Predicting Big Ten football award winners this season

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While not as prestigious as some of the national awards, the Big Ten hands out a collection of postseason awards each year. Typically dominated by Michigan and Ohio State, these awards recognize the best of the best at each position and on each side of the ball.

Today, we predict who will take home the hardware in each category for the 2026 season.

Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year

I don’t love starting this article off with a Buckeye, but this award seems very likely to reside in Columbus with either Julian Sayin or Jeremiah Smith. Now a redshirt sophomore, Sayin will look to establish himself as a star in college football. Smith is already a star, but will be playing his final season in college before being a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. Another potential option here is Oregon’s Dante Moore.

Prediction: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year

Big Ten defenses should be as stout as ever this fall, but they are lacking in star power. Michigan will be relying on a few veterans returning from injury, while Ohio State quietly lost a ton of talent across the board on defense. Instead, we’ll shift to a star player on a bad team: Minnesota.

Prediction: Anthony Smith, Minnesota

Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year

With the Big Ten besting the SEC each of the last three years on the field, the recruiting rankings have followed. The Big Ten brought in a whopping 13 five-star recruits this past cycle. Any one of them could have an immediate impact, but this award tends to favor the skill positions. Options here include Michigan’s Savion Hiter, Ohio State’s Chris Henry Jr. and Oregon’s Jalen Lott. Call me a homer, but I love Hiter’s chances.

Prediction: Savion Hiter, Michigan

Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year

Coach of the Year typically goes to a coach who either wins the conference emphatically or takes a bottom-dweller and brings them up to respectability. The former is easier to project this season than the latter. While it’s certainly possible that Indiana or Ohio State win the Big Ten, I’m high on Oregon this season. If the Ducks get the job done, this award should be Dan Lanning’s to lose.

Prediction: Dan Lanning, Oregon

Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year

Without playing a down of football this season, this appears to be a two-horse race on paper. Sayin is the next in a long line of successful Buckeye quarterbacks. As a freshman last season, he showed extreme poise and maturity beyond his years. Moore is the other likely contender, as the Detroit native will look to lead the Ducks to the promised land for the first time in program history. Other contenders include Indiana’s Josh Hoover and Michigan’s Bryce Underwood.

Prediction: Julian Sayin, Ohio State

Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year

This award could come down to a classic Michigan vs. Ohio State battle, as Michigan’s Jordan Marshall and Ohio State’s Bo Jackson each appear primed for another good season. However, Jackson plays in an offense that prioritizes the passing game, while Marshall will be in more of a committee with Hiter. This opens the door for Rutgers’ Antwan Raymond, who is expected to carry the entire load in Piscataway and is a true third-down back.

Prediction: Antwan Raymond, Rutgers

Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year

Unless Indiana’s Charlie Becker has a monster season, we’re likely looking at a three-peat here. Smith won this award as both a freshman and sophomore. There’s no reason to believe he won’t win it again given Ohio State’s scheme and offensive prowess.

Prediction: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year

This year appears to be a bit of a down year in the Big Ten for tight end play. However, Jamari Johnson of Oregon looks to lead the pack as the highest graded returning tight end on PFF. Other potential options include Iowa’s DJ Vonnahme, Penn State’s Benjamin Brahmer and Washington’s Decker DeGraaf.

Prediction: Jamari Johnson, Oregon

Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year

Indiana left tackle Carter Smith returns to Bloomington with an opportunity to defend his crown from last year. However, he faces stiff competition as always in the Big Ten trenches. While he’s certainly still one of the favorites, I’ll give some love to Iowa’s Kade Pieper. Iowa hasn’t had a Rimington-Pace award winner since Tyler Linderbaum in 2021, which just feels wrong. Other contenders here include Michigan’s Andrew Sprague and Jake Guarnera, Ohio State’s Austin Siereveld, and Iowa’s Trevor Lauck.

Prediction: Kade Pieper, Iowa

Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year

I’m very tempted to take Michigan’s John Henry Daley here. However, it’s tough to gauge how quickly he will return to 100 percent from his injury. While the offseason chatter appears to indicate he is healthy, there’s a difference between being healthy and being healthy enough to be the best defensive lineman in the Big Ten. Instead, we will take Minnesota’s best player in Anthony Smith, who had 12.5 sacks in 2025.

Prediction: Anthony Smith, Minnesota

Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year

Like at tight end, it’s projected to be a down year in the Big Ten for linebackers. The best of the bunch are likely Teitum Tuioti of Oregon and Rolijah Hardy of Indiana. Given how strong the Hoosier defense has been the past few years, it feels right to have this award go to them.

Prediction: Rolijah Hardy, Indiana

Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year

Fortunately for the Big Ten, Caleb Downs won’t be going for a three-peat for this award. This opens the door to a host of candidates like Michigan’s Jyaire Hill, Oregon’s Brandon Finney Jr. and Koi Perich, and Illinois’s Xavier Scott. Unfortunately, name recognition does play a factor in awards like these and voters tend to vote for players they’ve heard repeatedly in the highlights. One name stands above the rest in this regard.

Prediction: Koi Perich, Oregon

Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year

Nico Radicic does return to Indiana to defend his title. However, the reason “college kickers” is a mantra at all is because they’re notoriously unreliable. Let’s pick a name out of a hat and see who we get.

Prediction: Sean O’Haire, Maryland

Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year

As with kickers, it’s hard to project the production of punters. However, there are some good ones in the Big Ten this season with Maryland’s Bryce McFerson, Washington’s Hunter Green and Indiana’s Billy Gowers being the most notable.

Prediction: Hunter Green, Washington

Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year

Determining who will be doing the punt and kickoff returns is the hardest part of this category. For now, we’ll stick with the player with the most returning production.

Prediction: Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska

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