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Big Ten Football Rankings: Spring 2026 First Look
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- Big Ten Football Rankings: Spring 2026 First Look
The Big Ten is about to be every bit as strong as it was last year, and maybe even better.
The 18-team league might be a tad top-heavy, and several teams - Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, and UCLA - are undergoing an overhaul, but it should be a blast of a season.
Before the offseason kicks into high gear with spring football about to start, here's our early ranking of all 18 Big Ten teams.
Ranking Every Big Ten Team Heading Into Spring Practice
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
18 Rutgers
Why the Scarlet Knights are Here:At this point, Rutgers and head coach Greg Schiano have to prove it. The transfer portal wasn't kind, but the starting 22 won't be that bad. Unfortunately, though, this is the wrong conference to be in if you're not loaded with high-end options.
What Needs Work:Defense, defense, defense, defense, DEFENSE. The Scarlet Knights went from sixth in the Big Ten in total D in 2023, to 17th in 2024, to dead last last year. It started up front with no production whatsoever against the run.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:5-7
Preseason:44
Final:58
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Kevyn Humes, CB Maryland
Biggest Loss:Bo Mascoe, CB to Texas
Season Opener:UMass, Sept. 3
- 2026 Rutgers Schedule Breakdown
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17 Purdue
Why the Boilermakers are Here:Now Barry Odom has had his chance to build things back up, and he has a few decent players in place to go along with a huge class of transfers. The talent level is slowly improving.
What Needs Work:Find production on the lines. The Boilermakers have several interesting parts, but they're not going anywhere until the offensive front can pound for the ground game a bit, and the defensive line can hold up against the run.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:2-10
Preseason:68
Final:74
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Elo Modozie, EDGE Georgia
Biggest Loss:Jamarrion Harkless, DT to Kentucky
Season Opener:Indiana State, Sept. 5
- 2026 Purdue Schedule Breakdown
16 Maryland
Why the Terrapins are Here:The overall talent might not be there, but the experience is there with plenty of returning starters around rising-star quarterback Malik Washington
. It'll take plenty of shootouts to win inthe Big Ten, but the Terps have the weapons.
What Needs Work:The running game - find one. The Terps were great in pass protection and were careful with the ball, but they didn't run well enough to take the heat off of Washington.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:4-8
Preseason:63
Final:72
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Lavon Johnson, DT Texas
Biggest Loss:Dillan Fontus, DT to Syracuse
Season Opener:Hampton, Sept. 5
- 2026 Maryland Schedule Breakdown
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Big Ten Bowl Hopefuls
Michigan State's new football coach Pat Fitzgerald addresses the crowd during a timeout in the first half of the Spartans basketball game against Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.© Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
15 Michigan State
Why the Spartans are Here:New head coach Pat Fitzgerald has an overhaul to do. His Spartans lost a ton through the transfer portal, but they kept around just enough starters to build around. This will be one of those teams that gives all the best teams a great fight … and then loses.
What Needs Work:Get the lines in place - infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure. The offensive side has to provide more of a push and do something in pass protection, and the defensive front has to bring more heat.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:4-8
Preseason:43
Final:62
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Ben Murawski, OT UConn
Biggest Loss:Nick Marsh, WR to Indiana
Season Opener:Toledo, Sept. 5
- 2026 Michigan State Schedule Breakdown
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14 Northwestern
Why the Wildcats are Here:Eventually, they'll get their shot at playing in their new, fancy schmancy refurbished house - Ryan Field is expected to finally be done in early October - and that's about when the team should be coming together.
There's plenty of work to do, but a fantastic haul from the transfer portal, and with Chip Kelly taking over as offensive coordinator, Northwestern will be dangerous.
What Needs Work:Get the pass rush working. There weren't enough tackles for loss and big plays behind the line. Overall, the defense was fine, and the takeaways were there, but it would be huge if the Cats could find a big-time pass rusher.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:7-6
Preseason:67
Final:31
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Aidan Chiles, QB Michigan State
Biggest Loss:Anton Saka, EDGE to Texas A&M
Season Opener:South Dakota State, Sept. 5
- 2026 Northwestern Schedule Breakdown
13 Wisconsin
Why the Badgers are Here:The defense that did what it could last season loaded up with a whole slew of fantastic transfers to make that side even more dangerous. That's great, but … the offense?
Beyond horrendous, the attack got an instant infusion of running talent with back Abu Sama (Iowa State) and quarterback Colton Joseph (Old Dominion).
What Needs Work:Go back to the basics. Run the ball, get powerful, get physical again. The second-worst scoring offense in America - thanks, UMass - will only start to improve if the play of the front five is night and day better. (Having a quarterback like Joseph, who can run, will help.)
