The 2026 Big Ten Conference football season is the 131st season of college football play for the Big Ten Conference and part of the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This is the Big Ten's third season with 18 teams and its third season since 2010 with a non-divisional scheduling format.
Head coaches Coaching changes Michigan On December 10, 2025, the University of Michigan announced head coach Sherrone Moore had been fired for cause due to "credible evidence" that Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. On December 26, the school named Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham the team's 22nd head football coach, agreeing to a five-year contract.
Michigan State On November 30, 2025, Michigan State announced that it had fired head coach Jonathan Smith after going 4–15 in his two years with the program. On December 1, 2025, the Spartans announced Pat Fitzgerald as its head football coach. He was previously the head coach for Northwestern from 2006 until 2023 before he was fired amidst the team's hazing scandal.
Penn State Midway through the 2025 season, on October 12, 2025, Penn State announced it had fired James Franklin after 12 seasons. He finishes with a 104–45 overall record. Assistant coach Terry Smith was named the interim to finish out the season. On December 5, 2025, the team announced that Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell as their next head football coach.
UCLA After a 0–3 start to 2025 season, on September 14, 2025, UCLA announced that head coach DeShaun Foster was fired. He finished his head coaching tenure with a 5–10 record. Assistant coach Tim Skipper served as the interim head coach to finish out the season. On December 6, 2025, the Bruins announced that they had hired James Madison head coach Bob Chesney as their next head football coach.
Coaches
As of October 3, 2026
Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record Record at school Big Ten record Illinois Bret Bielema New York Giants (OLB) 6 Indiana Curt Cignetti James Madison 3 Iowa Kirk Ferentz Baltimore Ravens (AHC/OL) 28 Maryland Mike Locksley Alabama (OC) 8 Michigan Kyle Whittingham Utah 1 Michigan State Pat Fitzgerald Northwestern 1 Minnesota P. J. Fleck Western Michigan 10 Nebraska Matt Rhule Carolina Panthers 4 Northwestern David Braun Northwestern (DC) 4 Ohio State Ryan Day Ohio State (OC/QB) 8 Oregon Dan Lanning Georgia (DC/OLB) 5 Penn State Matt Campbell Iowa State 1 Purdue Barry Odom UNLV 2 Rutgers Greg Schiano Ohio State (AHC/DC) 18 UCLA Bob Chesney James Madison 1 USC Lincoln Riley Oklahoma 5 Washington Jedd Fisch Arizona 3 Wisconsin Luke Fickell Cincinnati 4 Notes:
All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Year at school includes 2026 season. Overall and Big Ten records are from time at current school only and are through the beginning of the season.
Preseason
Recruiting classes + Rankings as of June 22, 2026 Team On3/Rivals Scout & 24/7 Signees Illinois 6 6 37 Indiana 8 9 22 Iowa 7 7 18 Maryland 11 11 19 Michigan 4 4 26 Michigan State 14 12 21 Minnesota 9 8 31 Nebraska 18 18 12 Northwestern 13 13 23 Ohio State 2 3 28 Oregon 3 2 23 Penn State 15 16 15 Purdue 12 14 25 Rutgers 10 10 23 UCLA 16 15 20 USC 1 1 35 Washington 5 5 27 Wisconsin 17 17 15
Big Ten Media Days July 28–30, 2026 – Media Days, Chicago Preseason Media Poll The annual Cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Media Poll.
1 Ohio State 540 (15) 2 Oregon 527 (11) 3 Indiana 509 (5) 4 USC 446 5 Michigan 430 6 Penn State 380 7 Washington 366 8 Iowa 361 9 Illinois 304 10 Minnesota 268 11 Nebraska 246 12 Wisconsin 207 13 UCLA 199 14 Northwestern 140 15 Maryland 137 16 Michigan State 99 17 Rutgers 97 18 Purdue 45
Predicted Big Ten Champion 1 Ohio State 16 2 Oregon 8 3 Indiana 4
Preseason Player of the Year
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year 1 Jeremiah Smith WR Ohio State 82 (21) 2 Dante Moore QB Oregon 62 (8) 3 Julian Sayin QB Ohio State 25 (2) 4 Jayden Maiava QB USC 7 5 Josh Hoover QB Indiana 5 T-6 Turbo Richard RB Indiana 1 T-6 Demond Williams QB Washington 1 T-6 Carter Smith OL Indiana 1 T-6 Drake Lindsey QB Minnesota 1 T-6 Bo Jackson RB Ohio State 1
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year 1 Anthony Smith DL Minnesota 26 (2) 2 Brandon Finney Jr CB Oregon 25 (6) 3 Koi Perich S Oregon 22 (4) 4 Teitum Tuioti DL Oregon 20 (6) 5 A'Mauri Washington DT Oregon 20 (5) 6 Tyrique Tucker DL Indiana 17 (3) 7 John Henry Daley DE Michigan 15 (2) 8 Rolijah Hardy LB Indiana 8 (2) 9 Matayo Uiagalelei DE Oregon 7 10 Jamari Sharpe CB Iowa 6 11 Earl Little S Ohio State 3 12 Anthony Jones DE Nebraska 2 T-13 Amare Ferrell S Indiana 1 T-13 Kenyatta Jackson DE Ohio State 1 T-13 Jaylen McClain S Ohio State 1 T-13 Isaiah Jones LB Indiana 1
All-American Teams PlayerBear Alexander 4th team Jacory Barney Jr. 4th team Charlie Becker 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team Benjamin Brahmer 4th team John Henry Daley 2nd team 1st team 2nd team 2nd team 1st team 2nd teamKJ Duff 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team Justin Evans 4th team Amare Ferrell 2nd team 2nd team Brandon Finney Jr. 2nd team 3rd team 1st team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 1st team 1st teamRolijah Hardy 1st team 1st team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 1st team 1st teamJyaire Hill 4th team Carson Hinzman 4th team Bo Jackson 3rd team Kenyatta Jackson 4th team Greg Johnson 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd teamJamari Johnson 2nd team 2nd team 1st teamIsaiah Jones 2nd team 2nd team 1st team Wayne Knight 1st team 4th team 1st teamIapani Laloulu 1st team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 1st teamTrevor Lauck 2nd team 2nd team Zach Lutmer 4th team 2nd team Nick Marsh 3rd team 2nd team 2nd teamJordan Marshall 4th team Jermaine Mathews Jr.2nd teamBryce McFerson 4th team Luke Montgomery 2nd team 4th team 1st team 2nd team 2nd team Dakorien Moore 4th team Dante Moore 1st team 3rd team 1st team 1st teamMarcus Neal Jr. 4th team Koi Perich 1st team 2nd & 3rd team 1st team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd teamKade Pieper 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 2nd team 1st team 1st team 1st teamAntwan Raymond 3rd team Julian Sayin 2nd team 2nd team 1st team 2nd teamJamari Sharpe 4th team Austin Siereveld 2nd team 1st team 2nd team Anthony Smith 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 2nd team 1st team 2nd teamCarter Smith 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st teamJeremiah Smith 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st teamAndrew Sprague 4th team 2nd team Tyrique Tucker 2nd team 1st team 1st team 2nd team 1st teamTeitum Tuioti 2nd team 1st team Matayo Uiagalelei 3rd team DJ Vonnahme 2nd team A'Mauri Washington 1st team 1st team 2nd team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st team 1st teamDaniel Wingate 4th team
Rankings
Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Final Illinois AP RV RV C RV RV CFP Not released Indiana AP 6 (8) 5 (8) 4 (3) 5 (4) 6 (1) 7 (1) C 6 (14) 5 (11) 4 (10) 4 (9) 5 (8) 5 (8) CFP Not released Iowa AP 22 21 18 17 14 20 C 22 21 20 17 14 18 CFP Not released Maryland AP C CFP Not released Michigan AP 16 RV 19 18 RV C 16 24 19 18 24 CFP Not released Michigan State AP C CFP Not released Minnesota AP RV RV RV RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released Nebraska AP RV RV RV C RV RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released Northwestern AP RV RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released Ohio State AP 1 (40) 1 (46) 6 7 5 5 C 1 (38) 1 (50) 6 7 6 6 CFP Not released Oregon AP 2 (14) 6 (3) 21 20 15 13 C 2 (6) 6 (1) 18 16 15 13 CFP Not released Penn State AP 18 16 14 13 RV C 17 16 15 14 22 CFP Not released Purdue AP C CFP Not released Rutgers AP C CFP Not released UCLA AP RV RV RV 23 21 C RV RV RV 23 22 CFP Not released USC AP 14t 14 12 12 18 19 C 14 14 11 12 18 17 CFP Not released Washington AP 17 19 RV RV C 19 19 24 23 RV CFP Not released Wisconsin AP RV RV C RV RV CFP Not released
