The majority of college football teams begin their respective seasons on Saturday, September 5.
The Big Ten was a hotly contested conference in 2025, with the Indiana Hoosiers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Oregon Ducks combining for just four total losses. The Hoosiers put together a magical season that culminated in a 16-0 record and a College Football Playoff National Championship.
As a new slate begins, the Big Ten looks set to be extremely competitive again, as teams will be looking to knock off the defending champions.
Below, we’ll break down our Big Ten power rankings and analyze each team’s prospects for the upcoming college football season, including PrizePicks Team Picks projections.
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2026 Big Ten Power Rankings
Our full 2026 Big Ten power rankings contain everything from talented juggernauts to sleeper teams and squads who could be facing uphill battles over the next several months.
The payouts listed below indicate real-money earnings if a prediction is correct; for example, a 2x on a $100 entry pays out $200. The lower the payout multiplier, the higher the chance of the outcome occurring, according to user picks.
1: Ohio State Buckeyes
Projected Win Total: 11+ (Yes 2.22x I No 1.38x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Julian Sayin, RB Bo Jackson, WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Chris Henry Jr., CB Devin Sanchez
Ohio State was tested in its season opener against Texas, then rolled through the rest of its regular season schedule in dominant fashion. However, Miami shut down Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinals, and the Buckeyes went home much earlier than most expected.
OSU lost a great deal of talent from last year’s squad, including four players selected in the top 15 of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, many of the team’s top offensive playmakers are back in the fold, including QB Julian Sayin, RB Bo Jackson, and WR Jeremiah Smith.
The offense will have an intriguing dynamic with former NFL coach Arthur Smith taking over as offensive coordinator, as Brian Hartline left to become the head coach at South Florida.
The second option behind Smith will be another big storyline in the passing game. There’s a strong possibility that it could be incoming five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. According to 247Sports, Henry was rated as the No. 2 WR in the 2025 recruiting class and is an explosive downfield threat. Senior WR Brandon Inniss and UTSA transfer WR Devin McCuin could figure to factor into the equation.
Ohio State will be tested with a road trip to Austin to take on Texas in Week 2, while also traveling to Indiana, Iowa, and USC throughout the 2026 season.
2: Oregon Ducks
Projected Win Total: 11+ (Yes 2.04x I No 1.69x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Dante Moore, RB Jordon Davison, RB Dierre Hill Jr., WR Jeremiah McClellan, S Koi Perich
It’s hard to argue with the success that Oregon has enjoyed under head coach Dan Lanning over the past two seasons. However, the Ducks have failed to reach the CFP national title game in each of the last two campaigns, including falling to Indiana in the CFP semifinals last season.
After the 2025 season, it was expected that QB Dante Moore would take his talents to the NFL, but he made a surprising return for another collegiate season. The team’s stellar backfield duo of RB Jordon Davison (667 rushing yards & 15 TDs) and RB Dierre Hill Jr. (656 rushing yards & 5 TDs) return to take the reins after RB Noah Whittington graduated.
Leading pass catchers Malik Benson and TE Kenyon Sadiq are gone. Still, Oregon has WR Jeremiah McClellan (557 receiving yards & 3 TDs), TE Jamari Johnson (510 receiving yards & 3 TDs), and WR Dakorien Moore (497 receiving yards & 3 TDs) back in the fold. All three pass catchers are expected to see elevated roles on top of WR Evan Stewart, who had 613 receiving yards and 5 TDs in 2024.
Oregon has road trips to USC in late September and Ohio State in early November. If the Ducks can excel in those environments, that could set up a year when Oregon makes a true run at the CFP national title.
3: Indiana Hoosiers
Projected Win Total: 11+ (Yes 2.04x I No 1.72x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Josh Hoover, RB Turbo Richard, WR Nick Marsh, WR Charlie Becker, OL Carter Smith, LB Rolijah Hardy
Head coach Curt Cignetti's quick work with the Indiana program has to be studied. In two seasons, Cignetti has produced a 27-2 record and led the Hoosiers to their first national title in program history last season.