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:4-8
Preseason:42
Final:64
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Shamar Rigby, WR Oklahoma State
Biggest Loss:Joe Brunner, OG to Indiana
Season Opener:Notre Dame (in Green Bay
), Sept. 5
- 2026 Wisconsin Schedule Breakdown
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12 Nebraska
Why the Cornhuskers are Here:This is when it's all supposed to crank up under Matt Rhule, but it'll take something special for this year's team to break through the traffic of great Big Ten powers.
Plenty of good transfers signed on to go along with a decent base, and the team will certainly be better and stronger. Now it's time for a little bit of everything-go-right luck to kick in.
What Needs Work:Clamp down on D. Effort and energy are never a problem with the Huskers, but holding up when teams drove deep was an issue - the red zone defense wasn't great. More takeaways would be a big help. A killer group of transfers should help all of it.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:7-6
Preseason:32
Final:43
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Brendan Black, OG Iowa State
Biggest Loss: Dylan Raiola
, QB to Oregon
Season Opener:Ohio, Sept. 5
- 2026 Nebraska Schedule Breakdown
11 Minnesota
Why the Golden Gophers are Here:PJ Fleck is putting together a potentially dangerous team to keep an eye on.
The transfer portal signings were strong, there are plenty of returning starters, and watch out for Drake Lindsey to grow into one of those quarterbacks the underground hipster NFL scouting types start to hype up.
What Needs Work:Find a running game again. It'll be easy to rely on Lindsey a bit too much, but the Gophers have to get back to grinding again to improve one of the Big Ten's worst offenses.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:8-5
Preseason:26
Final:38
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Perry Thompson, WR Auburn
Biggest Loss:Koi Perich, S to Oregon
Season Opener:Eastern Illinois, Sept. 3
- 2026 Minnesota Schedule Breakdown
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10 Illinois
Why the Fighting Illini are Here:It'll be another good year under Bret Bielema, but it won't be as good as last season was supposed to be. The team isn't as loaded with veterans. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is gone, and now it should be up to Katin Houser (East Carolina) to be the new leader and star.
What Needs Work:Where's the defense? The Illini got by last year without coming up with enough third down stops and few picks. On the other side, more from the pass protection would be nice.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:9-4
Preseason:23
Final:19
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Katin Houser, QB East Carolina
Biggest Loss:Tomiwa Durojaiye, DT to South Carolina
Season Opener:UAB, Sept. 5
- 2026 Illinois Schedule Breakdown
9 UCLA
Why the Bruins are Here:No, UCLA won't be the new Indiana, but …
Hire the head coach (Bob Chesney) from James Madison to a struggling program with a decent base of talent. Bring in LOTS of transfers in from JMU (ten at last count) … again, no, but crazier things have happened. (Realistically, yes, expect the Bruins to be far, far better.)
What Needs Work:Nico and the D. Let Iamaleava take over games with the experience and talent to carry the team through the rough patches, and get more big plays down the field. He'll be fine, but it's the defense that needs the work, especially on the line. UCLA was the worst team in America in both sacks and tackles for loss.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:3-9
Preseason:53
Final:60
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Sammy Omosigho, LB Oklahoma
Biggest Loss:Andre Jordan Jr., CB to Auburn
Season Opener:at Cal, Sept. 5
- 2026 UCLA Schedule Breakdown
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College Football Playoff Contenders
Nov 15, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) during warmups before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Husky Stadium. © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
8 Iowa
Why the Hawkeyes are Here:You know exactly what you're getting. The offensive line is solid, the running game will be good, and the linebackers and corners will be terrific. It might take a little bit for the defensive line to be great, and losing quarterback Mark Gronowski
hurts, but … again, it's Iowa. It'll be fine.
What Needs Work:Get more plays in the backfield. It's Iowa. It'll never push the ball down the field or open it up, but that's how it works. To do more, though, the defense has to generate more pressure and be even more disruptive.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:9-4
Preseason:25
Final:18
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Lance Ingold, EDGE Northern Illinois
Biggest Loss:Koen Entringer, S to Louisville
Season Opener:Northern Illinois, Sept. 5
- 2026 Iowa Schedule Breakdown
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7 Penn State
Why the Nittany Lions are Here:Okay, Matt Campbell, let's see what you can do with the high-end car to drive. This should work right away, even with James Fanklin taking plenty of players to Virginia Tech.
Campbell is bringing in almost everyone good from Iowa State - 18 former Cyclones and counting - including quarterback Rocco Becht and receiver Chase Sowell.
What Needs Work:Get it all in place … fast. It's great to add all the new Cyclones into the mix, but there's an overhaul being done on both sides. Get Becht and the passing game moving with far, far more explosion than the Nittany Lions showed on a regular basis over the last few seasons.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:7-6
Preseason:1
Final:34
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Rocco Becht, QB Iowa State
Biggest Loss:Chaz Coleman, WR to Tennessee
Season Opener:Marshall, Sept. 5
- 2026 Penn State Schedule Breakdown
6 Washington
Why the Huskies are Here:The rebuilding and reloading under Jedd Fisch is close to complete. Loaded with returning veterans, the Huskies are tweaking the offense and should be rock-solid on the defensive side.
