Updated July 11, 2026, 6:13 p.m. PT
The Big Ten been the standard in college football in recent years, sporting the last three national champions with a good chance to make it four in 2026. The Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks and Indiana Hoosiers all come into the season expecting to be crowned both Big Ten champions and national champions come January. Of course, only one can hold those honors.
Throughout the conference, there’s programs who have been knocking on the door of national relevancy; which in this day and age of college football, means an appearance in the College Football Playoff. The Washington Huskies, Iowa Hawkeyes and USC Trojans fit into that category, all of which will be aiming for playoff football this season. And don’t forget about the Penn State Nittany Lions, who are essentially the eight-win Iowa State Cyclones after taking their coach and many players.
Beyond those squads, there’s optimism every program can improve upon their 2025 win total. After all, every team is unbeaten at this time of the year. Every team looks great practicing against themselves in spring ball and fall camp.
But less than two months remain before we find out who is for real and who is not. We tried our hand at answering that exact question, complete with full win-loss records, most notable games and analysis on every team in the Big Ten heading into the 2026 season.
Projected Record: 1-11 (0-9 Big Ten)
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Record in 2025: 2-10 (0-9 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. Notre Damevs. Washingtonat Indiana
Projected Wins: Indiana State
Projected Losses: Wake Forest, UCLA, Notre Dame, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Penn State, Maryland, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana
After two consecutive winless seasons in Big Ten play, it’s hard to see where the Boilermakers get a conference win in 2026, either. It’s coach Barry Odom’s second year at the helm, and while the roster improved incrementally, Purdue remains in the basement of the Big Ten.
Projected Record: 2-10 (0-9 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 5-7 (2-7 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. USCvs. Indianaat Penn State
Projected Wins: UMass, Howard
Projected Losses: Boston College, USC, Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan State
Given the loss of experienced quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, the Scarlet Knights don’t project to be very good offensively. Running back Antwan Raymond will have to carry a heavy load in his second season as the starter. Those issues, combined with a porous defense, mean a winless season in conference play could be on the table.
Projected Record: 3-9 (1-8 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
at Indianaat Oregonat Ohio State
Projected Wins: South Dakota State, Ball State, Rutgers
Projected Losses: Colorado, Indiana, Penn State, Michigan State, Oregon, Iowa, Ohio State, Minnesota, Illinois
Northwestern’s schedule is as tough as it gets: Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Penn State and Iowa. They overachieved in 2025, but that will not happen this fall. The Wildcats will continue their up-and-down win total trend in recent seasons with 2026 being a down year.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Projected Record: 5-7 (2-7 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. Indianaat Oregonvs. Ohio State
Projected Wins: Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Maryland, Rutgers
Projected Losses: Michigan State, Indiana, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa
Out went Dylan Raiola and in came UNLV transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who will battle talented youngster TJ Lateef for the starting nod. Regardless of who gets the starting nod, coach Matt Rhule’s squad lost a great deal of talent from last year and didn’t reload as they had hoped. That should lead to a regression from last year.
Maryland Terrapins
Projected Record: 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 4-8 (1-8 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
at Ohio Stateat USCvs. Penn State
Projected Wins: Hampton, UConn, Rutgers, Illinois, Purdue
Projected Losses: Virginia Tech, UCLA, Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin, USC, Penn State
The Terrapins’ biggest win over the offseason was retaining ultra-talented freshman quarterback Malik Washington, who impressed in Year 1 as the starter. Although he’s back, and Maryland has a chance to be frisky because of his talent, there’s not much to be proud of around him. Maryland sniffs bowl eligibility, but misses out.
Projected Record: 6-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 4-8 (1-8 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
at Notre Damevs. Washingtonvs. Oregon
Projected Wins: Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Rutgers
Projected Losses: Notre Dame, Illinois, UCLA, Michigan, Washington, Oregon
The Spartans were a mess and a disappointment during Jonathan Smith’s two-year tenure as the coach. In comes Pat Fitzgerald, who should provide the stability Smith couldn’t. While that doesn’t mean competing with the Big Ten’s best, it does mean slowly bringing Michigan State back to relevancy. A .500 record in Fitzgerald’s first season would be a win.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Projected Record: 6-6 (3-6 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
at Washingtonvs. Michiganat Indiana
Projected Wins: Eastern Illinois, Mississippi State, Akron, Purdue, UCLA, Northwestern
Projected Losses: Washington, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Penn State, Wisconsin
The Golden Gophers’ relatively easy schedule in 2025 that led them to eight wins isn’t the case in 2026. They’ll have to take on Indiana, Penn State, Washington, Michigan and Iowa. Despite bringing back quarterback Drake Lindsey and star running back Darius Taylor, the roster around them just isn’t good enough to win those games.
Projected Record: 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 4-8 (2-7 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. Notre Dameat Penn Statevs. USC
Projected Wins: Western Illinois, Eastern Michigan, USC, Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, Minnesota
Projected Losses: Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan State, UCLA, Iowa,
Coach Luke Fickell is still around, clearly with support from the athletic department after a disappointing start. to his tenure. He pulled off a major move in the portal, landing Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph after his illustrious career with the Monarchs. Joseph’s talent alone should win the Badgers a couple more games than a season ago, elevating them to bowl eligibility.
