Big Ten College Football Preview 2026: Will Oregon breakthrough to a national title?

A Conference on Top

The Big Ten opens the 2026 season holding the last three national championship trophies, a stretch that began with Michigan in 2023, continued with Ohio State in 2024, and culminated in Indiana's unexpected title in 2025. The run has repositioned the conference in its rivalry with the SEC, with the Big Ten holding an 8-2 record against the SEC in postseason play over the past two years, as reported by NBC Sports. The SEC has not appeared in the national championship game since Georgia won its second straight title in 2022, a point noted by Hindustan Times.

At Big Ten media days, commissioner Tony Petitti let the trophies speak for themselves. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti framed the conference's success in blunt terms: "The numbers speak for themselves — we don't run a hype machine up here in the Midwest, we believe everything's earned, not given," he said. "When we fall short, we say we fell short. We don't cry a river, whine and complain. And that's why we're the best."

The preseason AP poll reflects that strength, with Ohio State at No. 1, Oregon at No. 2, and Indiana at No. 6. Ohio State and Oregon's top-two placement marks the first time a conference has held the top two spots in the preseason poll since 1987, according to both Hindustan Times and NBC Sports.

Oregon's Moment

Oregon enters as the most intriguing contender, carrying the weight of a program that has never won a national title, as NBC Sports notes. With quarterback Dante Moore and a roster bolstered by returning starters and transfers, the Ducks are widely seen as the next in line. Coach Dan Lanning set the tone: "Nobody's going to have higher expectations for our team than us," he said, via Hindustan Times. "We're the guys in the building doing the work every single day."

Yet Oregon's recent history against elite competition raises questions. According to NBC Sports, the Ducks are 1-5 over the past three years against teams that played in the national championship game, while going 37-0 against everyone else. A fourth straight Big Ten title would match the SEC's streak from 2019-22, though the SEC's record of seven consecutive titles from 2006-12 remains unmatched, as Hindustan Times notes.

Contenders and Challengers

Ohio State enters at No. 1 with quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, described by Hindustan Times as a generational talent. The Buckeyes' schedule includes a marquee matchup at Indiana, one of three must-see Big Ten games listed by NBC Sports, along with Oregon at USC and Oregon at Ohio State.

Indiana, at No. 6, faces a rebuild after losing Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and most of its James Madison transfers, per both outlets. Cignetti, who went 27-2 in two seasons with both losses coming to national title game participants, has added TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh, and two Kansas State edge defenders via the transfer portal, as NBC Sports reports.

USC, which brought in the nation's top-ranked recruiting class per 247Sports, per NBC Sports, faces a gauntlet with games against Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana. The Trojans' schedule is among the toughest in the conference.

Coaching Carousel Reshapes the League

The 2026 season brings sweeping changes across the Big Ten and beyond, with 34 FBS coaching changes overall, according to Hindustan Times. In the Big Ten, Penn State fired James Franklin mid-season and hired Matt Campbell from Iowa State, while Michigan fired Sheronne Moore and brought in Kyle Whittingham after he stepped down from Utah, as NBC Sports reports. Whittingham, at age 66, takes over at Michigan after 23 seasons at Utah, with a charge to polish the program's tarnished image, per Hindustan Times. Michigan State fired Jonathan Smith and hired Pat Fitzgerald, and UCLA hired James Madison's Bob Chesney, both per NBC Sports.

Hindustan Times adds that Jon Sumrall, Bob Chesney, and Alex Golesh moved into power-conference jobs, though details on Chesney's move to UCLA are covered by NBC Sports. The coaching turmoil extends beyond the Big Ten, with Lane Kiffin's move from Mississippi to LSU drawing the most attention, as Hindustan Times reports.

Beyond the Big Ten

The national picture offers several storylines. The SEC retains five of the top 10 preseason poll spots, per Hindustan Times. No. 3 Georgia returns quarterback Gunner Stockton, aiming for its fourth SEC title in five years, while No. 5 Texas has Arch Manning at quarterback and added Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, per the same outlet.

Notre Dame, at No. 4, hasn't won a title since 1988 but played in the championship game two years ago; the Fighting Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff after a 10-game win streak, as Hindustan Times reports. Miami, at No. 7, lost to Indiana in last year's title game and is coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons, with Duke transfer Darian Mensah expected to upgrade the quarterback position, per Hindustan Times.

Heisman odds, per sportsbooks cited by Hindustan Times, favor Notre Dame's CJ Carr and Texas' Arch Manning. Carr's 24 touchdown passes tied for most by a Notre Dame quarterback through 12 career starts since 1966, while Manning struggled in a season-opening loss to Ohio State in 2025 and fell out of contention after a loss to Florida.

Elsewhere, Mississippi's Trinidad Chambliss returns after winning another year of eligibility through litigation, and LSU's player payroll reportedly exceeds $40 million, with the No. 11 Tigers facing a demanding schedule, both per Hindustan Times. The Pac-12 is undergoing a rebirth with new members including Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and Texas State, under commissioner Teresa Gould, per the same outlet.

The Road Ahead

As the season approaches, the Big Ten's dominance faces its stiffest test from within. Oregon's quest for a first title, Ohio State's bid to reclaim the crown, and Indiana's attempt to prove its championship was no fluke will define the conference's race. With the SEC reloading and Notre Dame lurking, the path to a fourth straight Big Ten title is far from settled.