If you think the Big Ten is still just a two-horse race between Ohio State and Michigan, you're living in 2022. Honestly, the landscape has shifted so much with the expansion to 18 teams and the sheer chaos of the transfer portal that the old "Big Two, Little Eight" (or whatever it was) is dead. Dead and buried.
We're looking at a 2026 season where a team like Indiana—yeah, the Hoosiers—is coming off a season where they actually sat atop major polls like the Coaches Poll as of mid-January. It’s wild.
The big 10 preseason football rankings for 2026 aren't just about who has the most four-star recruits anymore. It’s about who survived the January portal exodus and who actually has a quarterback they can trust. Between Oregon’s high-flying West Coast style and Ohio State’s "championship or bust" roster construction, the top of the board is crowded.
The Heavy Hitters: Who Stays at the Top?
Ohio State is the name everyone circles first. It’s almost a reflex at this point. Ryan Day’s squad is basically a pro team in scarlet and gray. Even after losing pieces like Tegra Tshabola to the portal, they’ve got Julian Sayin under center and Jeremiah Smith at receiver. Smith is arguably the best player in the country, period. If Sayin can just be efficient, that offense is a nightmare.
But they aren't the undisputed king.
Oregon is right there. Dan Lanning has turned Eugene into a portal powerhouse. With Dante Moore expected to lead the charge (assuming he skips the NFL draft buzz for one more run), the Ducks are scary. They beat Ohio State in 2021 the last time they went to Columbus, and they have to go back there again in 2026. That game is basically the conference's Super Bowl.
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Then there's the "New Blood" problem. Indiana, led by Curt Cignetti, proved last year wasn't a fluke. They’ve been cleaning up in the portal again, snagging TCU transfer Josh Hoover to keep that passing attack lethal. People keep waiting for the Hoosier carriage to turn back into a pumpkin, but with 10 incoming high-quality transfers already booked for 2026, Cignetti isn't going anywhere.
Breaking Down the Big 10 Preseason Football Rankings
If we’re being real, the "consensus" is usually a mess this early. But based on returning production and portal wins, here is how the power structure is actually shaking out.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
They are the betting favorites for a reason. Their defense didn't allow anyone to score more than 17 points in the regular season last year. That’s insane. With Caleb Downs patrolling the secondary and Arvell Reese at linebacker, they are a brick wall. The only question is the offensive line. They lost some depth, and if they can't protect Sayin, they’re vulnerable.
2. Oregon Ducks
Lanning is a recruiting machine. They have four 5-star commits for the 2026 class and a roster that looks like an NFL scout's dream. Key returning players like Evan Stewart and linebacker Teitum Tuioti give them a veteran core that most teams lack. They play Michigan at home and have to travel to both Ohio State and USC. It’s a brutal schedule, but they have the depth to handle it.
3. Indiana Hoosiers
Yes, put them at three. Don't roll your eyes. They were No. 1 in the Coaches Poll this January for a reason. They keep winning. Adding Nick Marsh from Michigan State and defensive help like Tobi Osunsanmi shows they aren't satisfied with a one-off Cinderella run.
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4. Penn State Nittany Lions
James Franklin always seems to be one play away. They have Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton returning in the backfield, which is arguably the best duo in the nation. The problem? They always seem to stumble in the "Big Game." If they can finally beat Ohio State, they could jump to number one. If not, they’re stuck in this four-to-six range forever.
5. USC Trojans
Lincoln Riley’s first two years in the Big Ten were... let's say "a learning experience." They went 3-7 on the road. That’s bad. But Jayden Maiava is expected to be a massive breakout candidate at QB. If the defense, led by Bishop Fitzgerald, can actually stop a run, they’ll be dangerous. But that "if" is the size of the Coliseum.
The Middle Class Mosh Pit
The rest of the conference is a total toss-up. Nebraska is on the rise under Matt Rhule. They’re coming off a historic start to their 2025-26 cycle and finally look like they have a physical identity again. Emmett Johnson at running back is a name you need to know; he’s a workhorse.
Michigan is the big mystery.
They’ve had massive coaching turnover and lost a ton of talent to the NFL and the portal. They brought in Justice Haynes to help the run game, but the identity of the team feels a bit lost. Are they still the "smash-mouth" team that won the title a couple of years ago? Or are they transitioning into something else under a new regime?
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Wisconsin is another "job on the line" situation. Luke Fickell brought in 22 new players via the portal. That’s a whole new team. Colton Joseph at QB and Abu Sama at RB give them hope, but the Badgers haven't looked like The Badgers in a while. They need to find that old-school toughness again or they’ll be looking for a new coach by November.
Why the Portal Changes Everything
You can't talk about big 10 preseason football rankings without talking about the "Transfer Window Winners."
- Indiana: 10 in, 1 out. Total dominance.
- Wisconsin: 22 in, 21 out. Basically a roster flip.
- Purdue: Jerrick Gibson from Texas is a massive get.
- Michigan State: Losing Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh is a gut punch they might not recover from this year.
The rankings change every Tuesday because a kid decides he wants more NIL money or a better chance at the NFL. It’s exhausting to track, but it’s why Indiana is suddenly a powerhouse and Michigan State is scrambling.
Real Talk: What Actually Matters?
Schedule strength is going to decide the winner this year. With 18 teams, you don't play everyone. Oregon got the short end of the stick. Having to go to Columbus and Los Angeles in the same season is a gauntlet. Meanwhile, some teams in the middle of the pack might "luck" into an 8-4 season because they miss the big three.
Watch the quarterback play. The Big Ten used to be where offenses went to die. Now, with guys like Sayin, Moore, and Maiava, it’s becoming a track meet.
What you should do next:
Keep a close eye on the spring portal window. Most of these "preseason" rankings assume rosters are set, but they aren't. Check the depth charts at Ohio State and Oregon specifically in late April—if those backup quarterbacks start leaving, it's a sign that the starters are locked in and ready to roll. Also, start looking at "Under" win totals for Michigan; the market hasn't fully adjusted to their roster drain yet.