Where Oregon Ducks rank among Big Ten schools for returning production

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Where Oregon Ducks rank among Big Ten schools for returning production

Going into the new college football season, one of the many things to look at is both what the power balance will look like nationally and what it will look like in individual conferences. In today's day and age, the Big Ten Conference is arguably the strongest in the nation, with the last three national champions hailing from the league.

So, who do we expect to be the best in the conference this year? There's a good chance that the usual suspects are among the leaders, with the Indiana Hoosiers, Oregon Ducks, and Ohio State Buckeyes all projected to be championship contenders once again. But outside of those three, who do we expect to be standing when all is said and done?

To answer that question, we can look to returning production to try to get a better idea. On Monday, ESPN's Bill Connelly set out to answer with his annual column, delving into rosters across the nation now that spring ball has begun.

Here's a look at where the 18 Big Ten teams rank in the national returning production rankings:

18. Iowa Hawkeyes

An Iowa Hawkeyes helmet lays on the field before a football game against the Indiana Hoosiers Sept. 27, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

National Rank: No. 104

Overall Returning Production: 44%

17. Michigan State Spartans

Sep 7, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; A detailed view of Michigan State Spartans helmet on the field before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

National Rank: No. 97

Overall Returning Production: 46%

16. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Dec 26, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Rutgers Scarlet Knights helmet during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

National Rank: No. 92

Overall Returning Production: 47%

15. Illinois Fighting Illini

Oct. 1, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium.

National Rank: No. 75

Overall Returning Production: 50%

14. Penn State Nittany Lions

General view of a Penn State Nittany Lions helmet.

National Rank: No. 67

Overall Returning Production: 52%

13. Indiana Hoosiers

Oct 21, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of a Indiana Hoosiers helmet on the field prior to a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: No. 52

Overall Returning Production: 56%

12. Northwestern Wildcats

Aug 30, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Northwestern Wildcats helmet during warmups before the game against Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

National Rank: No. 44

Overall Returning Production: 57%

11. Purdue Boilermakers

Nov 18, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A detail view of a Purdue Boilermakers helmet on the sideline during a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field.

National Rank: No. 40

Overall Returning Production: 58%

10. Wisconsin Badgers

Oct 7, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; General view of a Wisconsin Badgers helmet during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: No. 35

Overall Returning Production: 59%

9. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith's helmet sits on the sideline as the team warms up prior to the NCAA football game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Oct. 11, 2025.

National Rank: No. 31

Overall Returning Production: 60%

8. Michigan Wolverines

Michigan Wolverine helmets sit on the field near the sideline prior to a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

National Rank: No. 20

Overall Returning Production: 63%

7. Washington Huskies

Sep 21, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Detail view of a Washington Huskies helmet before a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

National Rank: No. 15

Overall Returning Production: 65%

6. USC Trojans

Sep 21, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; USC Trojans helmet on the sideline during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

National Rank: No. 13

Overall Returning Production: 65%

5. Oregon Ducks

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: A detail of Oregon Ducks helmets prior to the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

National Rank: No. 11

Overall Returning Production: 66%

4. UCLA Bruins

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: No. 9

Overall Returning Production: 67%

3. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Nov 13, 2021; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers helmet on the field before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: No. 7

Overall Returning Production: 68%

2. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nov 15, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; A Nebraska Cornhuskers helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 59-24. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

National Rank: No. 3

Overall Returning Production: 69%

1. Maryland Terrapins

EUGENE, OREGON - NOVEMBER 9: A Maryland Terrapins helmet sits on the bench before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on November 9, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)

National Rank: No. 2

Overall Returning Production: 71%

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks' returning production rank among Big Ten teams in 2026

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