Big Ten Football Win Totals 2026: Spring Predictions for All 18 Teams

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Over five months away, how good do we think all the Big Ten teams are? What are the early projected records?

With spring football rolling, everyone is still figuring out how good the transfer additions are and how significant the roster losses might be. Here’s our crack at the predictions and win totals for all 18 Big Ten teams.

Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Penn State, and the rest of the Big Ten all get judged differently, but based on returning production and the different schedules, here’s where the early win totals land.

Dec 6, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

How the Early 2026 Big Ten Win Totals Stack Up

Schedule Analysis Rankings
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | SEC

One key thing to remember, this is for the regular season only. Win totals don’t count the postseason.

Illinois

CFN Spring Illinois Win Total: 7.5
CFN Illinois Projected Record: 8-4
Almost Certain Wins: Southern Illinois, Purdue, UAB
Likely Losses: at Ohio State, Oregon
50/50 Games: Duke, Iowa, at Maryland, at Michigan State, Nebraska, at Northwestern, at UCLA
2025: Total 6.5 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 8-4
2024: Total 5.5 | Prediction 6-6 | Record 9-3
– 2026 Illinois Schedule Analysis

Indiana

CFN Spring Indiana Win Total: 10.5
CFN Indiana Projected Record: 10-2
Almost Certain Wins: Howard, Minnesota, North Texas, Northwestern, Purdue, at Rutgers, Western Kentucky
Likely Losses: No Certain Losses
50/50 Games: at Michigan, at Nebraska, Ohio State, USC, at Washington
2025: Total 7 | Prediction 8-4 | Record 12-0
2024: Total 5.5 | Prediction 5-7 | Record 10-2
– 2026 Indiana Schedule Analysis

Iowa

CFN Spring Iowa Win Total: 7.5
CFN Iowa Projected Record: 7-5
Almost Certain Wins: Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, at Northwestern, Purdue
Likely Losses: at Michigan, Ohio State
50/50 Games: at Illinois, Iowa State, at Minnesota, Nebraska, at Washington, Wisconsin
2025: Total 7.5 | Prediction 8-4 | Record 8-4
2024: Total 7.5 | Prediction 8-4 | Record 8-4
– 2026 Iowa Schedule Analysis

Maryland

CFN Spring Maryland Win Total: 5.5
CFN Maryland Projected Record: 5-7
Almost Certain Wins: Hampton, at UConn
Likely Losses: Penn State, at USC
50/50 Games: Illinois, at Nebraska, at Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, Virginia, Wisconsin
2025: Total 5.5 | Prediction 5-7 | Record 4-8
2024: Total 7.5 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 4-8
– 2026 Maryland Schedule Analysis

Michigan

CFN Spring Michigan Win Total: 8.5
CFN Michigan Projected Record: 9-3
Almost Certain Wins: Michigan State, UCLA, UTEP, Western Michigan
Likely Losses: at Ohio State, at Oregon
50/50 Games: Indiana, Iowa, at Minnesota, Oklahoma, Penn State
2025: Total 8.5 | Prediction 9-3 | Record 9-3
2024: Total 9.5 | Prediction 9-3 | Record 7-5
– 2026 Michigan Schedule Analysis

Michigan State

CFN Spring Michigan State Win Total: 4.5
CFN Michigan State Projected Record: 4-8
Almost Certain Wins: Eastern Michigan, Toledo
Likely Losses: at Michigan, at Notre Dame, Oregon
50/50 Games: Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, at Rutgers, at UCLA, Washington, at Wisconsin
2025: Total 5.5 | Prediction 6-6 | Record 4-8
2024: Total 5.5 | Prediction 6-6 | Record 5-7
– 2026 Michigan State Schedule Analysis

Minnesota

CFN Spring Minnesota Win Total: 6.5
CFN Minnesota Projected Record: 7-5
Almost Certain Wins: Akron, Eastern Illinois
Likely Losses: at Indiana, at Penn State
50/50 Games: Iowa, Mississippi State, Northwestern, at Purdue, UCLA, at Wisconsin
2025: Total 6.5 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 7-5
2024: Total 4.5 | Prediction 6-6 | Record 7-5
– 2026 Minnesota Schedule Analysis

Nebraska

CFN Spring Nebraska Win Total: 6.5
CFN Nebraska Projected Record: 6-6
Almost Certain Wins: Bowling Green, North Dakota, Ohio
Likely Losses: Indiana, Ohio State, at Oregon
50/50 Games: at Illinois, at Iowa, Maryland, at Michigan State, at Rutgers, Washington
2025: Total 7 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 7-5
2024: Total 7.5 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 6-6
– 2026 Nebraska Schedule Analysis