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week No change in ranking from previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol
Schedule Index to colors and formattingBig Ten member wonBig Ten member lostBig Ten teams in bold
Regular season schedule Week 0
Week 1
Week 2
Date Bye WeekSeptember 12 Northwestern
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Date Bye WeekOctober 3 #15 Oregon #23 UCLA
Week 6
Date Bye WeekOctober 10 Michigan Rutgers Wisconsin
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 17 Illinois Iowa Minnesota USC
Week 8
Date Bye WeekOctober 24 Maryland Nebraska Ohio State Penn State Purdue Washington
Week 9
Date Bye WeekOctober 31 Michigan State
Week 10
Date Bye WeekNovember 7 Indiana USC
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Big Ten Championship Game
Big Ten records vs other conferences
2026 records against non-conference foes
Through Sept. 26
Power 4 conferencesRecordACC1–4Big 124-1Notre Dame0–3SEC1-2Power 4 total4-10Other FBS conferencesRecordAmerican3–0CUSA1–0Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)1–0MAC10–1Mountain West3–0Pac-125–0Sun Belt2–0Other FBS total25–1FCS opponentsRecordFootball Championship Subdivision12–0Total non-conference record41-11
Post season
Power 4 conferencesRecordACC0–0Big 120–0Notre Dame0–0SEC0–0Power 4 total0–0Other FBS conferencesRecordAmerican0–0CUSA0–0Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)0–0MAC0–0Mountain West0–0Pac-120–0Sun Belt0–0Other FBS total0–0Total bowl record0–0
Awards and honors
Player of the Week Honors Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams Freshman Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamWeek 1 (September 7) Jayden MaiavaQBUSCCaleb BaconDEPSUJavon TracyWR/PRMINJamal RuleRBNEBTa'Shawn JamesDBUCLAWeek 2 (September 14) Anthony ColandreaQBNEBJohn Henry DaleyDEMICHCaden BuhrPKIAMark BowmanTEUSCWeek 3 (September 21) Aidan ChilesQBNWSammy OmosighoLBUCLACaden ChittendenKUSCRiley WormleyRBUSCWeek 4 (September 28) Jeremiah SmithWROSUMaverick BaranowskiLBMINLuke DrzewieckiKMINBraeden JacksonRBIAWeek 5 (October 5) Jeremiah SmithWROSUBraydon BrusLBNWJacobo Echeverria LozanoKPURLuke WafleDEUSCColton JosephQBWIS
Television selections The Big Ten Conference has television contracts with FOX, NBC and CBS which allow games to be broadcast across FOX, CBS, NBC, FS1, and Big Ten Network. Streaming broadcasts for games under Big Ten control are streamed on Fox One, Paramount+ and Peacock. Games under the control of other conferences fall under the contracts of the opposing conference.
+NetworkWk 0Wk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14CBowlsNCGTotalsABC – – 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1ESPN – 1 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2ESPN2 – – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2ESPNU – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – FOX – 2 1 2 3 2 1 2–––––– – 1 – – 8FS1 – 3 3 2 – 1 1 1–––––– – – – – 8FS2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –CBS – 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 – – – – 14NBC 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 – 1 1 2 – – – – 14The CW – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –CBS Sports Network – – 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1Big Ten Network – 7 6 7 3 3 3 1 1 4 2 2 2 2 – – – – 10 TNT (TruTV, TBS) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Peacock (streaming) – 1 – 3 2 – – 1 1 1 1 – 1 – – – – – 11HBO Max (streaming) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – +PlatformGamesBroadcast0Cable0Streaming0
Notes
References