If you’re checking for big ten football scores today, January 15, 2026, you might notice the scoreboard is a little quiet. That’s because we are in the eye of the storm. The pads aren't popping today, but the buzz in Bloomington and Miami is deafening. We just wrapped up a wild semifinal round that saw the Big Ten exert its dominance—and face some heartbreak—setting the stage for a national title game that basically nobody saw coming four months ago.
Honestly, the "today" part of the score hunt is all about the aftermath of the Peach Bowl and the anticipation of what's coming next Monday.
The Big One: Indiana 56, Oregon 22
Let’s talk about the score that’s still ringing in everyone's ears. Last Friday’s Peach Bowl wasn't just a game; it was a statement. Indiana didn't just beat Oregon. They dismantled them. 56-22.
Coach Curt Cignetti has turned the Hoosiers into a ruthless machine. If you’ve followed this season, you know they entered as the No. 1 seed, but many "experts" still expected Dan Lanning’s Ducks to keep it closer in the rematch. Nope. The Hoosiers put up a +439 point differential this season, which is just stupidly high. It’s the biggest gap we’ve seen in the FBS since 2020.
- Indiana's Path: They crushed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl before this Peach Bowl blowout.
- The Result: Indiana is now 15-0. One win away from a perfect 16-0 season.
- Oregon's Exit: The Ducks finish a massive season but couldn't solve the Hoosier defense when it mattered most.
What Happened to Ohio State?
You can't talk about Big Ten scores without mentioning the Buckeyes. Usually, they're the ones booking flights to the championship. Not this time. In the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, No. 10 Miami pulled off the shocker of the tournament, taking down No. 2 Ohio State 24-14.
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It was a weird game. The Buckeyes' offense just felt... out of sync? Miami’s defense played over their heads, and now Ohio State fans are left wondering what if. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for a team that looked like the favorite for most of the fall.
Big Ten Football Scores Today and the Road to Hard Rock
Since there are no live games on this Thursday, the "scores" people are obsessing over are the betting lines and the historical trends. We are looking at a Big Ten vs. ACC showdown for all the marbles.
The conference is guaranteed to have a representative in the National Championship for the third year in a row. First it was Michigan (who won it all in '23), then Ohio State's run in '24, and now the improbable rise of the Indiana Hoosiers in 2026.
Why the Indiana Score Matters for the Big Ten
The narrative used to be that the Big Ten was "top-heavy." You had the Buckeyes, the Wolverines, and maybe Penn State. But look at this year's playoff bracket. We had six different Big Ten teams earn semifinal spots over the last three seasons. That includes the newcomers like Oregon and Washington.
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The depth is real. Indiana winning by 34 points in a semifinal against a powerhouse like Oregon proves that the middle of the conference has moved to the top of the mountain.
Misconceptions About the 2026 Season
A lot of people think the expanded playoff would dilute the regular season scores. Kinda the opposite happened. Every Big Ten matchup this November felt like a playoff game because the seeding was so fluid.
Take the Big Ten Championship game score: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10. That game was a defensive slog that basically decided who got the week off and who had to sweat through the first round. If that score is different, maybe the whole bracket flips and we aren't looking at a Miami vs. Indiana final.
Other Notable Recent Scores
If you're catching up on the full post-season picture for the conference, here's the quick rundown of how the other Big Ten teams fared:
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- Penn State: They made a deep run but ultimately fell short of the final four.
- Michigan: After a 9-4 season, they weren't the force they were in years past, but still a factor.
- Iowa: They played UAlbany earlier in the year and won 34-7, but their conference record (2-4 in the Big Ten) kept them out of the late-January conversation.
Actionable Insights for the National Championship
Since there are no games today, use this time to prep for Monday night. The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 10 Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.
- Watch the Line: Indiana opened as a favorite, but Miami is playing in their own backyard. The "home field" advantage for a neutral site game is going to be massive.
- Check the Injury Report: Keep an eye on the Hoosiers' secondary. They’ve been elite, but Miami’s vertical passing game is the best they’ve seen all year.
- Historical Context: These two haven't played since 1966. The series is tied 1-1. Someone is taking the lead in the series and the history books on Monday.
The Big Ten is on the verge of its second title in three years. Whether you're a die-hard Hoosier or just a fan of the conference, the lack of scores today is just the calm before the most important game in Indiana history.
Get your gear ready. Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN is the only "score" that will matter for the rest of the year.