Big Ten media days 2024: 7 coaches under most pressure to face media at Indianapolis event ft. Ryan Day

After a long offseason, Big Ten Media Days starts the engine toward an epic season of Big Ten football. Given the addition of four strong west coast programs, the conference is even more of a pressure cooker than before. For some coaches, it'll be a tense time in Indianapolis.

Here are seven Big Ten coaches who are under pressure on media days.

7 coaches under pressure at Big Ten Media Days

New Michigan coach Sherrone Moore will feel some pressure at Big Ten Media Days as he replaces Jim Harbaugh for the defending champions. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

7. Jonathan Smith, Michigan State

The Spartans have been relevant fairly recently. From 11 and 12-win seasons in 2014 and 2015 to a 10-win campaign in 2017 and an 11-2 record in 2021, Michigan State isn't exactly the league's doormat. But after Mel Tucker's firing, that's where new coach Jonathan Smith finds the Spartans. Expectations are low, but Smith could stand to jump-start this morbid program at Big Ten Media Days.

6. Jedd Fisch, Washington

One of the axioms of coaching moves is that it's not wise to replace the legend. It's a better move to replace the failed coach who replaces a legendary coach. But Fisch, taken from Arizona, has to replace Kalen DeBoer. All DeBoer did a year ago was lead Washington to the national title game. After massive player turnover, expectations aren't quite that high, but Fisch has massive shoes to fill.

5. Bret Bielema, Illinois

Bielema took over a morbid Illinois team. In 2022, his second year, Illinois went 8-5, their first winning season since 2011. But Bielema seems in danger of hitting the ceiling, with a pair of 5-7 seasons bookending the 2022 campaign. He's not exactly on the hot seat, but adding four more teams makes it time for Illinois to be relevant in a hurry. Bielema could feel some heat at Big Ten Media Days.

4. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

Ferentz has been at Iowa for 26 seasons and has won 196 games at the school. That said, Ferentz will turn 69 before the season and his last two Iowa teams have each come in under 18 points and 253 yards per game. New offensive coordinator Tim Lester has to show that Ferentz can be relevant in an offense-heavy era.

3. Sherrone Moore, Michigan

Moore has to replace a beloved alum and a national champion in his first head coaching job. The Wolverines did have some massive personnel losses and a repeat national title isn't necessarily expected. But Moore has plenty of pressure at Big Ten Media Days as he seeks to keep the Wolverines nationally relevant.

2. James Franklin, Penn State

Franklin is 88-39 at Penn State and has had four 11-win seasons. But Penn State isn't like most programs. His inability to win much of anything significant (one conference title and no finishes above No. 7 in a decade) has hurt his chances. Penn State is one of the teams most immediately threatened by the addition of Oregon, USC and others. Franklin needs a big season in 2024.

1. Ryan Day, Ohio State

Everything said about Franklin is even more true of Day. He's 56-8 at Ohio State, but many Buckeyes fans can recite the details of the eight losses much more clearly than they can remember the wins. Ohio State has lost three straight in their series with Michigan, the first time since 1995-97. Three straight 11-2 seasons haven't sat well at OSU. It's a prove-it or hot-seat year for Day.