The Big Ten Conference is gearing up for its 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days, set for July 28-30 at the Hilton Chicago. This three-day event, presented by Discover®, will feature a jam-packed lineup of football student-athletes and head coaches from all 18 conference schools.
Big Ten Network will cover the whole thing live. Fans and media get a front-row look at what’s shaping up to be a wild upcoming season.
Overview of the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days
Every school in the conference is sending its head coach and three standout student-athletes. This year’s event is kind of a big deal, with:
- Two returning First Team All-Americans
- 15 All-Big Ten selections from the 2025 season
- Three head coaches who led their teams to last year’s College Football Playoff
- Four head coaches debuting for their schools this fall
The media days all lead up to the 2026 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game. That’s happening December 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
FOX will broadcast it live. Kickoff times are set for 8:00pm ET, 7:00pm CT, and 5:00pm PT, which is easy enough to remember.
Day 1: July 28
Day one brings in teams from Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, Rutgers, USC, and Wisconsin. Each school’s head coach and three key players will share their thoughts on preparations and what’s ahead.
- Illinois: Matthew Bailey (DB), Juice Clarke (DB), Katin Houser (QB), led by head coach Bret Bielema
- Iowa: Zach Lutmer (DB), Jayden Montgomery (LB), Addison Ostrenga (TE), led by head coach Kirk Ferentz
- Penn State: Rocco Becht (QB), Anthony Donkoh (OL), Tony Rojas (LB), led by head coach Matt Campbell
- Rutgers: Kwabena Asamoah (OL), KJ Duff (WR), Antwan Raymond (RB), led by head coach Greg Schiano
- USC: Jide Abasiri (DT), Jayden Maiava (QB), Alex VanSumeren (DT), led by head coach Lincoln Riley
- Wisconsin: Chris Brooks (WR), Sebastian Cheeks (LB), Matthew Jung (S), led by head coach Luke Fickell
Day 2: July 29
The second day brings together Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, and UCLA. These teams will be talking about their strategies and spotlighting players to watch in 2026.
- Michigan State: Jordan Hall (LB), Nikai Martinez (S), Alessio Milivojevic (QB), led by head coach Pat Fitzgerald
- Minnesota: Maverick Baranowski (LB), Drake Lindsey (QB), Anthony Smith (DL), led by head coach P.J. Fleck
- Ohio State: Jaylen McClain (S), Julian Sayin (QB), Jeremiah Smith (WR), led by head coach Ryan Day
- Oregon: Jamari Johnson (TE), Dante Moore (QB), Teitum Tuioti (OLB), led by head coach Dan Lanning
- Purdue: Ryan Browne (QB), Charles Correa (LB), De’Nylon Morrissette (WR), led by head coach Barry Odom
- UCLA: Nico Iamaleava (QB), Cole Martin (DB), Samuel Omosigho (LB), led by head coach Bob Chesney
Day 3: July 30
The last day is for Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Washington. These teams will close out the event, offering their takes on the season ahead and whatever challenges they see coming.
- Indiana: Isaiah Jones (LB), Carter Smith (OL), Tyrique Tucker (DL), led by head coach Curt Cignetti
- Maryland: Michael Hershey (OL), Malik Washington (QB), Daniel Wingate (LB), led by head coach Michael Locksley
- Michigan: Jordan Marshall (RB), Trey Pierce (DT), Bryce Underwood (QB), led by head coach Kyle Whittingham
- Nebraska: Justin Evans (C), Luke Lindenmeyer (TE), Andrew Marshall (CB), led by head coach Matt Rhule
- Northwestern: Robert Fitzgerald (DB), Caleb Komolafe (RB), Griffin Wilde (WR), led by head coach David Braun
- Washington: Landen Hatchett (C), Jacob Manu (ILB), Demond Williams Jr. (QB), led by head coach Jedd Fisch
Key Highlights and Storylines
This year’s Big Ten Football Media Days are loaded with storylines that’ll have fans and analysts buzzing. There’s plenty to keep an eye on:
Returning All-Americans and All-Big Ten Selections
Two First Team All-Americans and 15 All-Big Ten players from last year are back. These guys have already shown what they can do, and now they’re looking to up the ante.
New Head Coaches
Four head coaches are making their debuts this fall. It’s always interesting to see how new leadership shakes things up—will they make a splash or need some time to find their footing?
College Football Playoff Contenders
Three coaches who led their teams to last year’s College Football Playoff will be there, too. Their insights on what it takes to get to the top? That’s something everyone will be listening for.
Conclusion
The 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days are shaping up to be something you really shouldn’t miss if you’re into college football. There’s a lot of buzz—returning talent, new coaches, and teams that might just surprise us.
If you’re looking for more info or want to keep tabs on the latest, check out the Big Ten Conference’s official website.
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