Where every B1G head coach sits on CBS Sports’ ‘Hot Seat’ rankings

Every preseason, we evaluate the head coaches in college football that are most likely to lose their jobs with a less-than-impressive year on the field. In 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the financial losses athletic departments have already faced, job security might be at an all-time high for the sport.

That doesn’t mean that changes won’t come if it becomes necessary.

CBS Sports’ college football reporter Dennis Dodd recently revealed his annual “hot seat” evaluation, grading each head coach on their job security entering the 2020 season. He has just one head coach in jeopardy of losing his job at the end of the season — Nebraska’s Scott Frost.

Before looking at Dodd’s evaluation of B1G head coaches, here’s his grading system:

• 5: Win or be fired
• 4: Start improving now
• 3: Pressure is mounting
• 2: All good…for now
• 1: Safe and secure
• 0: Untouchable

Dodd has four B1G head coaches in the “untouchable” category, with six more graded at a “2” or better. That means only four are in any real danger this season.

Here is where Dodd grades each B1G head coach:

• Scott Frost, Nebraska — 5
• Lovie Smith, Illinois — 3
• Kirk Ferentz, Iowa — 3
• Jim Harbagh, Michigan –3
• Tom Allen, Indiana — 2
• Mike Locksley, Maryland — 2
• Jeff Brohm, Purdue — 2
• Mel Tucker, Michigan State — 1
• P.J. Fleck, Minnesota — 1
• Greg Schiano, Rutgers — 1
• Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern — 0
• Ryan Day, Ohio State — 0
• James Franklin, Penn State — 0
• Paul Chryst, Wisconsin — 0

You can view his complete list of all 130 FBS coaches here.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB