Big Ten football predictions: Projecting every team's 2026 record

Big Ten football predictions: Projecting every team's 2026 record

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Big Ten football predictions: Projecting every team's 2026 record

College football is officially here, with Week 0 having kicked off on Saturday. In that, the first Big Ten team notched its first win, with USC having taken down San Jose State (the Trojans will have yet another game before most, with Fresno State coming to Los Angeles on Friday next week). But which teams will reign supreme in the conference of champions?

We went through every single Big Ten team's schedule and predicted the winners and losers of every game. In that, you can find predictions for all 12 regular season games and final record predictions for all 18 teams. Here are our prognostications for every team's season in 2026.

Illinois Fighting Illini

Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) celebrates his sack on Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Wins: UAB, Duke, Southern Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, Maryland, Iowa

Losses: Ohio State,Oregon, Nebraska, UCLA, Northwestern

Record: 7-5

Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti hoists the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Wins: North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Northwestern, Rutgers, Nebraska, Ohio State, Minnesota, USC, Washington, Purdue

Losses: Michigan

Record: 11-1

Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz waves to the crowd after becoming the winningest coach in Big Ten history, passing Woody Hayes, with a win over the Massachusetts Minutemen Sept. 13, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Wins: Northern Illinois, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Nebraska

Losses: Michigan, Ohio State, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois

Record: 7-5

Maryland Terrapins

Nov 29, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Maryland head coach Mike Locksley watches play from the Maryland sideline during a game against Michigan State at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images

Wins: Hampton, UConn, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Purdue

Losses: UCLA, Nebraska, Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin, USC, Penn State

Record: 5-7

Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald calls out to players during football practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in East Lansing.

Wins: Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Rutgers

Losses: Notre Dame, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, UCLA, Michigan, Washington, Oregon

Record: 3-9

Michigan Wolverines

Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham

Wins: Western Michigan, Oklahoma, UTEP, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Rutgers, Michigan State, UCLA

Losses: Minnesota, Oregon, Ohio State

Record: 9-3

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach PJ Fleck (sunglasses) reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Auburn Tigers Jan 1, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium.

Wins: Eastern Illinois, Mississippi State, Akron, Michigan, Purdue, Iowa, UCLA, Northwestern, Wisconsin

Losses: Washington, Indiana, Penn State

Record: 9-3

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Matt Rhule

Wins: Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Michigan State, Maryland, Illinois, Rutgers

Losses: Indiana, Oregon, Washington, Ohio State, Iowa

Record: 7-5

Northwestern Wildcats

Nov 18, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach David Braun celebrates with fans after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 23-15 at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Wins: South Dakota State, Colorado, Ball State, Michigan State, Rutgers, Illinois

Losses: Indiana, Penn State, Oregon, Iowa, Ohio State, Minnesota

Record: 6-6

Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leads his team onto the field prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Ohio State Buckeyes At Michigan Wolverines

Wins: Ball State, Kent State, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, USC, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan

Losses: Texas, Indiana, Oregon

Record: 9-3

Oregon Ducks

Nov 8, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Wins: Boise State, Oklahoma State, Portland State, USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington

Losses: None

Record: 12-0

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State football head coach Matt Campbell jogs at the start of a practice session inside Holuba Hall on Monday, August 10, 2026, in State College.

Wins: Marshall, Temple, Buffalo, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Minnesota, Rutgers, Maryland

Losses: USC, Michigan, Washington

Record: 9-3

Purdue Boilermakers

Michigan football vs. Purdue

Wins: Indiana State

Losses: Wake Forest, UCLA, Notre Dame, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Penn State, Maryland, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana

Record: 1-11

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Sep 24, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano leads his team on to the field before a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Wins: UMass, Boston College, Howard, Wisconsin

Losses: USC, Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan State

Record: 4-8

UCLA Bruins

UCLA Bruins coach Bob Chesney reacts during the spring game at Rose Bowl.

Wins: California, San Diego State, Purdue, Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Nevada, Illinois

Losses: Oregon, Minnesota, Michigan, USC

Record: 8-4

USC Trojans

Aug 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley head coach Lincoln Riley Lincoln Riley Riley enters the field before the game against the San José State Spartans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Wins: San Jose State, Fresno State, Louisiana, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Maryland, UCLA

Losses: Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana

Record: 7-5

Washington Huskies

Dec 13, 2025; Inglewood, CA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch runs on to the field after defeating the Boise State Broncos in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Wins: Washington State, Utah State, Eastern Washington, Minnesota, USC, Iowa, Purdue, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan State

Losses: Oregon, Indiana

Record: 10-2

Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin QB Hunter Simmons

Wins: Western Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Purdue

Losses: Notre Dame, Penn State, UCLA, USC, Iowa, Rutgers, Minnesota

Record: 5-7

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Big Ten football predictions: Projecting every team's 2026 record

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