Projected Record: 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 3-9 (3-6 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
at Calat Oregonat Michigan
Projected Wins: San Diego State, Purdue, Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Nevada, Illinois
Projected Losses: Cal, Oregon, Minnesota, Michigan, USC
It can’t get much worse than last season for the Bruins. With the old James Madison coaching staff coming in, and with Nico Iamaleava at quarterback surrounded by a solid roster talent-wise, UCLA should be much more respectable this fall. They will not be world-beaters, but seven wins would be a solid season for them.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Projected Record: 7-5 (4-5 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 9-4 (5-4 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. Dukeat Ohio Statevs. Oregon
Projected Wins: UAB, Duke, SIU, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern
Projected Losses: Ohio State, Oregon, Maryland, UCLA, Iowa
Though the roster is depleted from last season, it’s hard to see coach Bret Bielema allowing the Fighting Illini to drop below or to .500. Seven wins seems like the right number, with a big game coming against Duke in the nonconference portion of the schedule serving as an important litmus test.
Michigan Wolverines
Projected Record: 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 9-4 (7-2 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. Oklahomaat Oregonat Ohio State
Projected Wins: Western Michigan, UTEP, Iowa, Minnesota, Rutgers, Michigan State, UCLA
Projected Losses: Oklahoma, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State
The Wolverines drew an absolute brutal schedule. They’ll play against Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and Penn State — oh, and they have a nonconference Week 2 meeting with Oklahoma. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, while talented, is still very raw and doesn’t quite have what it takes to pull off the upset in any of those games.
USC Trojans
Projected Record: 8-4 (5-4 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 9-4 (7-2 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. Oregonvs. Ohio Stateat Indiana
Projected Wins: San Jose State, Fresno State, Louisiana, Rutgers, Washington, Penn State, Maryland, UCLA
Projected Losses: Oregon, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana
With Jayden Maiava back at the quarterback spot, the Trojans have a high ceiling. But after a strong defensive performance as a whole in 2025, I’m expecting a regression on that side of the ball. USC should be in games against Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon, but just like their first two seasons in the Big Ten, they will not be able to close the deal.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Projected Record: 9-3 (6-3 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
at Michiganvs. Ohio Stateat Washington
Projected Wins: Northern Illinois, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska
Projected Losses: Michigan, Ohio State, Washington
Death, taxes and Iowa finishing with nine wins every year. There’s a tough three-week stretch in the middle of the season in which the Hawkeyes are on the road against Michigan and Washington sandwiched around a home date with Ohio State, which are their only projected losses. There’s no reason to believe the offense will suddenly come to life this year, limiting their ceiling.
Washington Huskies
Projected Record: 9-3 (6-3 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 9-4 (5-4 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. Penn Statevs. Indianaat Oregon
Projected Wins: Washington State, Utah State, Eastern Washington, Minnesota, Iowa, Purdue, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan State
Projected Losses: USC, Indiana, Oregon
The Huskies are knocking on the door of Big Ten contender status, but once again are shut out with losses to Indiana and Oregon. The quarterback dual between Demond Williams Jr., who will have to earn the respect of his teammates after his transfer portal fiasco, and Jayden Maiava for USC should be one to watch, but ultimately Washington doesn’t get over the hump in 2026.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Projected Record: 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 7-6 (3-6 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. USCat Michiganat Washington
Projected Wins: Marshall, Temple, Buffalo, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Purdue, Minnesota, Rutgers, Maryland
Projected Losses: USC, Washington
In Matt Campbell’s first year at the helm after an extremely underrated stint at Iowa State, the Nittany Lions enjoy a very favorable schedule, missing Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana. While they’ll finish with 10 wins, a nice bounce back from last season, think of them more as an 8- or 9-win-caliber team.
Projected Record: 11-1 (8-1 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 16-0 (9-0 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
vs. Ohio Stateat Michiganat Washington
Projected Wins: North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Northwestern, Rutgers, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, USC, Washington, Purdue
Projected Losses: Ohio State
The Hoosiers lost a lot of talent across the roster, but they didn’t lose the most important piece: coach Curt Cignetti. He reloaded via the transfer portal, landing TCU quarterback Josh Hoover and Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh, who will combine with Charlie Becker to form one of the top receiving duos in the nation. With Cignetti at the helm, expect Indiana to push for a Big Ten title game berth.
Oregon Ducks
Projected Record: 11-1 (8-1 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 13-3 (8-1 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
at USCat Ohio Statevs. Washington
Projected Wins: Boise State, Oklahoma State, Portland State, USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington
Projected Losses: Ohio State
Trips to Columbus have resulted in wins for the Ducks in recent years, but the Buckeyes prevail in this 2026 matchup. No matter, as Oregon will go undefeated the rest of their schedule and achieve a third straight berth in the playoff. With Dante Moore leading the way and one of the best defenses in the country from a roster perspective, the Ducks have as high of a ceiling as any team in the country.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Projected Record: 12-0 (9-0 Big Ten)
Record in 2025: 12-2 (9-0 Big Ten)
Most Notable Games:
at Texasat Indianavs. Oregon
Projected Wins: Ball State, Texas, Kent State, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Indiana, USC, Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan
Projected Losses:
It’s simply hard to imagine the Buckeyes losing a game in the regular season considering it will be wide receiver Jeremiah Smith’s third year and second working with talented quarterback Julian Sayin. The defense always seems to reload with elite prospects, and that should happen once again. Don’t be surprised if Ohio State is the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff come December.
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