After a sensational 16-0 season, the Hoosiers will have a different look in 2026, as QB Fernando Mendoza, RB Roman Hemby, RB Kaelon Black, WR Omar Cooper Jr., and many others have moved on to the NFL.
Indiana replaced Mendoza with former TCU QB Josh Hoover in the transfer portal. Hoover offers a ton of upside for the Indiana offense, but he will need to cut down on the turnovers (14 INTs in the past two seasons).
Indiana boasts a trio of impressive playmakers at the wide receiver position. Former Michigan State WR Nick Marsh arrives via the transfer portal and could be a yards-after-the-catch machine with Indiana. WR Charlie Becker (679 yards & 4 TDs) and former Tulane WR Shazz Preston (17.5 career yards per catch) could also make life easy for Hoover.
IU is also aided by the return of several key members of its front seven, including DT Tyrique Tucker (6 sacks), DT Mario Landino (5 sacks), and LB Rolijah Hardy (103 total tackles & 8 sacks). Indiana will be tested against Ohio State and USC in the regular season, but both of those games are in Bloomington.
4: USC Trojans
Projected Win Total: 9+ (Yes 1.96x I No 1.75x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Jayden Maiava, RB King Miller, RB Waymond Jordan, WR Trent Mosley, WR Tanook Hines
USC has yet to reach the CFP since head coach Lincoln Riley arrived in Los Angeles, but could this be the season that changes? This might be the Trojans’ best chance yet under Riley to be a force in the Big Ten and make a statement on a national level.
Offensively, there’s no doubt that USC should be able to put points on the board.
QB Jayden Maiava is one of the league’s top returning signal callers after throwing for 3,711 yards and 24 TDs a season ago. The Trojans have a stellar one-two backfield punch of RB King Miller and RB Waymond Jordan, who both averaged 6.0 yards per carry in 2025. WR Makai Lemon and WR Ja’Kobi Lane may be gone, but sophomore WR Tanook Hines, NC State transfer Terrell Anderson, and four-star freshman WR Terrell Mosley are promising targets for Maiava.
This season's success could come down to if the Trojans can get stops on the defensive side of the ball.
There are plenty of youths and newcomers within USC’s defense. If a handful of these prospects pan out, USC could be one of the most intriguing teams in the nation.
5: Penn State Nittany Lions
Projected Win Total: 10+ (Yes 1.88x I No 1.75x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Rocco Becht, RB Carson Hansen, WR Chase Sowell, S Marcus Neal Jr.
Penn State got off to a 3-3 start in 2025, including back-to-back losses to UCLA and Northwestern. As a result, the Nittany Lions fired head coach James Franklin after 12 seasons with the program. Penn State salvaged the campaign and still reached a bowl game, despite a tumultuous start.
Now former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell takes over a Penn State program with lofty expectations in the highly competitive Big Ten.
In his first season in Happy Valley, Campbell has brought 24 of his former Iowa State players, including QB Rocco Becht. Becht has thrown for 9,209 yards and 64 TDs in his past three seasons with the Cyclones.
While the defense is still expected to be strong, question marks remain on offense. TE Andrew Rappleyea (180 receiving yards & 3 TDs) and OG Anthony Donkoh are the only returning starters from last year’s squad. Former Iowa State RB Carsen Hansen has rushed for 19 TDs over the past two seasons and hopes to jumpstart Penn State’s running game.
With several transfer portal additions and former Cyclones, how will these new offensive pieces gel in Happy Valley? Luckily for Penn State, it doesn't have Indiana, Ohio State, or Oregon on the regular season schedule.
6: Michigan Wolverines
Projected Win Total: 9+ (Yes 2.12x I No 1.61x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Bryce Underwood, RB Jordan Marshall, WR Andrew Marsh, DE John Henry Daley
Michigan might be one of the more intriguing teams in the Big Ten with head coach Kyle Whittingham taking over the program.
