Big Ten Football 2026 Top Teams Schedules, Odds, Tips

The Big Ten football 2026 media days concluded July 30th, and I was in Chicago at the historic Hilton on Michigan Avenue covering the event in preparation for the college football season. “The Big Ten’s in the best place it’s ever been,” Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said during his media gathering. Now it’s time to cover the Big Ten teams, evaluate the schedules, stats, players and profiles, which I have and initially post at Off Shore Gaming Association.

Day 2 #BigTen football Media Days, & I spent more time covering @GopherFootball & head coach P.J. Fleck. Asked him Q’s, higher on #Gophers defense, LBs, top 3 DL conf. Disrespected with O/U 5.5 season wins. Favored 5 games alone. 9 straight Bowl wins, 7 under Fleck. Rising QB… pic.twitter.com/T5CNBosIFA

— Fairway Jay (@FairwayJay) July 29, 2026

Different from last season, I break down the Power 4 conferences top teams, as many of those teams are in the preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, or among the contenders to break into the Top 25 and challenge each conferences top teams. The Associated Press (AP) Top 25 is released Aug. 17, and I’ll be updating and comparing the teams and rankings while providing Top 25 college football coverage, matchups and biggest games again this season with select picks, opinions and information you can bet on.

As time allows, I’ll add the teams projected in the bottom half of each Power 4 conference or not necessarily expected to make a bowl game.

I’ve completed SEC top teams preview at OSGA as well, and will be adding more along with Big 12, ACC and information you can bet on ahead of and during the 2026 college football season.

Big Ten Teams Top 25

In 2024, six Big Ten teams started the season in the Top 25 AP Poll, including four in the Top-10. Last year Ohio State (2), Penn State (3) and Oregon (7) were top 10, and the Buckeys and Ducks made the College Football Playoff. Illinois (12) and Michigan (14) did not, but Indiana emerged from No. 20 to start the season and went undefeated (16-0) on their way to winning the national title (100/1 odds) after dominating the Oregon Ducks in the semifinals (56-21) and holding off Miami 27-21 in the national championship game.

Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana have won the last three national championship games after the SEC won the four previous title games with ACC’s Clemson (+6) winning the 2019 national championship game over Alabama as I predicted with insightful stats and analysis. The last Big 12 team to win the college football national championship was Texas in the legendary 2005 title game over USC, 41-38.

This year’s Big Ten teams in the preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll.

• 1. Ohio State
• 2. Oregon
• 6 Indiana
• 14. USC
• 16. Michigan
• 17. Penn State
• 19. Washington
• 22. Iowa (22).

The USC Trojans have the toughest schedule of that group playing Oregon, Ohio State and Washington at home, and Indiana and Penn State on the road. I’m still high on the Trojans, with a win total of 8.5, but down on Michigan (8.5), and don’t believe Indiana will exceed 10 wins and thus likely miss the College Football Playoff.

Plenty more research and handicapping to do as teams start fall practices ahead of the season, and injury impacts will be monitored along with stats and (misleading) box scores each week as Fairway’s Forecast continues with Top 25 matchups and betting picks and opinions again this season.

Big Ten Team Previews

Phil Steele’s most popular NCAA football preview magazine has seven Big Ten teams in the Top 25 with Iowa at No. 26 but no other teams in the top 40.

No Big Ten teams make Steele’s Most Improved top 10 list this season, but Wisconsin is No. 12 after the Badgers (4-8)  struggled badly last season, including 2-7 in the Big Ten to miss a bowl game for the second-straight season under now 4th year head coach Luke Fickell. Steele’s 2026 Suprise Teams include Southern Cal (USC) at No. 4 and Iowa (9).

Big Ten Teams, Odds, Season Wins And Position/Unit Rankings

Here are the Big Ten teams with regular season O/U wins, odds to win the conference and national championship plus position and unit rankings (per Phil Steele) for each team in the Big Ten. Odds courtesy of BetOnline. Additional stats and notes may be added as more information obtained, along with select season win total Opinions. Information you can bet on from leading online sportsbooks with odds subject to change, including on props and live betting.

