Big Ten Football spring power rankings
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
In three months and two days, the 2026 college football season will kickoff in Dublin, Ireland. That’s 94 days until football is back! With the season approaching, it’s time for some 2026 spring Big Ten Football power rankings.
No. 1: Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State isn’t just the team to beat in the Big Ten; it’s also the team to beat in the country. All eyes will be on Ryan Day’s squad after a disappointing exit in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff. While 11 Buckeyes were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, the foundation for success still remains. Jeremiah Smith has been the best wide receiver (and arguably the best player) in college football ever since he first donned the Ohio State jersey. Julian Sayin is entering his second year as a starter as he looks to become an elite quarterback, following a season where he led the FBS in completion percentage. The Buckeyes also retooled well in the transfer portal with all of their NFL departures, particularly on defense where they have been a force in recent years. If Ohio State can brave its tough schedule, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Buckeyes take home a second national championship in three years.
No. 2: Oregon Ducks
Dante Moore deciding to return to Oregon was one of the biggest announcements this offseason. In his first season as the Ducks’ starter, Moore led his team to a 13-2 record while throwing for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 71.8% (fourth best in FBS). Oregon did have a number of players drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, most notably tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman, but a transfer portal class headlined by Minnesota S Koi Perich combined with other returners puts the Ducks in a strong spot. Edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, defensive lineman A’Mauri Washington and TE Jamari Johnson are all projected to be big-time contributors, but that only scratches the surface. Oregon’s roster is one of the best from a talent standpoint, and that combined with Moore’s return and with Dan Lanning as coach, the Ducks should have national championship aspirations.
No. 3: Indiana Hoosiers
There will never be another turnaround like Curt Cignetti’s revitalization of Indiana football. After decades of being bottom feeders in the Big Ten, the Hoosiers won the 2025-26 College Football Playoff National Championship to cap off an undefeated season. Heisman Trophy winning QB Fernando Mendoza is on to the NFL, as are eight others from Indiana that were drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite the departures, the Hoosiers are in a good position to keep their spot among the blue bloods in college football. Yes, I have them at No. 3 on this list. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t a top five team in the country. TCU transfer QB Josh Hoover was brought in to be the guy, plus Michigan State transfer WR Nick Marsh adds another dimension to a receiving room that already includes Charlie Becker. Indiana retooled in the transfer portal like Cignetti has proven he can do, and it’s only a matter of time before the Hoosiers are hoisting another national championship trophy.
No. 4: USC Trojans
This is a make-or-break year for USC. The Trojans have missed out on the College Football Playoff since it began in the 2014-15 season, but like every year, the roster looks very strong. A disappointing season would almost certainly not end with head coach Lincoln Riley getting fired, but there’s a lot of pressure on him to succeed this year. USC was ranked No. 16 in the final College Football Playoff rankings last season, and the Trojans are returning 15 starters (most in FBS) headed into the 2026-27 season. This includes their entire starting offensive line from Week 1 the previous year. Jayden Maiava, who led the Big Ten in passing yards last season, is a dual-threat QB that can shred defenses when he’s at the top of his game. WRs Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane were both drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, so there are some questions about the receiving room, but returnee Tanook Hines and NC State transfer Terrell Anderson should help Maiava. If all the pieces come together, USC could challenge the top-tier Big Ten teams.
No. 5: Michigan Wolverines
Michigan had one of the biggest coaching upgrades this offseason out of all FBS teams, not just those in the Big Ten. In his 21 seasons as the head coach for Utah, Kyle Whittingham led the Utes to a winning record in 18 seasons with an overall record of 177-88 and three conference championships. Many of Whittingham’s players from Utah followed him to Michigan. Most notably is EDGE John Henry Daley, who finished second in the Big 12 with 11.5 sacks behind No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, David Bailey. The Wolverines also have Bryce Underwood entering his second season as he looks to take the next step toward stardom. Michigan’s schedule includes four teams that made the College Football Playoff last season, so that’s not to be overlooked, but the Wolverines have the tools to get right back to the top tier of the Big Ten.
No. 6: Washington Huskies
Despite the offseason drama surrounding QB Demond Williams Jr. entering the transfer portal, he’s one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the conference. Williams Jr. will be without top options last season with WR Denzel Boston and RB Jonah Coleman both getting drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and Adam Mohammad transferring to California. Despite that, if he can handle more of the offensive load on his shoulders, combined with the Huskies returning four starters on their offensive line, Williams Jr. can help Washington football get back to where it was with Michael Penix Jr. when it made it to the national championship. There’s also the question of whether or not the drama that Williams Jr. stirred up from his transfer situation will still be lingering in the locker room when the season begins. Nonetheless, I’m very high on the Huskies because of their QB’s talent.