Northwestern

CFN Spring Northwestern Win Total: 5.5
CFN Northwestern Projected Record: 5-7
Almost Certain Wins: Ball State, South Dakota State
Likely Losses: at Indiana, at Ohio State, at Oregon, Penn State
50/50 Games: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, at Michigan State, at Minnesota, Rutgers
2025: Total 5.5 | Prediction 5-7 | Record 6-6
2024: Total 5.5 | Prediction 5-7 | Record 4-8
– 2026 Northwestern Schedule Analysis

Ohio State

CFN Spring Ohio State Win Total: 10
CFN Ohio State Projected Record: 11-1
Almost Certain Wins: Ball State, Kent State, Maryland, Northwestern
Likely Losses: No Certain Losses
50/50 Games: Illinois, at Indiana, at Iowa, Michigan, at Nebraska, Oregon, at Texas, at USC
2025: Total 10.5 | Prediction 10-2 | Record 12-0
2024: Total 10.5 | Prediction 12-0 | Record 10-2
– 2026 Ohio State Schedule Analysis

Oregon

CFN Spring Oregon Win Total: 10.5
CFN Oregon Projected Record: 10-2
Almost Certain Wins: Boise State, at Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, at Oklahoma State, Portland State, UCLA
Likely Losses: No Certain Losses
50/50 Games: at Illinois, Michigan, at Ohio State, at USC, Washington
2025: Total 10.5 | Prediction 10-2 | Record 11-1
2024: Total 10.5 | Prediction 11-1 | Record 12-0
– 2026 Oregon Schedule Analysis

Penn State

CFN Spring Penn State Win Total: 9.5
CFN Penn State Projected Record: 10-2
Almost Certain Wins: Buffalo, Marshall, at Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers, at Temple
Likely Losses: No Certain Losses
50/50 Games: at Michigan, Minnesota, at Northwestern, USC, at Washington, Wisconsin
2025: Total 10 | Prediction 10-2 | Record 6-6
2024: Total 9.5 | Prediction 10-2 | Record 11-1
– 2026 Penn State Schedule Analysis

Purdue

CFN Spring Purdue Win Total: 4
CFN Purdue Projected Record: 3-9
Almost Certain Wins: Indiana State
Likely Losses: at Indiana, at Iowa, Notre Dame, at Penn State
50/50 Games: at Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, at UCLA, Wake Forest, Washington, Wisconsin
2025: Total 3.5 | Prediction 3-9 | Record 2-10
2024: Total 4.5 | Prediction 3-9 | Record 1-11
– 2026 Purdue Schedule Analysis

Rutgers

CFN Spring Rutgers Win Total: 5
CFN Rutgers Projected Record: 4-8
Almost Certain Wins: Howard, UMass
Likely Losses: Indiana, Michigan, at Penn State, USC
50/50 Games: at Boston College, at Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, at Northwestern, at Wisconsin
2025: Total 6.5 | Prediction 6-6 | Record 5-7
2024: Total 6.5 | Prediction 3-9 | Record 6-6
– 2026 Rutgers Schedule Analysis

UCLA

CFN Spring UCLA Win Total: 5.5
CFN UCLA Projected Record: 6-6
Almost Certain Wins: Nevada
Likely Losses: at Michigan, at Oregon
50/50 Games: at Cal, Illinois, at Maryland, Purdue, San Diego State, Michigan State, at Minnesota, USC, Wisconsin
2025: Total 5.5 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 3-9
2024: Total 5.5 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 5-7
– 2026 UCLA Schedule Analysis

USC

CFN Spring USC Win Total: 8.5
CFN USC Projected Record: 9-3
Almost Certain Wins: Fresno State, Louisiana, Maryland, at Rutgers, San Jose State
Likely Losses: at Indiana, Ohio State
50/50 Games: Oregon, at Penn State, at UCLA, at Wisconsin
2025: Total 8 | Prediction 9-3 | Record 9-3
2024: Total 7.5 | Prediction 10-2 | Record 6-6
– 2026 USC Schedule Analysis

Washington

CFN Spring Washington Win Total: 7.5
CFN Washington Projected Record: 8-4
Almost Certain Wins: Eastern Washington, at Purdue, Utah State
Likely Losses: No Certain Losses
50/50 Games: Indiana, Iowa, at Michigan State, Minnesota, at Nebraska, at Oregon, Penn State, at USC, Washington State
2025: Total 7 | Prediction 8-4 | Record 8-4
2024: Total 7.5 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 6-6
– 2026 Washington Schedule Analysis

Wisconsin

CFN Spring Wisconsin Win Total: 6.5
CFN Wisconsin Projected Record: 7-5
Likely Wins: Eastern Michigan, Western Illinois
Likely Losses: Notre Dame (in Green Bay), at Penn State
50/50 Games: at Iowa, at Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, at Purdue, Rutgers, at UCLA, USC
2025: Total 6.5 | Prediction 6-6 | Record 4-8
2024: Total 6.5 | Prediction 6-6 | Record 5-7
– 2026 Wisconsin Schedule Analysis