Ohio State

Head coach: Ryan Day (9th year)
Season Wins: O/U 9.5 (Over -170)
Last 3 years: 12-2, 13-3, 10-3
National Title: +550
Big Ten Title: +180
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (1), RB (3), REC (1), OL (1), DL (1), LB (1), DB (4), ST (3), Coach (1)

Notes: Bye Week 8 (Oct. 24). Ohio State beat Texas early last season 14-7, and this year’s non-conference Game of the Year rematch is on the road in Austin on Sept. 12 with the Longhorns a slight favorite (-1.5) after opening pk ’em in CFB Game of the Year Lines in Las Vegas. The Buckeye’s open the 2026 season as the Big Ten favorites after going 9-0 in conference play last season. But Ohio State lost their last two games to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game as a 4-point favorite, and Miami in the College Football Playoff as a 9′-point favorite. Ohio State is Pk ’em at Indiana Oct. 17, then a bye and at USC and home versus Oregon Nov. 7. Ohio State and Oregon rate the Big Ten’s best offensive and defensive lines, and QB Julian Sayin and WR Jeremiah Smith are both leading Heisman contenders at +1400 to win with the Buckeyes returning four offensive lineman that grades as the Big Ten’s best.. The Buckeyes reload again after losing the most players to the NFL the past two seasons, and the domant defense from last season had a bigger talent drain. The Buckeyes add six starting defenders through the portal, and the defensive line rates as the Big Ten’s best just ahead of Oregon. Road games at Texas, Iowa, Indiana, USC and Nebraska and home games against Oregon and Michigan are the toughest games on the 2026 schedule. Ohio State has not been a home underdog since 2018, and under HC Ryan Day, the Buckeyes are 30-17 ATS at home, often as a double-digit favorite (6-0 ATS last season as DD favorite). The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 last season every week following their opening-game win over Texas before losing in the Big Ten Championship Game. Ohio State also featured the record-breaking No. 1 scoring defense last season and didn’t allow a first-half TD until their eighth game. That will change quickly this season with a Sept. 12 game at Texas and a bet on the Longhorns. Top Big Ten contender, but no Opinion or bets ‘Over’ 10.5 wins, or even 9.5 heavy juice.

Indiana

Head coach: Curt Cignetti (3rd year)
Season Wins: O/U 10.5 (Under -140 )
Last 4 years: 16-0, 11-2, 3-9
National Title: +900
Big Ten Title: +300
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (3), RB (10), REC (3), OL (1), DL (3), LB (1), DB (2), ST (1), Coach (1)

Notes: Bye week 10 (Nov. 7). Indiana was 100/1 to win the national championship last season, and they became college football kings while paving a path a journey to one of the great stories in college football history. From perennial loser and 3-9 three seasons ago to 17-2 under coach Cignetti the past two seasons. The Hoosiers simply went 9-0 in Big Ten play, beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and then dominated Oregon again in the national semis 56-22 and held off the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 to win the national title for a perfect 16-0 season. Seems they can only go one way, but the media and pundits are still buying high on the Hoosiers. The position rankings and personnel with portal additions are strong in the trenches and across the board on defense and special teams. Nine defenders earned All-Big Ten honors last season, and six return along with five new starters from the portal. A tranfser QB from TCU steps in for remarkable coach Cignetti. A cupcake schedule includes bottom Ten teams Northwestern and Rutgers, and recall Indiana blew out six teams last season by 40+ points. But road games at Nebraska, Michigan and Washington will be a challenge after the Ducks won three close road games at Iowa, Oregon and Penn State last season. Home games against Ohio State and USC (bet +10) and even Minnesota add to the tougher Big Ten schedule this season with the Hoosiers now a big target while getting all conference teams best shot. Under 10.5 wins.

Oregon

Head coach: Dan Lanning (5th year)
Season Wins: O/U 10.5 (Under -130)
Last 2 year: 13-2, 13-1
National Title: +650
Big Ten Title: +250
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (1), RB (1), REC (1), OL (4), DL (1), LB (6), DB (1), ST (7), Coach (1)