No. 7: Iowa State Cyclones Penn State Nittany Lions
The 2025-26 season was one to forget for Penn State. After a 3-0 start, the Nittany Lions lost six straight, all of which were Big Ten games. While they did finish the season on a four-game winning streak including a bowl game victory, QB Drew Allar missed most of the season with an injury and head coach James Franklin was fired midseason. In the offseason, former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell (not the InsideNU managing editor) was hired after 10 seasons with the Cyclones, across which he was named Big 12 Coach of the Year three times. With Campbell’s move to the Big Ten, 23 of his former Iowa State players followed him to Happy Valley, including QB Rocco Becht and TE Benjamin Brahmer. I arguably have Penn State lower than I should, but it’s because I look at this team like it’s Iowa State more so than Penn State with the coaching change and influx former Cyclones.
No. 8: Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa had seven players taken in the 2026 NFL Draft: the most in program history. Losing those seven to the draft combined with only returning six starters, there are questions as to how fast the Hawkeyes can replace their lost talent. Despite the Hawkeyes’ defense being a massive strength — Iowa hasn’t finished outside of the top 20 in scoring defense since 2014 — they return the fewest FBS snaps on defense of any Power Four team. This is almost certainly a transition year for Iowa, but it always finds a way to claw out at least eight wins under Kirk Ferentz. There is also the question of who will start at QB in Week 1, with the quarterback competition still ongoing between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, but luckily for whoever starts, RB Kamari Moulton is returning after a strong sophomore season.
No. 9: Minnesota Golden Gophers
In the 2025-26 season, Minnesota finished 8-5 overall. Within that 8-5 record, the Golden Gophers were 7-0 at home and 0-5 on the road (1-0 neutral). If Minnesota can improve even the slightest bit on the road, then P.J. Fleck’s squad could fly under the radar in the Big Ten. S Koi Perich is a significant loss, which is even more painful considering he stayed in the conference, but many key contributors from last season return. QB Drake Lindsey set a program record for most wins as a freshman last season and is being talked about highly in the 2027 NFL Draft world, which is significant considering the projected talent in next year’s draft class. Linebacker Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota’s leading tackler from last season (T-sixth B1G) also returns, as does D-lineman Anthony Smith, who led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks (third in FBS). There is plenty of talent on the Golden Gophers’ roster, and they have proven they can win at home. The question now is if they can put it together on the road. I will also point out that from this ranking at No. 9 through No. 12, it’s very hard to rank these teams in a concrete order.
No. 10: Nebraska Cornhuskers
Under Matt Rhule, Nebraska football has continued to be on an upward trajectory after winning its most Big Ten games in a season since 2016. During this offseason, QB Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers mutually parted ways, opening the door for UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea, the 2025-26 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, to take over as signal caller. Colandrea has three years of experience as a starting quarterback between two years at Virginia then his lone season with UNLV, plus he’s more mobile than Raiola and offers a new dimension to Nebraska’s offense. The Cornhuskers also return 12 starters from last year and only saw RB Emmett Johnson drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. While Nebraska isn’t yet ready to be considered a top tier team in the Big Ten, Rhule is looking to continue to inch toward that bar.
No. 11: Illinois Fighting Illini
Call me crazy, but I just don’t see it this year for Illinois. While the defense will likely be more up to par with the talent on paper under new defensive coordinator and former FCS Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, the Fighting Illini only return three starters on defense while losing star EDGE Gabe Jacas to the NFL. QB Luke Altmyer also finished his collegiate career, prompting Illinois to bring in East Carolina transfer quarterback Katin Houser to be the signal caller. The offense shouldn’t be a total mess with Houser’s experience, but the team as a whole is in a transition period where getting to nine wins for a third straight season seems like an extremely hard-to-reach goal. The hype surrounding Illinois heading into this season isn’t anywhere near the same as it was entering last season.
No. 12: Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern made the biggest coordinator hire of any Big Ten team, bringing in Chip Kelly to run the offense. Combine that with how impressive David Braun has been as head coach and the Wildcats could be a real sleeper in the Big Ten. Not to win it all, but to make noise and pull off a few upsets. With the transfers brought in for Northwestern plus the returning players it really boils down to three things: 1) How Aidan Chiles plays at QB. 2) How the offensive line performs. 3) How the defensive line performs. With just one returning full-time starter on the offensive line in Ezomo Oratokhai, who is moving from guard to center, and just two returning D-lineman who played significant roles in Brendan Flakes and Michael Kilbane, it places heavy stress on the Wildcats’ ability to develop talent; something the program prides itself on. With that said, I think Northwestern and the teams above up until Minnesota at No. 9 could all be flip-flopped in many combinations as it stands right now in the spring.
No. 13: UCLA Bruins
There’s a new energy surrounding UCLA headed into the 2026-27, mainly because of new head coach Bob Chesney’s recruiting efforts. Chesney coached at James Madison for two seasons after Cignetti left for Indiana. During those two years, the Dukes won their first bowl game ever in the 2024-25 season and then made the College Football Playoff in the 2025-26 season. Fans shouldn’t expect Chesney to turn UCLA around overnight the same way Cignetti did for Indiana, but he does have a proven track record of winning at every level. If the Bruins can show enough on-field progress to keep their recruits 2027 recruits committed, then the future will continue to look brighter. As for this season, QB Nico Iamaleava is back under center for his second year with UCLA and third as a collegiate starter. The Bruins also brought in 41 transfers, 10 of whom played for Chesney at James Madison last season. EDGE Sahir West is arguably the most talented of the transfers in after being named the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year last season. The turnaround may not happen instantly, but UCLA seems to be headed in the right direction.
No. 14: Maryland Terrapins
After starting the season 4-0, Maryland lost its final eight games of the season to finish with a 4-8 record. The struggles in Big Ten play need to be cleaned up, especially since 14 starters from last year are returning for the Terrapins. As a true freshman, QB Malik Washington set a program record for passing yards as a freshman with 2,963, and started the season on a tear, throwing for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns to just one interception. In all but one game, Washington threw for over 200 yards, including a 459-yard, three-touchdown performance in the last game of the season. The ceiling for Maryland’s QB is through the roof, but if his play improves, the defense needs to as well. Also, the Terrapins are 2-16 against Big Ten opponents and 1-14 in games played after September over the past two seasons, so the motivation to change that narrative is also there.
No. 15: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers feels like a sneaky team this upcoming season. WR KJ Duff (third in B1G in receiving yards, 10th in FBS) and RB Antwan Raymond (third in B1G in rushing yards, 14th in FBS) are both back for the Scarlet Knights. The burning questions remaining for Rutgers are at quarterback and defensively. Boston College transfer QB Dylan Lonergan might not be able to replace the production from Athan Kaliakmanis, while the Scarlet Knights’ defense last season finished as the T-115th scoring defense. The ceiling for this team if Lonergan is the real deal, though, is higher because of the offensive weapons in Duff and Raymond.
No. 16: Wisconsin Badgers
After a terrible start, Wisconsin did manage to win a pair of Big Ten games in November, both over ranked opponents. Luke Fickell is still the head coach for the Badgers, but his job security isn’t the highest right now. What could help Wisconsin is its increased investment in football, which was evident by its transfer portal class. The Badgers brought in former Old Dominion QB Colton Joseph to be the signal caller with the hope of finally bringing stability to the position that has plagued Wisconsin football the last couple years. If Joseph’s talent translates from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten, having Wisconsin at this ranking will likely look too low, but the rest of the roster still has plenty of questions that need to be answered.
No. 17: Michigan State Spartans
Pat Fitzgerald is the new coach for Michigan State, but the Spartans will need more than just a new coach to turn the program around as they’re in a major rebuilding period. Michigan State hasn’t made a bowl game since 2021, and the first step for Fitzgerald is to get the Spartans back to a .500 regular season record. Michigan State completely overhauled its roster, bringing in 29 transfers while 44 players left in the portal this offseason. This roster overhaul was necessary, but expectations for an immediate turnaround should be lowered and compared more to that of Purdue than of Indiana, especially when looking at football NIL budget.
No. 18: Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue being at the bottom of this list is no surprise. Following a 1-11 season, the Boilermakers got off to a 2-0 start before losing 10-straight to finish the season. Purdue brought in a boatload of transfers this offseason, though not as much as the 54 transfers in last offseason. A tough-looking schedule in 2026 combined with a team that hasn’t proven much of anything leads to the conclusion that the Boilermakers will struggle this upcoming season. Before Purdue can even think about competing with the best in the Big Ten, it needs to end its 18-game Big Ten losing streak.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos