a great school with a great football history and fan base but had to restore its reputation after the administration of the school had wrecked it. His ability to recruit and motivate met the need. But .... as history has shown, he is below average as a football coach and tactician. He just doesn't beat teams with more talent -- ever. That is the simple measure. He should win some of these games on occasion. Not more than half of course, but some.

What does this mean in terms of an assessment? I think there can be a rating based on the Pre versus the Post NIL/Portal era. In the past recruiting was a huge factor -- a Franklin strength. In the future it will be money. The coach himself will be less relevant in getting the players but then more important in terms of developing and coaching the players.

I would put Franklin in the top half of the conference in terms of past history but in the bottom half going forward. If PSU outspends the competition he will likely perform a lot like he did in 2024/5. Very good having been given a good team, but not able to coach them through a series of four games against the top teams, and eventually the elite teams in the semis and finals.

 

[ryoder1]

The book on Franklin has been known for nearly a decade. It has been consistent. He was the right answer when hired because he is a great recruiter and can motivate players. He inherited great facilities at a great school with a great football history and fan base but had to restore its reputation after the administration of the school had wrecked it. His ability to recruit and motivate met the need. But .... as history has shown, he is below average as a football coach and tactician. He just doesn't beat teams with more talent -- ever. That is the simple measure. He should win some of these games on occasion. Not more than half of course, but some.

What does this mean in terms of an assessment? I think there can be a rating based on the Pre versus the Post NIL/Portal era. In the past recruiting was a huge factor -- a Franklin strength. In the future it will be money. The coach himself will be less relevant in getting the players but then more important in terms of developing and coaching the players.

I would put Franklin in the top half of the conference in terms of past history but in the bottom half going forward. If PSU outspends the competition he will likely perform a lot like he did in 2024/5. Very good having been given a good team, but not able to coach them through a series of four games against the top teams, and eventually the elite teams in the semis and finals.

I like your analysis and well stated. I was going to put the caveat on whether he has the talent or not. If you give Franklin the team made up of talent like Rhule at Nebraska or Bielema at Illinois he does no better than them and probably could be worse. Schiano at Rutgers is another one. Cignetti is a wildcard. So still top half of B10 type guy and you could say top 5 or better based on his recruiting ability. That is a key job description.

But moving forward with NIL being so dominant it is an unknown. He is a good salesman so he probably is pretty good schmoozing high net worth booster types.

You nailed it though when it comes to Xs and Os and game planning/strategy and adjustments and I would throw in just having the team mentally prepared to perform in the biggest moments in the biggest games he has not gotten the needed results.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

I like your analysis and well stated. I was going to put the caveat on whether he has the talent or not. If you give Franklin the team made up of talent like Rhule at Nebraska or Bielema at Illinois he does no better than them and probably could be worse. Schiano at Rutgers is another one. Cignetti is a wildcard. So still top half of B10 type guy and you could say top 5 or better based on his recruiting ability. That is a key job description.

But moving forward with NIL being so dominant it is an unknown. He is a good salesman so he probably is pretty good schmoozing high net worth booster types.

You nailed it though when it comes to Xs and Os and game planning/strategy and adjustments and I would throw in just having the team mentally prepared to perform in the biggest moments in the biggest games he has not gotten the needed results.

Bottom line is that I just don't see Franklin being the answer if the goal is an NC. You absolutely must be able to out-prepare and out-coach the guy on the other sideline. This has never been demonstrated.

He will be able to fill the stadium as fans hope for an anomaly. That is all the administration cares about, so he won't be going anywhere. As it was once said two decades ago, lower your expectations. You'll never be down through disappointment.

 

[ryoder1]

Bottom line is that I just don't see Franklin being the answer if the goal is an NC. You absolutely must be able to out-prepare and out-coach the guy on the other sideline. This has never been demonstrated.

He will be able to fill the stadium as fans hope for an anomaly. That is all the administration cares about, so he won't be going anywhere. As it was once said two decades ago, lower your expectations. You'll never be down through disappointment.

Leading up to that ND game I had a gnawing feeling it would not end well. I didn't want to think negatively and repressed that feeling. Sure enough that game went according to script. We should win but per usual do not make the clutch plays, right decisions when needed and we find a way to lose.

 

[PSU4U]

Where do you rank James Franklin among Big Ten football head coaches?

Here is the list of Big Ten schools and their current football head coach:
Illinois - Bret Bielema
Indiana - Curt Cignetti
Iowa - Kirk Ferentz
Maryland - Mike Locksley
Michigan - Sherrone Moore
Michigan State - Jonathan Smith
Minnesota - P.J. Fleck
Nebraska - Matt Rhule
Northwestern - David Braun
Ohio State - Ryan Day
Oregon - Dan Lanning
Penn State - James Franklin
Purdue - Barry Odom
Rutgers - Greg Schiano
UCLA - DeShaun Foster
USC - Lincoln Riley
Washington - Jedd Fisch
Wisconsin - Luke Fickell

Where do you rank James Franklin?

LOL: Today I would say he's one helluva recruiter.

