Big Ten basketball is a meat grinder. Seriously. You think you have the standings figured out, and then a Thursday night in mid-January happens and everything gets flipped on its head. If you’ve been looking for the big ten basketball scores from today, you probably noticed the spotlight was squarely on the women's side of the bracket tonight, and boy, did it deliver some drama.
Ann Arbor was buzzing. East Lansing was louder.
We saw ranked matchups that felt more like March than January. It’s that time of year where the "new" Big Ten—with the West Coast additions—is starting to feel real. But tonight was all about the traditional powers in the Mitten State holding down the fort.
Michigan Makes a Statement Against Illinois
In Ann Arbor, the No. 8 Michigan women didn’t just win; they dominated. They took down No. 25 Illinois 85-69 in a game that honestly wasn't as close as the final score suggests. Michigan led wire-to-wire. They started the game hitting their first five shots. That’s how you demoralize a ranked opponent before they even get their legs under them.
Olivia Olson is the real deal. She put up 21 points, and 15 of those came in the first half alone. Watching her hit four triples was a clinic in spacing and confidence. Illinois tried to make a run in the third quarter—cutting the lead to five at one point—but Michigan answered with a 15-4 spurt that basically ended the conversation.
The Illini were missing Gretchen Dolan due to a knee injury, and you could tell. Without their second-leading scorer, they looked out of sync. They turned the ball over 15 times. You can't do that against a top-10 team on the road. Michigan is now 15-2 overall and 6-1 in the conference. They look like legitimate Final Four contenders.
Chaos in East Lansing: Spartans Edge Nebraska
While Michigan was cruising, Michigan State was in a dogfight. The No. 15 Spartans hosted No. 24 Nebraska, and this one went down to the literal last seconds. Final score: Michigan State 73, Nebraska 71.
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Grace VanSlooten was a force of nature. She dropped 22 points, but the hero of the night might actually be Juliann Woodward. With five seconds left and the game tied, Woodward stepped to the line after grabbing a massive offensive board. She sank both free throws. Stone cold.
Nebraska’s Amiah Hargrove almost spoiled the party with 21 points off the bench, but the Huskers just couldn't get that final bucket. This win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Spartans against Nebraska. More importantly, it keeps them right in the hunt for a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament.
Big Ten Basketball Scores From Today: The Full Rundown
If you missed the action, here is how the scoreboard looked across the conference for Thursday, January 15, 2026:
- Michigan 85, Illinois 69 (Women's)
- Michigan State 73, Nebraska 71 (Women's)
- Maryland 60, USC 55 (Women's)
- Iowa 74, Oregon 66 (Women's)
- Northwestern 66, Wisconsin 61 (Women's)
Maryland going into the Galen Center and taking down USC is a result people will be talking about tomorrow. The Terps' defense held the Trojans to just 55 points. That’s a massive road win in the "new" Big Ten travel reality.
Meanwhile, Iowa continues to prove there is life after the Caitlin Clark era. They took care of Oregon 74-66 at Carver-Hawkeye. The Ducks kept it interesting, but the Hawkeye home-court advantage is still one of the toughest in the country.
Looking Back at Yesterday’s Men's Action
You can't talk about today's landscape without mentioning the fallout from Wednesday night’s men's games. The big ten basketball scores from today are heavily influenced by the momentum (or lack thereof) from the night before.
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The Michigan men went out to Seattle and handled Washington 82-72. Aday Mara was nearly perfect, going 10-of-11 from the floor for 20 points. Michigan’s big men combined for 50 of the team's 82 points. If they can play like that consistently, the rest of the conference has a huge problem.
Purdue also stayed perfect in the Big Ten by outlasting Iowa 79-72. Mackey Arena was rocking, as usual. Even though Iowa shot over 50% from the field, they couldn't stop Purdue’s balanced attack late in the game. Braden Smith didn't have to score 30; he just had to manage the game, and he did it brilliantly.
What the Standings Tell Us Right Now
It's getting crowded at the top.
In the men's standings, Nebraska (6-0) and Purdue (6-0) are the only unbeatens left. It feels weird saying Nebraska is at the top of the mountain in January, but Fred Hoiberg has those guys playing inspired ball. They haven't lost a game all season. Seriously, 17-0.
On the women's side, Michigan and Michigan State both moved to 6-1 in conference play tonight. They are chasing the leaders, but with the way the schedule is set up, nobody is safe. The travel to the West Coast is starting to wear on teams. You saw it with USC tonight—they looked a step slow against Maryland.
Why These Scores Matter for March
Everyone talks about "Quad 1" wins. Tonight provided a few. Michigan beating Illinois is a high-quality win that helps their seeding. Michigan State surviving Nebraska avoids a "bad" home loss that could have haunted them in March.
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The Big Ten is currently ranked as the second-best conference in the country according to KenPom metrics. That means the committee is going to give these teams a lot of leeway. If you're .500 in this league, you're probably an 8 or 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The depth is just ridiculous.
Actionable Insights for Big Ten Fans
If you're following the race, keep an eye on these three things over the next 48 hours:
- Watch the Injury Reports: Illinois looked lost without Gretchen Dolan. If her knee injury is long-term, their top-25 status is in serious jeopardy.
- Home Court is King: Notice a pattern? Michigan, Michigan State, and Iowa all won at home tonight. In the Big Ten, you hold serve at home and try to steal one on the road.
- The "West Coast" Fatigue: USC and Oregon both struggled tonight. As the season goes on, the cross-country flights are going to become a bigger factor in these mid-week scores.
The road to Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament (March 10-15) is officially wide open. Grab some popcorn, because this weekend’s slate is even crazier.
Check the updated conference standings on the official Big Ten site to see how your team moved after tonight's results. Monitor the AP Top 25 poll on Monday to see how many Big Ten teams jump into the rankings following these upsets. Tune in to the Saturday morning previews to catch the early lines on the next round of rivalry games.