Whittingham will look to develop QB Bryce Underwood after the former No. 1 recruit threw for just 2,428 yards and 11 TDs as a true freshman in 2025. A strong running game —headlined by RB Jordan Marshall—and WR Andrew Marsh should help to take some of the pressure off Underwood.
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7: Washington Huskies
Projected Win Total: 9+ (Yes 2x I No 1.56x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Desmond Williams, RB Jayden Limar, WR Dezmen Roebuck, S Alex McLaughlin
It appeared that Washington would need to find a new QB after star QB Desmond Williams entered the transfer portal, but he ultimately returned to the program. Getting Williams back was huge, but losing RB Jonah Coleman and WR Denzel Boston to the NFL is going to hurt. Landing former Oregon RB Jayden Limar (5.7 yards per carry in 2025) in the transfer portal could be a crucial add.
8: Iowa Hawkeyes
Projected Win Total: 8+ (Yes 1.49x I No 2.27x)
Top Players to Watch: RB Kamari Moulton, WR Reece Vander Zee, TE DJ Vonnahme, S Zach Lutmer
Defense usually headlines Iowa, and that will likely be the case yet again. However, the Hawkeyes did lose multiple members of their secondary from last year, including CB TJ Hall.
Still, the Hawkeyes retain the rest of their cornerback depth from 2025. It’s currently unclear who will be under center between QB Hank Brown and QB Jeremy Hecklinski, but we know RB Kamari Moulton (878 rushing yards & 5 TDs) should be an integral piece of the offense.
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9: Illinois Fighting Illini
Projected Win Total: 7+ (Yes 1.58x I No 2.27x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Katin Houser, WR Alex Perry, Jayshon Platt, S Xavier Scott
After three seasons leading the Illinois offense, QB Luke Altmyer exhausted his eligibility. Now, former East Carolina QB Katin Houser will be under center and could offer a fair amount of upside after throwing for 3,300 yards and 19 TDs in 2025.
Transfer portal acquisitions WR Jayshon Platt (Florida Atlantic) and WR Alex Perry (Florida International) may provide big-play ability in the passing game.
10: Nebraska Cornhuskers
Projected Win Total: 7+ (Yes 1.85x I No 1.85x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Anthony Colandrea, WR Nyziah Hunter, LB Owen Chambliss, S Dwayne McDougle III
After losing QB Dylan Raiola to a second-ending leg injury, Nebraska dropped four of its final five games in 2025. Raiola hit the transfer portal and committed to Oregon, leading to the Cornhuskers acquiring former UNLV QB Anthony Colandrea.
Colandrea is a dual-threat signal-caller who should be an intriguing replacement for Raiola, despite being a little more turnover-prone. Key San Diego State transfer LB Owen Chambliss (San Diego State) and S Dwayne McDougle III figure to be big-time contributors on the defensive side of the ball.
11: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Projected Win Total: 7+ (Yes 1.85x I No 1.78x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Drake Lindsey, RB Darius Taylor, WR Jalen Smith, DE Anthony Smith
The Minnesota offense certainly wasn’t pretty in 2025, as the Golden Gophers put up the second-fewest yards per game (293.2) in the Big Ten.
QB Drake Lindsey gained valuable experience as a redshirt freshman, while RB Darius Taylor and WR Jalen Smith are also back for another season. If the defense can hold up its end of the bargain, the Golden Gophers could have what it takes to reach bowl eligibility.
12: UCLA Bruins
Projected Win Total: 7+ (Yes 1.69x I No 2x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Nico Iamaleava, RB Wayne Knight, DE Sahir West, CB Rodrick Pleasant
Following a 3-9 season in 2025, UCLA brought in James Madison head coach Bob Chesney to run the show. Chesney brought several of his former Dukes players, including RB Wayne Knight and DE Sahir West.
Knight led the Sun Belt in rushing with 1,373 yards last season. While a meteoric rise may not be in the cards for the Bruins in year one under Chesney, there’s finally reason for excitement in Westwood.
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13: Maryland Terrapins
Projected Win Total: 6+ (Yes 1.85x I No 1.75x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Malik Washington, DE Sidney Stewart, LB Daniel Wingate, S Messiah Delhomme
After starting 4-0, Maryland lost eight straight games to finish an underwhelming 2025 season under head coach Mike Locksley. Sophomore QB Malik Washington had moments of potential last season, and perhaps Jacksonville State offensive coordinator Clint Trickett can unlock even more. This defense returns a ton of talent in DE Sidney Stewart, S Messiah Delhomme, and LB Daniel Wingate.
14: Wisconsin Badgers
Projected Win Total: 7+ (Yes 1.88x I No 1.85x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Colton Joseph, RB Abu Sama III, CB Javan Robinson, S Marvin Burks Jr.
QB Billy Edwards Jr. went down early in the year and derailed Wisconsin’s offensive attack. The Badgers were dead last in PPG (12.8) and passing yards per game (136.4) in 2025. After combining for 34 TDs at Old Dominion in 2025, QB Colton Joseph could give Wisconsin’s offense everything that it hoped to have with Edwards a season ago.
15: Northwestern Wildcats
Projected Win Total: 6+ (Yes 2.12x I No 1.61x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Aidan Chiles, RB Caleb Komolafe, TE Luke Dehnicke
Northwestern has enjoyed considerable success under head coach David Braun, with two bowl game appearances in three seasons. The Wildcats finished 6-6 last season and will now have Chip Kelly as the team’s offensive coordinator. Former Michigan State QB Aidan Chiles will be under center, giving Kelly an exciting, athletic signal-caller.
16: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Projected Win Total: 6+ (Yes 2.22x I No 1.61x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Dylan Lonergan, RB Antwan Raymond, WR KJ Duff
The Scarlet Knights racked up 407.1 yards per game (sixth in the Big Ten) last season. After QB Athan Kaliakmanis graduated, former Boston College QB Dylan Lonergan takes over an offense that returns RB Antwan Raymond and second-team All-Big Ten WR KJ Duff. Meanwhile, Rutgers surrendered a conference-worst 432.8 yards per game, so the defense will need to improve.
17: Michigan State Spartans
Projected Win Total: 5+ (Yes 2.17x I No 1.58x)
Top Players to Watch: RB Cam Edwards, WR Chrishon McCray, CB Tre Bell
After lackluster tenures under Mel Tucker and Jonathan Smith, former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald takes over the program. The Spartans have suffered four consecutive losing seasons, and there could be little reason for optimism in 2026. Former UConn RB Cam Edwards may become the gem from the transfer portal.
18: Purdue Boilermakers
Projected Win Total: 6+ (Yes 1.03x I No 1.09x)
Top Players to Watch: QB Ryan Browne, RB Fame Ijeboi, LB Charles Correa, CB Mister Clark
Purdue has produced a 7-29 record and gone through two head coaches since 2022. QB Ryan Browne will be relying on transfer portal additions, such as RB Fame Ijeboi (Minnesota), WR Asaad Waseem (Florida Atlantic), and WR Xavier Townsend (Iowa State), to jumpstart the Purdue offense.
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Make 2026 Big Ten Predictions on PrizePicks
The Big Ten is tracking to be a top-heavy conference in 2026. After winning the College Football Playoff National Championship last season, Indiana will be looking to repeat as champions with a new-look offense, while Ohio State and Oregon are likely the Hoosiers' biggest threats. Will the Big Ten produce the national champion for a fourth consecutive season?
The college football season begins with the majority of Week 1 kicking off on Saturday, September 5, and users can make CFB predictions for the 2026 season.
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