 

[Hotshoe]

Dollar for Dollar? #1, and I don't believe it's close. Day has pi$$ed away more money in talent than any coach I've ever seen. Furthermore, he inherited an absolute gold mine of money, talent, and facilities. Franklin had none of that, and had to fight to rebuild this program against the university and fans.

 

[knickslions]

Bottom line is that I just don't see Franklin being the answer if the goal is an NC. You absolutely must be able to out-prepare and out-coach the guy on the other sideline. This has never been demonstrated.

He will be able to fill the stadium as fans hope for an anomaly. That is all the administration cares about, so he won't be going anywhere. As it was once said two decades ago, lower your expectations. You'll never be down through disappointment.

Lmao

 

[91Joe95]

I feel comfortable ranking Franklin in the top 10. Quite comfortable.

 

[OKLionFan]

I'd have Riley up there with Day-Franklin if his teams could ever figure out how to play defense or hire the right DC. If-when that happens, watch out for USC

Wait a minute! You say you would have Riley right up there IF his teams could play defense? Defense is a pretty big part of the total body of work wouldn’t you say? What if I said I would have Ferentz up there if his teams could only play offense? No one seems to think that Ferentz that good. Riley is middle of the pack for me. I’d go Day, Franklin, Lanning, everybody else.

 

[OKLionFan]

The book on Franklin has been known for nearly a decade. It has been consistent. He was the right answer when hired because he is a great recruiter and can motivate players. He inherited great facilities at a great school with a great football history and fan base but had to restore its reputation after the administration of the school had wrecked it. His ability to recruit and motivate met the need. But .... as history has shown, he is below average as a football coach and tactician. He just doesn't beat teams with more talent -- ever. That is the simple measure. He should win some of these games on occasion. Not more than half of course, but some.

What does this mean in terms of an assessment? I think there can be a rating based on the Pre versus the Post NIL/Portal era. In the past recruiting was a huge factor -- a Franklin strength. In the future it will be money. The coach himself will be less relevant in getting the players but then more important in terms of developing and coaching the players.

I would put Franklin in the top half of the conference in terms of past history but in the bottom half going forward. If PSU outspends the competition he will likely perform a lot like he did in 2024/5. Very good having been given a good team, but not able to coach them through a series of four games against the top teams, and eventually the elite teams in the semis and finals.

So you’re saying you would trade Franklin for half of the other coaches? Please name them.

 

[wilbury]

I like your analysis and well stated. I was going to put the caveat on whether he has the talent or not. If you give Franklin the team made up of talent like Rhule at Nebraska or Bielema at Illinois he does no better than them and probably could be worse. Schiano at Rutgers is another one. Cignetti is a wildcard. So still top half of B10 type guy and you could say top 5 or better based on his recruiting ability. That is a key job description.

But moving forward with NIL being so dominant it is an unknown. He is a good salesman so he probably is pretty good schmoozing high net worth booster types.

You nailed it though when it comes to Xs and Os and game planning/strategy and adjustments and I would throw in just having the team mentally prepared to perform in the biggest moments in the biggest games he has not gotten the needed results.

Nice that you completely ignore what he did at Vandy where he had even less talent than what Nebraska or Illinois has now.

 

[wilbury]

Bottom line is that I just don't see Franklin being the answer if the goal is an NC. You absolutely must be able to out-prepare and out-coach the guy on the other sideline. This has never been demonstrated.

He will be able to fill the stadium as fans hope for an anomaly. That is all the administration cares about, so he won't be going anywhere. As it was once said two decades ago, lower your expectations. You'll never be down through disappointment.

There are currently 4 active college coaches who have won NC's so if Franklin isn't getting it done for you, which one of the other 120+ coaches do you want?

In the Big 10, Lanning can't get it done with all of the resources in the world. Riley will soon be fired if he can't get USC in the right direction. Wisconsin fans want Fickell gone.

Freeman looked like a deer in the headlights vs. OSU but he has potential.

Maybe from the SEC? Sark? Beamer, except he loses to teams he shouldn't. I'm pretty sure no one around Penn State would want Kelly or Kiffin.

There aren't any slam dunks out there so why are you so surprised that the administration is OK with the way things are right now?

 

[summitlion1]

"Getting so many" is misleading. Keep in mind, many kids (not all) are in the Portal due to lack of playing time at their previous school. Without going back and double-checking, I believe that the NC game schools had only had 6 (OSU) and 7 (ND) Portal transfers and most of them were big contributors in 2024......especially OSU.

13 starters from JMU in 2023 transfered to Indiana to follow their coach.

 

[PurposePitch]

Played a game on a neutral field? Who won?

Just rank him so we can laugh at you.

 

[PurposePitch]

In terms of program building, he's #1. He did what no one in that conference has done. Cignetti could supplant him if what he's doing up there in Indiana is legit and lasting.

As a going concern to helm a squad successfully, he's probably 2 or 3 right now ... with Day and Lanning in the mix. An argument could be made that he's above both, since he's having to work to build up and maintain the infrastructure to support all this, while Day and Lanning are the beneficiaries of a pre-existing well-oiled, well-funded machine.