The reigning king of college football could be especially entertaining this season, thanks largely to scheduling luck. Unlike the past two years, when the top teams barely played each other, my predicted top four — Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State and USC — play five of a possible six matchups against each other.

We’ll find out whether reigning darlings, Curt Cignetti and Indiana, can reload after losing Fernando Mendoza and a core of veterans; whether Oregon star Dante Moore can solidify himself as a top-three draft pick; whether USC’s Lincoln Riley can finally lead the Trojans to glory; and whether Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham and/or Penn State coach Matt Campbell can turn their new teams into contenders overnight.

We’ll also get to enjoy one last college ride for Ohio State sensation Jeremiah Smith.

Here are my predicted standings, plus 10 other predictions for the Big Ten in 2026. (Also read my SEC, ACC and Big 12 predictions.)

Predicted Big Ten standings

Big Ten championship: Indiana over Oregon
Playoff teams: Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, USC

1. Indiana wins it again. I had Indiana/Oregon/Ohio State ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, in my spring Top 25, so clearly, I see very little separation between them. I’m riding with Cignetti’s crew because they will be dominant on both lines of scrimmage, gash people on the ground and the coach will maximize TCU transfer QB Josh Hoover.

2. Ohio State gets (a little) exposed. It may seem bold to pick the Buckeyes to lose twice, but they play at Texas, Indiana, USC and Iowa and also host Oregon and Michigan. That’s a brutal slate for anyone. Replacing three top-11 picks on defense (including Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs) is a tough ask as well.

3. USC finally makes the Playoff. Riley has a talented veteran QB (Jayden Maiava), a strong O-line and now mad scientist Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator. The schedule is rough, but they just need to beat one of Oregon or Ohio State at home and avoid one of their recent road flops against an inferior foe.

Why Oregon is Ralph Russo’s No. 1 team in the AP poll

Ralph D. Russo

4. The QB play will be unbelievable. The list is special at the top and deep throughout. In addition to Oregon’s Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Washington’s Demond Williams Jr., Hoover and Maiava, keep an eye on risers like Maryland’s Malik Washington and Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey.

5. Matt Campbell will have ups and downs. Opinions on Penn State seem to fall into two categories: 1) The schedule is so easy they should go 12-0. Or 2) This isn’t Iowa State; they’ll stink. Year 1 will fall somewhere in between. He brought plenty of talent from Ames, Iowa, but it’s still a huge culture change in one offseason.

6. So will Kyle Whittingham. Michigan hired a future Hall of Fame coach to replace Sherrone Moore, and the longtime Utes coach inherited talented players like RB Jordan Marshall and CB Jyaire Hill. The problem is, five-star QB Bryce Underwood might have a lower ceiling than expected. That could cost the Wolverines some games against a challenging schedule (Oklahoma, Iowa and Penn State at home; Minnesota, Oregon and Ohio State on the road).

7. Luke Fickell redeems himself. Granted a midseason reprieve by former athletic director Chris McIntosh, Fickell dug out of a six-game losing streak to beat two Top 25 foes down the stretch. Wisconsin finally invested in its roster, and Fickell may finally have a QB in Old Dominion’s Colton Joseph. Wisconsin goes from 4-8 to at least 7-5.

8. Bob Chesney announces himself with a winning season. UCLA made the best hire of the coaching carousel in a guy who took James Madison to the Playoff and won at every level before that. QB Nico Iamaleava is back, and Chesney brought JMU stars like RB Wayne Knight (1,770 all-purpose yards in 2025) and DE Sahir West (7 sacks). Expect a jump after eight total wins in the past two years.

9. Nebraska spins its wheels. The Huskers were 6-2 in late October when Matt Rhule got a new contract. They finished 7-6 as savior QB Dylan Raiola got hurt, then transferred to Oregon. Nebraska is experienced, but Rhule has a lot riding on former Virginia/UNLV QB Anthony Colandrea. He gets them to a low-level bowl.

10. The Big Ten sets a record for bowl teams. The league is strong at the top, followed by a big, muddy middle. But there are few clearly “bad” teams, outside of Purdue and (likely) Michigan State. I’ve got 14 schools making it to six wins, one above the mark shared by the SEC (two times) and ACC (once).