The 2026 Big Ten football season? It’s already shaping up to be wild—maybe the most competitive in years. With heavy hitters like Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana all gunning for the top, fans are probably in for a wild ride.
This post takes a look at projected records, the games that matter, and a few insights for every Big Ten squad. If you’re trying to get a sense of what’s coming this fall, well, here’s your preview.
Big Ten Powerhouses: Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana
The Big Ten has been running college football lately, with the last three national champs coming from the conference. Looking ahead to 2026, Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana are all serious threats for conference—and maybe national—titles.
They’re all loaded, but each has its own quirks and hurdles. Should be a fun race, honestly.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State’s got a shot at going 12-0 again. Their offense? Stacked, thanks to Jeremiah Smith (third year) and Julian Sayin (second year at QB).
The defense reloads every year with top talent, so don’t expect any major drop-off there.
Notable Games:
- At Texas
- At Indiana
- Vs. Oregon
For a detailed breakdown of Ohio State’s season, you can read more here.
Oregon Ducks
Oregon’s also staring down a possible 12-0 season. Dante Moore leads the offense, and their defense is, frankly, one of the best in the country.
Those games against Texas and Ohio State? Probably going to decide if they’re playoff-bound yet again.
Notable Games:
- At Texas
- At Indiana
- Vs. Ohio State
For more insights on Oregon’s season, check out the full analysis here.
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana’s forecast? A pretty wild 11-1 record, with just one loss (Ohio State, of course). They’ve been busy in the transfer portal, bringing in TCU’s Josh Hoover at QB and Michigan State’s Nick Marsh at receiver.
Coach Curt Cignetti’s got a lot riding on this season. If he can pull it off, Indiana could be in the Big Ten title game.
Notable Games:
- At USC
- At Ohio State
- Vs. Washington
Dive deeper into Indiana’s season projections here.
Teams on the Rise: Washington, Iowa, and USC
Outside the usual suspects, a few programs are clawing their way back into the spotlight. Washington, Iowa, and USC all have legit playoff hopes—well, depending on how things break.
They’ve each shown flashes, so maybe this is the year one of them breaks through?
Washington Huskies
Washington’s looking at a 10-2 finish. The roster’s solid, but losses to Indiana and Oregon might keep them out of that top Big Ten tier.
The quarterback situation is worth watching—Demond Williams Jr. and Jayden Maiava (from USC) are both in the mix.
Notable Games:
- Vs. USC
- At Michigan
- Vs. Oregon
For a full breakdown of Washington’s season, click here.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa’s probably going to do what Iowa does: finish 9-3. They’ve got a brutal three-game run against Michigan, Washington, and Ohio State, and those are likely their only losses.
Otherwise, expect more of the same from the Hawkeyes—solid, if not spectacular.
Notable Games:
- At Michigan
- Vs. Ohio State
- At Washington
Explore Iowa’s season projections in detail here.
USC Trojans
USC’s set for a 9-3 year, with losses to Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington on the cards. Jayden Maiava at quarterback raises the ceiling, but the defense? Not so sure about it this year.
If the Trojans can patch things up on that side of the ball, who knows?
Notable Games:
- At Michigan
- Vs. Ohio State
- At Washington
For a comprehensive look at USC’s season, visit here.
Mid-Tier Teams: Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois
There’s a whole pack of teams likely to float around .500, give or take. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois all have some upside, but a lot depends on how their big games go—and, let’s be honest, who stays healthy.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota’s got a rougher schedule this year and a 7-5 record seems about right. They’ll have to survive tough games against Indiana, Penn State, Washington, Michigan, and Iowa.
Not an easy road, but stranger things have happened.
Notable Games:
- Vs. Notre Dame
- At Penn State
- Vs. USC
Read more about Minnesota’s season expectations here.
Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin’s hoping to bounce back after a rough year. With Old Dominion’s Colton Joseph stepping in at quarterback, a 7-5 record and a bowl trip seem realistic.
Maybe not a breakthrough, but it beats last season.
Notable Games:
- At Cal
- At Oregon
- At Michigan
Discover more about Wisconsin’s season projections here.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois is staring at a 7-5 finish, even though the roster’s a bit thin. Bret Bielema’s experience will matter, especially with a tough schedule and a big nonconference test against Duke.
They’ll need a few things to break their way, no question.
Notable Games:
- Vs. Duke
- At Oregon
- At Ohio State
For a detailed look at Illinois’ season, click here.
Teams Facing Challenges: Purdue, Rutgers, and Northwestern
Down at the bottom, you’ve got Purdue, Rutgers, and Northwestern all bracing for tough seasons. If any of them can show real progress, it’ll be a small victory.
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue’s forecast is grim: 1-11, and possibly winless in the conference for the third straight year. Barry Odom’s in his second season as head coach, but he’s got his work cut out for him.
Maybe they’ll surprise a team or two, but it’s a tall order.
Notable Games:
- Vs. Notre Dame
- Vs. Washington
- At Indiana
For more on Purdue’s season outlook, visit here.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers is pegged for a 2-10 season. Losing quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis hurts, so running back Antwan Raymond will have to do a lot of heavy lifting.
Not exactly a rosy outlook, but sometimes teams rally when nobody expects it.
Notable Games:
- Vs. USC
- Vs. Indiana
- At Penn State
Read more about Rutgers’ season projections here.
Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern’s looking at a projected 3-9 record this year. They’re staring down one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten—yikes.
Key games against Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State? Those are going to be serious tests for the Wildcats. Could they surprise us? Maybe, but the odds aren’t exactly in their favor.
Notable Games:
- At Indiana
- At Oregon
- At Ohio State
If you want to dig deeper into Northwestern’s season, click here.
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