Notes: Bye week 5 (Oct. 3). Oregon is 17-1 in Big Ten play their first two seasons in the conference. The Ducks are loaded again for a championship run, but the key losses are offensive and defensive coordinators who took head coaching jobs at Kentucky and California. Two blowout losses in the College Football Playoffs the past two seasons to Ohio State and Indiana also speaks to the strength at the top of the Big Ten. Still, the Ducks may well be the best, and Oregon joins Ohio State and Alabama as the only programs to stack Top 5 recruiting classes in each of the past three years, and Oregon has also signed two Top 5 transfer classes. Senior QB Dante Moore returns as a projected top NFL pick, and he had a special season a year ago until the pick-6 early in the CFP led to a blowout loss to Indiana. I won’t be surprised to see him fail to reach the heightened expectations this season, as so many highly-rated QB’s did last year. However, Moore does have an elite WR group that rates top-2 in the Big Ten and country. The Ducks open Week 1 with Boise State on Sept. 5, and could be favored in all games including their toughest tests at USC and even Ohio State. Oregon also placed nine defenders on the All-Big Ten team last season, and eight return. The Ducks were the only team with a Top 5 offense and a Top 5 defense, per Pick Six Previews opponent-adjusted metrics. Brett Ciancia’s exceptional Pick Six Previews rates Oregon the best team in the Big Ten, and my early reviews, research and coverage including at Big Ten Media Days agrees. However, Phil Steele has the Ducks in his top 15 ‘Stock Down’ teams, and those teams have seen a decline in wins (or same) 93% of the time the past three seasons and 88% over the past 20 years. No bets, yet.

USC

Head coach: Lincoln Riley (5th year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (Over +105)
Last 2 year: 9-4, 7-6
National Title: +3000
Big Ten Title: +1100
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (3), RB (1), REC (4), OL (3), DL (6), LB (12), DB (9), ST (3), Coach (5)

Notes: Bye week 7 (Oct. 17). I’m higher on the Trojans this season, although Southern Cal has the toughest schedule in the Big Ten. The first tough test is the last Saturday in September at home vs. Oregon. Washington follows in a potential letdown, then at Penn State and Wisconsin after a bye. A frightful Halloween vs. Ohio State then at Indiana the following week. Maryland at home as one of Terps clueless coache’s last games and the regular season finale at crosstown rival UCLA. I covered USC coach Lincoln Riley and ‘Fight On‘ Trojans and their Heisman hopeful QB Jayden Maiva (former UNLV) at Big Ten Media Days, and he’s going to have a big season statistically if he stays healthy despite losing his top two receivers. A top-rated veteran offensive line in 2026 dealt with injuries last season, and also at running back. They will pave the way with coach Riley’s play calling and superb offensive system. The Trojans defense is better having allowed 23 points and 351 yards per game last season – the best in coach Riley’s four years as USC head coach. New defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, the longtime winning TCU head coach, takes over the Trojans defense. I expect improvement on the road despite West to East travel and some past struggles. Brutally tough schedule, but still see a CFP berth and prefer Over season wins.

Penn State

Head coach: Matt Campbell (1st year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (Over -170)
Last 3 years: 7-6, 13-3, 10-3
National Title: +6600
Big Ten Title: +2000
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (9), RB (3), REC (8), OL (7), DL (8), LB (1), DB (3), ST (4), Coach (14)

Notes: Bye Week 8 (Oct. 24). Penn State went from top-rated in the Big Ten to near collapse. A “national title or bust’ became the latter with six straight losses and out of the Top 25 in October. Coach Franklin won 70% of his games at Penn State, but the Nittany Lions now bring in a new head coach from Iowa State, and a defensive coordinator who was let go at USC. A solid schedule setup for the new coaches and 13+ players transfer from Iowa State to State College, PA. That includes a 3-year starter at quarterback and four offensive lineman. Six All-Big Ten defenders are gone, but Penn State brings in seven defensive players from Iowa State. The Nittany Lions play one of the easier schedules and likely favored in 9-10 games. Penn State plays five teams not listed in this top teams conference preview – home vs. Wisconsin, Purdue and Rutgers, and on the road at Northwestern and Maryland. Penn State does not play Ohio State, Oregon or Indiana. Solid setup for improvement, but hesitant with big roster transfusion. No bets, yet.

Michigan

Head coach: Kyle Whittingham (1st year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (Under -170)
Last 3 years: 9-4, 8-5, 15-0
National Title: +4000
Big Ten Title: +1400
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (6), RB (3), REC (6), OL (4), DL (3), LB (6), DB (4), ST (7), Coach (14)

Notes: Bye Week 6 (Oct. 10). Clearly a huge coaching upgrade from bumbling bonehead Bro to proven winner and no-nonsense Kyle Whittingham from Utah. I asked him Q’s at Big Ten Media Day too, and while coach is high on the Wolverines defense under his former player and now Michigan defensive coordinator in from BYU, I see some struggles in transition. The highly-rated Bro QB Bryce Underwood must make improvement and adjustments to a new power-spread scheme in his Sophomore season after a QB Rating No. 12 in the Big Ten last season. I noted how poorly he played and statistically, and the Wolverines were dominated in their toughest games and losses last season to Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State and Texas – all double-digit losses and 0-4 ATS. The Wolverines 20.4 points and 323 yards per game defense was it’s worst last season since 2020. Whittingham does bring in some players and key transfers along the defensive line from Utah, but the linebacking core is a complete restart with the All-Big Ten trio gone. Michigan hosts Oklahoma this season in Ann Arbor on Sept. 12, and opens Big Ten play vs. Iowa and at Minnesota before a bye and on the road at Penn State followed by Indiana. No surprise to Fairways Forecast if Michigan has 3-4 losses by then, and they are overrated and likely a bet against team. Road games in November at Oregon and Ohio State seals their fate Under 8.5 wins with a better plus bet adjustment Under 7.5.

Washington

Head coach: Jedd Fisch (3rd year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (Over -170)
Last 2 years: 9-4, 6-7
National Title: +10000
Big Ten Title: +2800
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (6), RB (13), REC (8), OL (7), DL (6), LB (4), DB (4), ST (7), Coach (11)

Notes: Bye Week 8 (Oct. 24). Head coach Jedd Fish exhaled when junior QB Demond Williams decided to stay with the Huskies with a reported revenue-sharing/NIL agreement of nearly $4 million. Perhaps a contract enforcement stance by the university played a part, but Williams is key to the Huskies success with the dual-threat QB the teams top returning rusher who led them to their best rushing season (165/game) since 2020. Four offensive linemen return Washington does not play Ohio State or Michigan, but Minnesota, Iowa, Penn State and Indiana in their last home game, and road contests at USC and Nebraska with their season finale at Oregon. The Huskies return 14 starters and are 25-2 at home the last four years with the most recent loss in last season’s home finale versus No. 5 Oregon 26-14, and earlier last season to No. 1 Ohio State 24-6. The Huskies return a more veteran two-deep lineup, but QB Williams will need to step up and improve against stronger teams and defenses. Play against Washington in first road game Oct. 3 at USC with a line up to a touchdown.

Iowa

Head coach: Kirk Ferentz (28th year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (Over -130)
Last 3 years: 9-4, 8-5, 10-4
National Title: +15000
Big Ten Title: +4000
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (18), RB (6), REC (15), OL (4), DL (8), LB (6), DB (2), ST (1), Coach (1)

Notes: Bye Week 7 (Oct. 17). I’m not as high on Iowa as most, or that they are going to be improved. Despite 9 wins last season and top head coach Kirk Ferentz in charge for his 28th season in Iowa City, the Hawkeye’s could struggle more despite not playing Oregon, Indiana or USC. They have a bottom-rated Big Ten new senior quarterback, lose three of their top receivers and specialist, and are projected to have a worse stop unit from last year’s dominante defense (16.1 ppg, 280 ypg) that held up well in their four losses to ranked opponents by a total of 15 points. Iowa did beat No. 14 Vanderbilt in their bowl game to snap a 13-game losing streak against ranked opponents. Iowa will be in underdog in their first three Big Ten games at Michigan, home vs. Ohio State and at Washington. A bye and perhaps an underdog at Minnesota too. Then regroup for three games vs. three of the bottom six teams plus at Illinois and home to Nebraska with an early bet on Nebraska +10 taking action. Iowa avoids Oregon, Indiana and USC. Four team in FBS have had ten-straight 8-win seasons (not counting shortened 2020 season) – Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and IOWA. I still project that streak to end this season.

Nebraska

Head coach: Matt Ruhle (4th year)
Season Wins: O/U 6.5 (Under -145)
Last 3 years: 7-6, 7-6, 5-7
National Title: +50000
Big Ten Title: +12500
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (9), RB (16), REC (4), OL (7), DL (8), LB (6), DB (4), ST (3), Coach (7)

