If you had told a college football fan two years ago that Indiana would be sitting at the top of the conference, they would’ve probably asked you to take a breathalyzer. Honestly. The idea of the Hoosiers—a program historically defined by "basketball school" labels and "almost-there" seasons—dominating the Big 10 standings football ranks is still a bit of a brain-melter.
But here we are in January 2026.
The dust has settled on the 18-team era's second full regular season, and the hierarchy is unrecognizable. We aren't just looking at the old "Big Three" of Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State anymore. The map has stretched to the Pacific, the divisions are dead, and a team from Bloomington just finished a 15-0 run to win the whole thing.
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The Shocking Reality of the 2025-26 Big 10 Standings Football
Looking at the final numbers, the most jarring thing isn't just who is at the top, but who fell off.
Indiana didn't just win; they nuked the competition. Curt Cignetti has turned into the most dangerous man in the Midwest, leading the Hoosiers to a perfect 9-0 conference record and an overall 15-0 mark. They capped it off with a 13-10 defensive slugfest against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship.
The Buckeyes are still the Buckeyes, of course. Ryan Day’s squad finished 12-2 overall and 9-0 in the conference (their only conference "loss" coming in that title game). But the gap that used to exist between the elite and the middle class is shrinking. Or maybe it’s just moving.
The Final Standings Peek
- Indiana: 15-0 (9-0) - The undisputed kings.
- Ohio State: 12-2 (9-0) - Still elite, but second best.
- Oregon: 13-2 (8-1) - The best of the newcomers.
- USC: 9-4 (7-2) - Getting there, but the travel is real.
- Michigan: 9-4 (7-2) - Post-Harbaugh life is a bit of a rollercoaster.
It’s weird seeing Penn State down at 7-6 (3-6). They actually fired James Franklin in October after three straight losses to Oregon, UCLA, and Northwestern. Terry Smith had to step in just to keep the ship from sinking. If you’re a Nittany Lions fan, this season felt like a fever dream you couldn't wake up from.
Why the West Coast Expansion Didn't Go as Planned
When Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA joined, everyone assumed they would just steamroll the "slow" Big 10. That hasn't exactly happened. Oregon is the only one that truly looks like a native. Dan Lanning has the Ducks humming, finishing 13-2 and making a deep run into the Peach Bowl where they unfortunately ran into the Indiana buzzsaw (56-22).
The others? It’s been a struggle. USC and Washington both finished 9-4. That’s respectable, sure. But for programs with those logos, 9-4 feels like a C-minus. The "Flex Protect XVIII" scheduling model is brutal. You’re asking kids to fly across three time zones for a 9:00 AM kickoff in the freezing rain of West Lafayette or Evanston.
Basically, the "Map" commercial is cool, but the actual travel is a nightmare. UCLA finished 3-9. Three wins. They were at the bottom of the Big 10 standings football list for months. The physicality of the Big 10 trenches is a different animal than the old Pac-12, and the Bruins found that out the hard way.
The Transfer Portal: Winners and Losers
You can’t talk about the standings without talking about the portal. It's the only reason Indiana is where they are. They didn't just recruit; they shopped with a purpose. Bringing in Josh Hoover from TCU to lead the offense was a masterstroke.
On the flip side, look at Michigan State and Purdue. The Spartans lost 32 players to the portal this cycle. You can't build a culture when the locker room has a revolving door. Purdue went 0-9 in the conference. 0-9. That’s "burn the film and start over" territory.
Ohio State is currently seeing a bit of an exodus too, with 22 players heading out. When you’re at a school like that, if you aren't starting, you're leaving. Even backup QB Lincoln Kienholz headed for Louisville. It's just the way the game works now.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the 12-Team Playoff
People think the new playoff format makes the regular season less important. It’s actually the opposite. Because the Big 10 is so top-heavy now, one bad loss can tank your seeding.
Look at Oregon. They were ranked No. 5. Because they didn't win the conference title, they didn't get that first-round bye. They had to play James Madison in the first round (won 51-34) before getting throttled by Indiana. If they had won those close games in the regular season, that path looks a lot different.
The Big 10 and SEC are currently arguing about whether to move to a 16-team or even a 24-team playoff. Commissioner Tony Petitti is pushing a 24-team model. Why? Because the Big 10 has so much depth now that a 9-win Washington or USC team is probably better than a 12-win team from a smaller conference.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you're following the Big 10 standings football trajectory for next year, keep an eye on these specific moves. The landscape is shifting under our feet.
- Watch the Coaching Carousel: Penn State is the biggest opening in the country. Whoever they hire needs to be a portal wizard.
- Indiana’s Sustainability: Can Cignetti do it again? They’ve already landed Nick Marsh from Michigan State in the portal. The Hoosiers aren't going away.
- The "Pacific" Problem: Watch for how USC and Washington adjust their strength and conditioning. They need more bulk in the interior to survive the November schedule.
- The 24-Team Playoff Debate: This will be decided by Jan. 23. If it passes, the "middle" of the Big 10 standings becomes the most valuable real estate in sports.
The era of the "Big Two, Little Eight" is dead. We are living in a world where Indiana is the gold standard and blue bloods are fighting for bowl eligibility. It's chaotic, it's messy, and honestly, it’s exactly what the sport needed.
To stay ahead of the curve, focus on the January 16 transfer portal deadline. The teams that "win" the next two weeks are the ones you'll see at the top of the standings next September.