Big Ten football predictions, preseason awards, all-conference teams

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Can the Big Ten make it four national champions in a row? The SEC brags about its depth while the Big Ten's cream keeps rising to the top.

We polled writers within the USA TODAY Network who cover Big Ten schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards ahead of Big Ten media days, which run July 28-30 in Chicago.

No one picked defending champion Indiana to repeat as Ohio State and Oregon split the first-place votes. However, the Hoosiers tied the Ducks with seven players on USA TODAY's Preseason All-Big Ten team.

Who are the best Big Ten programs? Ohio State tops the rankings

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Our reporters are drinking the USC Kool-Aid. Maybe "The Odyssey" has folks nostalgic for Trojans. While Lincoln Riley chases that elusive Hollywood ending, we have new beginnings at Penn State (Matt Campbell), Michigan (Kyle Whittington), Michigan State (Pat Fitzgerald) and UCLA (Bob Chesney).

Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Indiana linebacker Rolijah Hardy earned Big Ten offensive and defensive player of the year nods. Smith and Hardy were two of three players who earned unanimous All-Big Ten recognition (Indiana offensive tackle Carter Smith was the other). Josh Hoover was voted Big Ten Newcomer of the Year as Curt Cignetti's hand-picked replacement for Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza under center.

Below are the full standings projection, preseason all-conference teams:

2026 Big Ten football preseason predicted order of finish

  1. Ohio State (11 first-place votes)
  2. Oregon (5 first-place votes)
  3. Indiana
  4. USC
  5. Michigan
  6. Penn State
  7. Washington
  8. Iowa
  9. Illinois
  10. Minnesota
  11. Nebraska
  12. UCLA
  13. Wisconsin
  14. Maryland
  15. Northwestern
  16. Rutgers
  17. Michigan State
  18. Purdue

More: What Big Ten coach rankings say about conference's power shift

Big Ten football preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith. Smith ended his sophomore season within the top 10 of the Buckeyes' career catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns lists, and is within striking distance to top all three records. Smith was a heavy pick, with 63% of voters picking the OSU star.

Big Ten football preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Indiana LB Rolijah Hardy. One of the Hoosiers' breakout performers last year, Hardy led the national champs with 102 total tackles, had 15 tackles for loss and a team-high eight sacks. Indiana teammates Tyrique Tucker and Isaiah Jones each earned a vote for DPOY, while Oregon had five players each get a vote.

Big Ten football preseason Newcomer of the Year

Indiana QB Josh Hoover. Hoover's 29 touchdown passes were ninth-best in the nation last season at TCU. He's finished No. 2 in passing yards in the Big 12 each of the past two seasons and has big shoes to fill in Bloomington. Michigan defensive lineman John Henry Daley and UCLA's Wayne Knight also earned multiple votes.

2026 Preseason All-Big Ten football team

* unanimous selection

OFFENSE

  • QB: (tie) Julian Sayin, Ohio State and Dante Moore, Oregon
  • RB: Bo Jackson, Ohio State
  • RB: Antwan Raymond, Rutgers
  • WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State*
  • WR: Charlie Becker, Indiana
  • WR: KJ Duff, Rutgers
  • TE: Jamari Johnson, Oregon
  • OL: Carter Smith, Indiana*
  • OL: Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
  • OL: Kade Pieper, Iowa
  • OL: Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
  • OL: Trevor Lauck, Iowa
  • All-purpose: Wayne Knight, UCLA

DEFENSE

  • DL: Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
  • DL: A'Mauri Washington, Oregon
  • DL: Anthony Smith, Minnesota
  • DL: John Henry Daley, Michigan
  • LB: Rolijah Hardy, Indiana*
  • LB: Isaiah Jones, Indiana
  • LB: Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
  • DB: Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon
  • DB: Koi Perich, Oregon
  • DB: Amare Ferrell, Indiana
  • DB: Zach Lutmer, Iowa

SPECIALISTS

  • K: Nico Radicic, Indiana
  • P: Bryce McFerson, Maryland
  • KR/PR: Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska

HONORABLE MENTION(received votes)

  • Illinois: DB Xavier Scott
  • Indiana: WR Nick Marsh, OL Drew Evans, OL Joe Brunner, DL Mario Landino, DB Jamari Sharpe
  • Iowa: TE DJ Vonnahme
  • Maryland: LB Daniel Wingate, K Sean O'Haire
  • Michigan: RB Jordan Marshall, OL Andrew Sprague, DB Jyaire Hill, DB Zeke Berry
  • Michigan State: LB Jordan Hall, P Rhys Dakin, KR Kenneth Williams
  • Minnesota: RB Darius Taylor, OL Greg Johnson, DB John Nestor
  • Nebraska: OL Justin Evans, LB Owen Chambliss
  • Northwestern: LB Mac Uihlein, DB Robert Fitzgerald
  • Ohio State: OL Luke Montgomery, DL Kenyatta Jackson Jr., LB Payton Pierce, DB Jermaine Mathews, DB Jaylen McClain
  • Oregon: RB Dierre Hill Jr., RB Jordon Davison, WR Dakorien Moore, OL Dave Iuli, DL Bear Alexander, DL Matayo Uiagalelei
  • Penn State: LB Caleb Bacon, DB Marcus Neal
  • Purdue: LB Charles Correa
  • USC: DB Jontez Williams
  • Washington: LB Jacob Manu
  • Wisconsin: LB Mason Posa

Poll participants: Blake Toppmeyer (USA TODAY), John Brice (USA TODAY), Paul Myerberg (USA TODAY), Jordan Mendoza (USA TODAY), Joey Kaufman (Columbus Dispatch), Zach Osterman (IndyStar), Nathan Baird (IndyStar), Connor Earegood (Detroit News), John Steppe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), Mark Stewart (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), Michael Niziolek (Bloomington Herald-Times), Alec Dietz (Eugene Register-Guard), Frank Bodani (York Daily Record), Sam King (Lafayette Journal & Courier), Austin Curtright (USA TODAY Network), John Leuzzi (USA TODAY Network).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big Ten football predictions, preseason awards, all-conference teams

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