The 2026 Big Ten College Football Playoff Picture: Week 2
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Last week was a mostly successful one for the Big Ten. While it didn’t go a perfect 18-0 like its partners in crime to the south, the Big Ten finished 16-2 on a week filled with non-conference matchups. One of those losses was a bit worse than the other, but all in all, for the most part, the Big Ten feasted upon its cupcakes in the first official week of the season.
How does that affect our College Football Playoff outlook for the conference?
The 2026 Big Ten College Football Playoff Picture: Week 2
Locked In
N/A
While you can certainly eliminate yourself from contention in September, nobody is locked. Of course, the contenders get closer with each week, but this likely won’t have much action until a team has eight or nine wins, depending on the strength of those wins.
Contenders
#1 Ohio State
First cupcake out of the way, Ohio State dominated Ball State, 56-3. Good teams win; great teams cover, and the Buckeyes covered the impressive 50.5-point spread in Columbus. Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith kicked off their respective Heisman campaigns while the defense looked deep and reloaded.
Now the real test awaits.
#5 Indiana
Last year, this would have been quite the matchup. After North Texas was gutted via the transfer portal, the Mean Green looked less mean and more green. Josh Hoover‘s debut was as emphatic as it was bloody. He finished 13/16 for 231 yards and four touchdowns, dealing opposite former Hoosier, Tayven Jackson.
If we ranked the Big Ten non-conference schedules by difficulty, Indiana would likely be toward the bottom. Either way, the CFP doesn’t reward WHO you beat, just that you won. Indiana is riding a 16-game win streak dating back to last year.
#6 Oregon
Oregon probably could have been moved down a tier, as the AP Poll voters did this week. Regardless, the Ducks were able to take care of business despite an incredibly tough fight with Boise State yet again. Oregon trailed most of the first half and entered halftime with a 17-14 deficit.
Regardless, Dante Moore was fantastic again, passing for 378 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Boise State might be the third or fourth-toughest matchup on the schedule for the Ducks this year.
#14 USC
Okay, it’s time to take USC seriously. Sure, beating San Jose State and Fresno State isn’t exactly the toughest slate out there, but the Trojans looked good in the process. Jayden Maiava put together another incredible performance and could be entering the Heisman conversation himself, assuming the voters stay up to watch the games on the West Coast.
#16 Penn State
Okay, okay, we know, “Penn State??” Listen. The Nittany Lions have a solid quarterback and an increasingly easy schedule. Don’t write off Penn State.
Monitoring The Situation
#19 Washington
The Apple Cup in Week 1 still just feels weird, but for the second consecutive season, the Huskies took care of business despite a few issues on offense. Demond Williams Jr. went 24/35 with 268 yards and a touchdown through the air while adding 61 yards and a score on seven carries on the ground.
There are questions surrounding how the Huskies will be able to play up to Power 4 opponents, but this was a rivalry game, so let’s not read too much into it. Even then, it was a two-score difference.
#21 Iowa
There were 11 Big Ten teams to score 40 points in Week 2; Iowa was one. Yes, that Iowa.
The Hawkeyes were able to do what most of the Big Ten teams did and took care of their MAC Mountain West opponent with ease, winning 40-0. The zero is not as surprising as the 40.
Iowa could be alright this year; it just needs to decide on a quarterback.
UCLA
Finally, we have UCLA. The Bob Chesney era got off to a great start as the Bruins were able to upset former Pac-12 rival, Cal, 45-24. They were able to contain one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the nation for the most part and did what they needed to do to get the win.
It helps to have 277 yards on the ground thanks to Anthony Woods (eight carries, 118 yards, two touchdowns) and Wayne Knight (eight carries for 71 yards and three touchdowns).
Not Quite There Yet
Illinois
The Fighting Illini got the win over UAB, but questions remain. The final score was 42-23, but one of those Illinois scores was a pick-six. Add in the fact that the Blazers outgained the Illini, 413 to 332; there are concerns about whether or not Bret Bielema’s squad is going to hold up in Big Ten play.
Minnesota
The Golden Gophers got off to a solid start to the year with a 59-7 win over Eastern Illinois. It was a dominant win, but Eastern Illinois isn’t exactly a power. It helped that Javon Tracy decided to take two punts back for touchdowns and Darius Taylor found paydirt three times.
We will remain cautiously optimistic about Minnesota, but a win over a real team would certainly help the cause.
Work To Do
Michigan State
For most of the game against Toledo, Michigan State was in control, albeit unconvincingly. Then, the Rockets scored to take the lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and we were preparing to #FlyTheFlag. Alas, Michigan State was able to score on the next drive and tacked on a field goal later to win, 30-20.
It wasn’t convincing at all. Pat Fitzgerald may have his hands full this year.
Michigan
Hey, you got a second?
Michigan looked really, really bad on Saturday. Despite losing 12-7, a fraction of a second was discovered like the Holy Grail, and that was all Michigan needed to salvage a 13-12 win that only folks in Ann Arbor seem to recognize.
Legitimate ending or not, Michigan has work to do. Oklahoma is a bit tougher than Western Michigan, and the Sooners are coming to town this Saturday.
Purdue
The Boilermakers were able to take care of Indiana State, 44-19. All in all, not a bad win for Purdue, but it’s going to take more than beating the worst Division I program in the state to convince us. The Boilermakers held the Sycamores to just 66 rushing yards (2.8 yards per carry) while putting up 177 themselves.
Nebraska
Another Big Ten program that struggled a bit with a MAC program, Nebraska was able to ride 35 second-half points to get by the Ohio Bobcats. First-year running back Jamal Rule burst onto the scene with 122 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries in the win. He could be one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Maryland
We do this every year. Maryland is able to get off to a strong start thanks to a weak non-conference slate, then Big Ten play hits and Mike Locksley’s job is on the line again. Either way, beating up on Hampton thanks to six rushing touchdowns doesn’t hurt. DeJuan Williams‘ 94-yard touchdown run to kick off the scoring was the most impressive, especially considering he went untouched down the length of the field.
Northwestern
There were plenty of folks looking at this matchup as a potential FCS-over-FBS upset. South Dakota State is one of the best FCS programs, but Northwestern was able to get the win thanks to 17 fourth-quarter points. Aidan Chiles did well in his Wildcat debut with 273 yards and a score.
Not Mathematically Eliminated, But…
Wisconsin
Losing to arguably one of the best teams in college football is not the end of the world. Getting blasted by that team is a bit concerning, however.
Wisconsin fell to Notre Dame, 41-13, and the Badgers could not get anything going on the ground. Luke Fickell’s team was able to hang around for a half, but after that 13-10 halftime score, it was all Notre Dame.
It may be a long season for the Badgers if they can’t build from this loss.
Eliminated
Rutgers
Technically, Rutgers is not eliminated. If it goes 11-1 after losing to UMass, there may be a blizzard warning in Hell.
How do you lose to UMass? How do you lose to UMass by 16?? Losing to a MAC team isn’t the worst thing in the world; it happens almost yearly. But the Minutemen hadn’t beaten an FBS team since they beat Army on October 28, 2023.
UMass plays in the MAC.
Greg Schiano may have a long leash at Rutgers, but it may be time for him to feel a little tugging at the end of the line.
Week 2 Big Ten Schedule
- Rutgers (0-1, 0-0): at Boston College (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- #5 Indiana (1-0, 0-0): vs Howard (FCS) (12:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
- #6 Oregon (1-0, 0-0): at Oklahoma State (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/Disney+)
- Michigan (1-0, 0-0): vs #11 Oklahoma (12:00 p.m. ET, FOX)
- #16 Penn State (1-0, 0-0): at Temple (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
- Purdue (1-0, 0-0): vs Wake Forest (12:00 p.m. ET, FS1)
- #19 Washington: vs Utah State (3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
- Minnesota (1-0, 0-0): vs Mississippi State (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Illinois (1-0, 0-0): vs Duke (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1)
- Michigan State (1-0, 0-0): vs Eastern Michigan (3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
- Maryland (1-0, 0-0): at UConn (3:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
- Nebraska (1-0, 0-0): vs Bowling Green (7:00 p.m. ET, FS1)
- UCLA (1-0, 0-0): vs San Diego State (7:15 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
- Wisconsin (0-1, 0-0): vs Western Illinois (FCS) (7:15 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
- #1 Ohio State (1-0, 0-0): at #4 Texas (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
- #21 Iowa (1-0, 0-0): vs Iowa State (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
- #14 USC (2-0, 0-0): vs Louisiana (11:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
More Big Ten News
- Ohio State Week 2 Preview: Offense Must Take A Step
- Early Storylines For Ohio State Leading Into The Texas Matchup
- Washington’s Deuce Davis Continues Havoc at EDGE
- College Football Sunday Summary: We Refuse to Overreact Now
- No. 16 Penn State vs. Temple Preview & Prediction
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