Ranking the Top 5 Big Ten linebackers for 2026 football season
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Gone from the Big Ten are the likes of Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, Aiden Fisher and Bryce Boettcher, ushering in a new era of top dogs in the middle of the conference’s defenses.
Here are the five best entering 2026:
No. 1 Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
Hardy started every game during the Hoosiers’ National Championship run, racking up 102 tackles — 15 for loss — and eight sacks while earning second team All-Big Ten nods from the coaches and the media. Listed at only 5-foot-11, he more than makes up for his lack of size with effective open-field tackles, wreaking havoc as a blitzer and providing Curt Cignetti’s nickel defense with reliable coverage from sideline to sideline. He is a stout run defender, too, having earned a 90.7 grade on PFF ($).
No. 2 Owen Chambliss, Nebraska
A San Diego State transfer, Chambliss does not need to have played a down in the Big Ten to be among the conference’s top linebackers. He flew all over the field for the Aztecs in 2025, making 110 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception. He was a PFF favorite, earning an 85.5 overall grade with an 81.4 grade in the run game and a 85.2 coverage grade.
Chambliss is instinctive; he sniffs out plays and does not get lost often. It may take a couple weeks to fully integrate with the Cornhuskers. But expect to hear this name plenty once we get deep into the fall.
No. 3 Isaiah Jones, Indiana
Jones was “only” third among Hoosier linebackers in snaps last season (trailing Aiden Fisher and Hardy), yet still had a breakout senior campaign with 15.5 of his 78 tackles coming for loss. He also compiled seven sacks and an interception, receiving third-team All-Big Ten honors from the media.
Much like Hardy, Jones excels off the edge. And while he may not be as valuable in the passing game, he embodies Indiana’s hard-nosed, complex defense with his second-level versatility and how he stuffs running lanes and confuses quarterbacks. Jones has gotten better in each of his years in Bloomington, and there is little reason to believe that more weight on his shoulders will not produce results.
No. 4 Mason Posa, Wisconsin
A true freshman on an underwhelming Wisconsin team a year ago, Posa got a little lost in the shuffle of a program in turmoil. However, he emerged as one of the Badgers’ most trusted anchors, notching 61 tackles, four for loss and four sacks. This ranking is a bit of a projection, but Posa should take on an even greater role in the middle of Wisconsin’s defense as it seeks to reestablish itself in the Big Ten. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Posa is a hassle in the run game and attacking the quarterback, and improved coverage skills could fly him up this list in a few months.
No. 5 Daniel Wingate, Maryland
A high-level producer over the last two seasons in College Park, Wingate accumulated 152 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pick six from 2024-25. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, he possesses unusual length for a linebacker, which makes up for a lack of top-end athleticism. He sported the green dot and made well on those duties, particularly in zone where he can disrupt passing lanes and diagnose holes in the run game. He was a captain last year and should do the same this fall. He may not receive the same recognition playing for Maryland, but he is nonetheless a high-quality linebacker.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos