Inside NU’s 2026 Big Ten football preseason power rankings
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The 2026 college football season is officially underway. Rutgers, Illinois and Minnesota made their Week 1 debuts yesterday, and several more teams are set to play today and this upcoming weekend. With conference play set to begin shortly, Inside NU’s writers pooled together to shareour 2026 Big Ten power rankings.
1. No. 1 Ohio State
Average Ranking: 1.25
Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 2
Ohio State is the team to beat at both the conference and national level. Despite losing 11 players to the 2026 NFL Draft and a disappointing 2025-26 Playoff exit, the Buckeyes’ foundation remains strong. Jeremiah Smith is arguably the best player in college football, and Julian Sayin returns as quarterback after leading the FBS in completion percentage. The Buckeyes also retooled well via the transfer portal, especially on defense. They also have a few true freshmen who look like they could make an impact right away. If Ohio State survives its tough schedule, a second national title in three years wouldn’t be a surprise.
2. No. 2 Oregon
Average Ranking: 2.00
Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 3
Dante Moore’s return to Oregon was one of the offseason’s biggest storylines (before NFL players decided to go back to play for LSU). In his first season as a starter, he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns on 71.8% completion (fourth-best in the FBS), leading the Ducks to a 13-2 record. Oregon lost key players to the NFL Draft, including tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman. Still, a transfer class headlined by Minnesota safety Koi Perich and the best returning defensive line in the FBS gives the Ducks a strong core. With Moore back and Dan Lanning as coach, Oregon should have national title aspirations.
3. No. 6 Indiana
Average Ranking: 2.78
Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 3
Curt Cignetti’s turnaround of Indiana football will never be matched. After decades of being Big Ten bottom feeders, the Hoosiers capped an undefeated season with the 2025-26 CFP National Championship. Heisman winner QB Fernando Mendoza and eight other Hoosiers are off to the NFL, but Indiana still remains among college football’s blue bloods. TCU transfer and active career passing yards leader QB Josh Hoover is stepping in as the starter, and Michigan State transfer WR Nick Marsh bolsters a receiving room already featuring Charlie Becker. The Hoosiers also have an elite defense, headlined by the LB duo of Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones. With Cignetti’s track record in the portal, Indiana is firmly in the mix of title contenders.
4. No. 14 USC
Average Ranking: 4.33
Highest Ranking: 4
Lowest Ranking: 5
This is a huge year for USC and a major test for head coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans finished No. 16 in last season’s final CFP rankings and return 15 starters, including the entire offensive line. Dual-threat quarterback Jayden Maiava, who led the Big Ten in passing yards, can shred defenses at his best, though the receiving room faces questions after Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane’s departures in the NFL Draft. The Trojans did bring in the No. 1 recruiting class, and the freshmen made an impact right away in Week 0. If all the pieces come together, USC could challenge the Big Ten’s top tier.
5. No. 17 Washington
Average Ranking: 5.67
Highest Ranking: 4
Lowest Ranking: 8
Despite the offseason drama surrounding QB Demond Williams Jr. entering the transfer portal, he remains one of the conference’s best dual-threat QBs. He’ll be without last season’s top weapons, as wide receiver Denzel Boston and running back Jonah Coleman were drafted, and Adam Mohammad transferred to California. But a bigger workload and four returning starters on the offensive line could help Washington recapture its Michael Penix Jr.-era national title run. The receiving room remains a question and locker room fallout from the transfer drama looms as well, but Williams Jr.’s talent should keep them competitive.
6. No. 16 Michigan
Average Ranking: 5.89
Highest Ranking: 5
Lowest Ranking: 7
Michigan landed one of the biggest coaching hires in the FBS this offseason. Kyle Whittingham, who went 177-88 with three conference titles over 21 seasons at Utah, brought several former Utes with him. This includes John Henry Daley, who finished second in the Big 12 with 11.5 sacks behind No. 2 overall pick David Bailey. Quarterback Bryce Underwood enters year two looking to take the next step toward stardom, with all indications from fall camp pointing that way. Michigan’s schedule includes four CFP teams from last season, but the Wolverines should have the tools to get back to the Big Ten’s top tier.
7. No. 18 Penn State
Average Ranking: 6.33
Highest Ranking: 4
Lowest Ranking: 7
Penn State is seeking a fresh start after a disastrous 2025-26 season. A 3-0 start last yeear unraveled into six straight Big Ten losses, and while it did close with four straight wins, including a bowl victory, quarterback Drew Allar missed most of the year with injury and James Franklin was fired midseason. This offseason, former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell (not the Inside NU managing editor) was hired after 10 seasons and three Big 12 Coach of the Year awards with the Cyclones. 23 of his former players also followed him to Happy Valley, including quarterback Rocco Becht and tight end Benjamin Brahmer. Although questions remain about the coaching change and revamped roster, these players have experience competing together and much of their talent should carry over.
8. No. 22 Iowa
Average Ranking: 8.11
Highest Ranking: 6
Lowest Ranking: 9
Iowa lost a program-record seven players to the 2026 NFL Draft and returns just six starters, which raises questions about how fast the Hawkeyes can rebuild. The defense has been a strength (Iowa hasn’t finished outside the top 20 in scoring defense since 2014), but the Hawkeyes return the fewest defensive snaps of any Power Four team. This could be a transition year, although Kirk Ferentz always finds a way to get at least eight wins. The quarterback battle between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski remains unsettled, as Ferentz plans to play both in Iowa’s week one matchup against Northern Illinois. Whoever starts will have running Kamari Moulton in the backfield to support them, as well as South Dakota transfer L.J. Phillips Jr., who led the FCS last season with 1,920 rushing yards.
9a. Nebraska
Average Ranking: 10.89
Highest Ranking: 9
Lowest Ranking: 12
Nebraska has continued its upward trajectory under Matt Rhule, and the Cornhuskers are coming off their most Big Ten wins in a season since 2016. Quarterback Dylan Raiola and the program mutually parted ways this offseason, opening the door for UNLV’s Anthony Colandrea, the 2025-26 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, to take over. Colandrea brings three years of starting experience (two at Virginia, one at UNLV) along with more mobility than Raiola, which adds a new dimension to the offense. The Cornhuskers return 12 starters and lost only running back Emmett Johnson to the NFL Draft. Nebraska may not be a top-tier Big Ten team yet, but Rhule and company is helping the team close that gap.
9b. Northwestern
Average Ranking: 10.89
Highest Ranking: 8
Lowest Ranking: 14
Tied with Nebraska for the No. 9 spot is Northwestern. The Wildcats made the biggest coordinator hire in the Big Ten when bringing in Chip Kelly to run the offense. Combine that with David Braun’s impressive track record as head coach, the Wildcats could be a real sleeper pick to make noise and pull off a few upsets. It largely boils down to three things: how Aidan Chiles plays at quarterback, how the offensive line performs and how the defensive line performs. With just one returning full-time starter up front (Ezomo Oratokhai, moving from guard to center) and only two returning defensive linemen with significant experience in Brendan Flakes and Michael Kilbane, Northwestern will need to lean hard on its player development. NU also must grapple with an immensely difficult schedule that includes a three-game stretch against Oregon, Iowa and Ohio State. Despite this, our staff still has confidence that NU can finish with a better record in 2026.
11. Illinois
Average Ranking: 11.25
Highest Ranking: 9
Lowest Ranking: 14
Illinois has always been a Big Ten contender, but there are numerous questions surrounding this year’s team. New defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck should boost Illinois’ defense, but the Illini return just three defensive starters after losing edge Gabe Jacas to the NFL. With Luke Altmyer’s career over, East Carolina transfer Katin Houser will step in at quarterback. His experience should keep the offense afloat, but this is could very well be a transition year for the Fighting Illini. Reaching nine wins for a third straight season looks like a tall order.
12. Minnesota
Average Ranking: 11.38
Highest Ranking: 10
Lowest Ranking: 14
Minnesota went 8-5 last season but were atrocious on the road, going 0-5 away from Huntington Bank Stadium. If P.J. Fleck’s squad can improve on the road even slightly, the Golden Gophers could fly under the radar in the Big Ten. Losing safety Koi Perich to a conference rival stings, but plenty of talent returns, including quarterback Drake Lindsey, who set a program freshman wins record and is already drawing 2027 NFL Draft buzz. The Gophers also return linebacker Maverick Baranowski, who was last season’s leading tackler (T-6th in the Big Ten), and defensive lineman Anthony Smith, who led the conference with 12.5 sacks (third in FBS). The talent is there, and Minnesota has proven it can win at home. The question is whether they can do it on the road, and there’s too much uncertainty to rank them any higher.
13. UCLA
Average Ranking: 12.00
Highest Ranking: 8
Lowest Ranking: 16
New head coach Bob Chesney’s recruting prowess has generated new energy around UCLA heading into this year. In two seasons at James Madison, after Cignetti left for Indiana, Chesney led the Dukes to their first-ever bowl win and then a CFP berth. He may not turn UCLA around overnight like Cignetti did at Indiana, but he has a proven track record at every level. If the Bruins can show enough on-field progress to keep their 2027 recruits committed, then the future will continue to look bright. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who might be one of the most underrated QBs in the country, returns for his second UCLA season and third as a collegiate starter, and the Bruins brought in 41 transfers, including 10 from Chesney’s James Madison roster. Edge Sahir West, last season’s Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, is arguably the most talented of the group. UCLA is headed in the right direction, but just might not achieve that remarkable turnaround this season.
14. Wisconsin
Average Ranking: 13.33
Highest Ranking: 10
Lowest Ranking: 15
Wisconsin closed a rough 2025 season by beating two ranked Big Ten opponents in November, but Luke Fickell’s job security remains shaky. The Badgers’ bigger investment in football showed in the transfer portal, as Wisconsin brought in by former Old Dominion quaterback Colton Joseph to finally stabilize a position that’s plagued the program for years. If Joseph’s talent translates from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten, this ranking may look too low. But plenty of questions remain elsewhere on the roster.
15. Maryland
Average Ranking: 14.22
Highest Ranking: 14
Lowest Ranking: 16
Maryland started last season 4-0 before losing its final eight games to finish 4-8. With 14 starters returning, fixing those Big Ten struggles is the main priority. True freshman quarterback Malik Washington set a program freshman passing record with 2,963 yards, as he opened the season with 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns to 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. His ceiling is sky-high, but the defense must also improve alongside him. The Terrapins are 2-16 in Big Ten play and 1-14 in games after September over the past two seasons, which equips them with plenty of motivation to change that narrative.
16. Michigan State
Average Ranking: 15.90
Highest Ranking: 14
Lowest Ranking: 17
Former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald takes over a Michigan State program in major rebuild mode, and the first goal is simply getting back to .500 after no bowl appearances since 2021. QB Alessio Milivojevic looked like he could ascend after his four starts to end the 2025 season, but that is still to be seen. The Spartans overhauled the roster this offseason, bringing in 29 transfers while losing 44. That overhaul was necessary, but given the NIL budget gap, expectations should track closer to Purdue’s rebuild than Indiana’s.
17. Rutgers
Average Ranking: 16.38
Highest Ranking: 15
Lowest Ranking: 17
Rutgers is still processing Thursday’s embarrassing 37-21 week one loss to Massachusetts, which some local outlets have dubbed “the most humiliating night in modern Rutgers football history.” The Minuteman entered the game as 28.5 underdogs, so a loss that catastrophic should call into question every aspect of this Rutgers’ squad and whether there’s any hope of optimism left. Wide reciever KJ Duff and running back Antwan Raymond are one of the best returning skill-position duos in the country, but there are serious concerns about quarterback Dylan Lonergan and the defense that were exacerbated on Thursday after the team’s poor performance.
18. Purdue
Average Ranking: 18.00
Highest Ranking: 18
Lowest Ranking: 18
Once again, Purdue is unanimously ranked last in our power rankings. This should come at no surprise after a 1-11 season that included a 10-game losing streak. The Boilermakers brought in another wave of transfers, but far less than last offseason. A tough 2026 schedule and an unproven roster signal that more struggles are ahead. Before Purdue can even think about competing with the Big Ten’s best, it needs to snap its 18-game conference losing streak.
— All blurbs written and edited by Charlie Jacobs and Sai Trivedi.
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