The Big Ten's future is looking bright, with the conference set to dominate college football in 2026. The Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks, and Indiana Hoosiers are all expected to be national champions, with the latter two also vying for the Big Ten title. The Washington Huskies, Iowa Hawkeyes, and USC Trojans are also in the running for playoff football, while the Penn State Nittany Lions are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. The Purdue Boilermakers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Northwestern Wildcats are all expected to struggle, while the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Maryland Terrapins, and Michigan State Spartans are looking to improve on their 2025 records. The Minnesota Golden Gophers, Wisconsin Badgers, UCLA Bruins, Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, and USC Trojans are all expected to have competitive seasons, with the latter two looking to make a run at the national title. The Iowa Hawkeyes and Washington Huskies are expected to finish with nine wins, while the Penn State Nittany Lions and Indiana Hoosiers are looking to make a run at the Big Ten title. The Ohio State Buckeyes are expected to dominate the conference, with a projected record of 12-0 and a strong defense led by wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin.