What Needs Work:Make this the offseason of Demond Williams Jr. After the drama of legally fighting to keep their quarterback, Washington has get past the weirdness and make the offense explode. Again, the Huskies are loaded and ready to do more, but that only works if No. 2 under center is amazing.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:9-4
Preseason:27
Final:17
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Kolt Dieterich, OT Sam Houston
Biggest Loss:Deven Bryant, LB to USC
Season Opener:Washington State, Sept. 5
- 2026 Washington Schedule Breakdown
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5 Michigan
Why the Wolverines are Here:You don't bring in 66-year-old Kyle Whittingham to rebuild the program. He did a great job of keeping most of the main men - mainly quarterback Bryce Underwood - brought along a few wonderful players from Utah, and the expectations have to be College Football Playoff or bust.
What Needs Work:Beyond getting everyone acclimated to the new coaching staff, get the passing game moving. It was night-and-day better than the 2024 version, but it could still be more efficient with the parts in place.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:9-4
Preseason:11
Final:16
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Smith Snowden, CB Utah
Biggest Loss:Justice Haynes, RB to Georgia Tech
Season Opener:Western Michigan, Sept. 5
- 2026 Michigan Schedule Breakdown
Big Ten National Title Contenders
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore warms up as the Oregon Ducks host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 6, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
4 USC
Why the Trojans are Here:If it's possible to be USC and fly under the radar, that's what it's about to do. The receiving corps will fill in from the transfer portal, but everything else is in place. The depth took a hit in the portal, but the team shopped in the high-rent district with the guys it signed.
What Needs Work:Get the new guys going. Between the recruiting class and the transfers, the Trojans loaded up with the talent to go along with an already terrific base. Yeah, it was nice that USC got better last season, but now it's time to be a real threat with the firepower on both sides of the ball.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:9-4
Preseason:16
Final:15
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Terrell Anderson, WR NC State
Biggest Loss:Devan Thompkins, DT to Alabama
Season Opener:To Be Determined (Fresno State is Week 2)
- 2026 USC Schedule Breakdown
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3 Indiana
Why the Hoosiers are Here:No, this won't be the same juggernaut that last year's team was, but this isn't stopping. Curt Cignetti has plenty of key players still around, and lots and lots of good transfers want to be a part of this, with a mega haul of elite talent coming in to go along with the already great veterans.
What Needs Work:Finding the same groove. The Hoosiers aren't going anywhere, but it's asking the world to recreate the same magic. Seriously, how do you stay amazing at everything?
With the new group coming in, it's all about finding the rhythm and production from the passing game, with TCU quarterback Josh Hoover trying to fill in some legendary shoes.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:16-0
Preseason:18
Final:1
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Nick Marsh, WR Michigan State
Biggest Loss:Hosea Wheeler, DT to Baylor
Season Opener:North Texas, Sept. 5
- 2026 Indiana Schedule Breakdown
2 Oregon
Why the Ducks are Here:Star quarterback Dante Moore
avoided becoming a New York Jet
, the team is loaded with returning veterans on both sides of the ball, and everything is in place to win the national title - that includes at backup quarterback with Dylan Raiola coming in from Nebraska.
What Needs Work:Where was the pass rush? The defense was great until the meltdown against Indiana in the College Football Playoff - the James Madison game wasn't exactly a peach - but this year, there's too much talent returning not to be far stronger.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:13-2
Preseason:7
Final:2
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:Koi Perich, S Minnesota
Biggest Loss:Tionne Gray, DT to Notre Dame
Season Opener:Boise State, Sept. 5
- 2026 Oregon Schedule Breakdown
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1 Ohio State
Why the Buckeyes are Here:For all the low-key complaining from some about the losses through the transfer portal, this should be the most talented team in college football.
The offense is almost unfairly loaded, the defense brought in an incredible group of starters who'd be the signature star gets just about everywhere else, and after a year off, get ready for a different tone as it has to find …
What Needs Work:The IT
factor. The 2024 team might not have been perfect, and it psyched itself out at times, but there was no doubting the desperation of that bunch to finally break through.
The 2025 team knew it was good, but when it was time to hammer the gas against the elite, nothing was there. From Day One, Practice One … GO. No more playing it cool and safe.
2025 CFN Rankings
Record:12-2
Preseason:4
Final:4
Transfer Portal
Top Transfer In:James Smith, DT Alabama
Biggest Loss: Quincy Porter
, WR to Notre Dame
Season Opener:Ball State, Sept. 5
- 2026 Ohio State Schedule Breakdown
Related: Every Power Four Team's Quarterback Situation for 2026
This story was originally published by College Football News on Feb 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
