The Season Ahead

The 2026 college football season is underway, and the Big Ten enters with the weight of recent history on its shoulders. The conference has claimed the last two national championships, with Ohio State winning in 2024 before Indiana followed with a title of its own in 2025. As the new season begins, the Big Ten again fields multiple national title contenders, and the question of whether the conference can extend its streak to four straight championships looms over the opening weeks.

Indiana enters as the defending champion after a dominant 16-0 season in 2025 — the first team in the modern era to complete a perfect campaign. The Hoosiers are ranked No. 1 in early power rankings from multiple outlets, including the Ames Tribune and its sister publications, while Sports Illustrated places them at No. 6 in its own preseason list. Indiana returns 10 starters from last year's championship team, and head coach Curt Cignetti — who is 27-2 with two College Football Playoff appearances at the school — remains at the helm.

The Hoosiers will have to replace quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick. TCU transfer Josh Hoover is expected to take over under center, a transition that has led some to predict a slowdown in Indiana's ascent. Yet the team's combination of returning starters, a favorable schedule, and Cignetti's track record suggests they remain formidable.

The Challengers

Ohio State and Oregon enter the season as the most talked-about teams in the conference, occupying the top two spots in the preseason AP Top 25. Both are widely expected to contend for the Big Ten title, with Ohio State considered the popular pick to win the conference this year.

The Buckeyes boast one of the most potent offenses in the country, led by wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, described as the most productive receiver in the nation, and quarterback Julian Sayin, noted for his accuracy. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will have a week of trial and error before the team travels to Texas for a challenging early test. Ohio State's schedule includes a visit to Indiana on Oct. 17 and a home game against Oregon on Nov. 7 — contests that could decide which teams reach the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.

Oregon, meanwhile, brings back quarterback Dante Moore, who returned to Eugene after turning down the NFL Draft. The Ducks have six starters back on offense and eight on defense, including tackle A'Mauri Washington and edge Matayo Uiagalelei. After losing both coordinators, head coach Dan Lanning filled the vacancies with internal promotions. Sports Illustrated ranks Oregon No. 1 in its power rankings, citing the team's overall roster completeness and depth, while the Ames Tribune and its partners place the Ducks third behind Indiana and Ohio State.

The Rest of the Field

Beyond the top three, several teams could emerge as contenders. Southern California opened its season with a 42-26 victory over San Jose State in Week 0, and quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, adding a rushing score. Trent Mosley had seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in the opener. Lincoln Riley enters his fifth season as USC head coach with what is considered his best team on paper.

Penn State is ranked fifth in the power rankings, with a new coaching staff led by Matt Campbell, who brought 24 players with him from Iowa State, including quarterback Rocco Becht. The Nittany Lions benefit from veteran quarterback play and a manageable early schedule, though James Franklin's departure created significant roster turnover.

Washington is ranked sixth, with quarterback Demond Williams Jr. returning to the Huskies after a dispute with the school over pay. Michigan is seventh under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, who built Utah into one of the most consistent programs in the country, and brings more than 170 career victories to Ann Arbor. The Wolverines also feature five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, though he did not live up to lofty expectations as a freshman.

Iowa sits eighth, opening the season with the Cy-Hawk Trophy game against Iowa State in Week 2 and a tough conference start. Nebraska is ninth, with a home slate that includes Indiana, Ohio State and Washington. Illinois is tenth, and could improve thanks to East Carolina transfer Katin Houser, who has a combined 26 starts at Michigan State and East Carolina. Minnesota is eleventh, riding a streak of seven straight bowl wins since 2018 and consecutive victories over ranked opponents.

Northwestern is twelfth, with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and quarterbacks coach Jerry Neuheisel expected to help quarterback Aiden Chiles. UCLA is thirteenth, opening at Cal in Week 1 at 10:30 m. ET; the Bruins have quarterback Nico Iamaleava and new head coach Bob Chesney. Wisconsin is fourteenth, opening against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field and counting on transfers Colton Joseph (quarterback, Old Dominion) and Abu Sama III (running back, Iowa State) to energize the offense.

Maryland is ranked fifteenth, facing road trips to UConn, Nebraska and Ohio State. Rutgers is sixteenth, with a tough early schedule that includes Southern Cal and Indiana within the first five weeks. Michigan State is seventeenth, needing quarterback Alessio Milivojevic to get going after a 9-27 record in Big Ten play since 2022. Purdue rounds out the rankings at eighteenth, having lost 18 straight conference games and beaten just one FBS opponent (Ball State) in the last two years.

The Road Ahead

With the season underway, the Big Ten's top teams will begin to answer the questions that defined the preseason. Whether Indiana can defend its title, Ohio State can live up to expectations, or Oregon can finally break through will unfold over the coming months. The conference's depth — with eight teams ranked inside the AP Top 25 — suggests the road to Indianapolis and a potential national championship will be competitive.