Notes: Bye Week 8 (Oct. 24). Expectations are higher at Nebraska off back-to-back 7-win seasons, and a 5-0 start looks promising with Nebraska also 6-0 SU/ATS in their last six games as double-digit favorite. The Oct. 10 home game against Indiana is one of the biggest in many years, but a huge letdown spot the following week at Oregon. A bye week and then Washington at Home and at Illinois and Rutgers, home to Ohio State and finale at Iowa. The Cornhuskers are top 5 in the country in returning production ahead of the 2026 season joining Maryland. And top 15 returning production from the Big Ten includes Minnesota, UCLA, Oregon, USC and Washington. The schedule is difficult for Nebraska with the second-toughest in the Big Ten playing all three CFP teams Indiana and at Oregon back-to-back in October and Ohio State in their last home game. A Halloween home game vs. Washington and road games at Illinois and season finale over Thanksgiving at Iowa will determine their postseason position with a win over a ranked opponent needed. Nebraska is 2-10 in November games under HC Rhule, and the Huskers have lost 30-straight games against ranked Top 25 opponents. Mountain West Player of the Year QB Anthony Colandrea comes over from UNLV for his senior season, but he’ll only deliver improved production if the offensive line is improved and develops, and the defensive line is much better after ranking outside the top 100 against the run last season. The Huskers change from a 3-3-5 defensive scheme to new coordinator Rob Aurich’s 4-2-5. Neutral on Nebraska’s post-season chances, but I’ll likely be eating some (corn)Huskers as home ‘Dog in their biggest game of the season in Lincoln Oct. 10 against Indiana.

Minnesota

Head coach: PJ Fleck (10th year)
Season Wins: O/U 6.5 (Under -155)
Last 3 years: 8-5, 8-5, 6-7
National Title: +75000
Big Ten Title: +15000
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (13), RB (6), REC (13), OL (10), DL (3), LB (6), DB (14), ST (15), Coach (7)

Notes: Bye Week 7 (Oct. 17). The Golden Gophers are 7-0 in bowl games under head coach P.J. Fleck with 9-straight bowl victories overall. Back-to-back 8-win seasons and a winning record in four of the last five seasons in Big Ten play. I talked to coach Fleck and covered the Gophers more at Big Ten Media Days, as I see them underrated with initial season win total of a disrespected 5.5. Sure they beat five Big Ten teams last season with a combined 9-46 conference record, but the Gophers are the only Big Ten team that returns their QB, head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. Sophmore QB Drake Lindsey is already a projected Round 1 NFL draft pick, and despite losing some defensive lineman and players including star safety Koi Perich, who was poached by Oregon. But the Gophers defensive line is strong and features the Big Ten preseason defensive Player of the Year in DE Anthony Smith. The Golden Gophers quietly remain under the radar while also avoiding Ohio State, Oregon and USC on this year’s schedule. Minnesota was 0-5 on the road last season, and they play at Washington to open Big Ten play along with Indiana and Penn State. Home games vs. SEC Mississippi State early, and Michigan and Iowa are the toughest but can clearly be victories in closely-lined games. Over 5.5 or 6.5 wins plus money.

Illinois

Head coach: Bret Bielema (6th year)
Season Wins: O/U 6.5 (Over -160)
Last 2 years: 9-4, 10-3, 5-7
National Title: +75000
Big Ten Title: +12500
Big Ten Unit rankings: QB (9), RB (13), REC (6), OL (15), DL (13), LB (17), DB (9), ST (15), Coach (5)

Notes: Bye Week 7 (Oct. 17). Illinois won 9-games last season after starting the 2025 season in the Top 25. Coach Bielema has brought the fan resurgence back to Champaign with 19 wins the past two seasons and four consecutive sellouts last season for the first time since 2008. A big dropoff in personnel, position rankings and seniors has the Fighting Illini projected to fall the most from last year’s top Big Ten teams, and a falloff from 28-29 points per game offense the past two seasons is very likely. A road game to open Big Ten play at Ohio State this season is followed by Purdue at home and at Michigan State. Three other road games against the bottom six projected teams are manageable with tougher home games against Oregon, Iowa and Nebraska. So the Fighting Illinois avoid Indiana, USC, Penn State and Michigan, but the Illini have no position groups ranked top 5 in the Big Ten, and only one in the top 8 (WR), according to Phil Steele. Illinois must replace four offensive line starters on a team that rushed for just 138 ypg last season, and loses a veteran QB who led the country in game-winning drives (7) over the past three seasons. Fifth year senior transfer Katin Houser does have starting experience with seven games at Michigan State and a full season of 3,300 passing yards at East Carolina last season. The changes in offensive personnel and less scoring could add to Illinoi’s 23-12 Under the total mark in home games under HC Bielema. But a new defensive coordinator comes in with a 3-3-5 scheme, and four defensive lineman left. Four seniors anchor the defensive backfield. Illinois is not reloading like the top teams in the Big Ten, and a bowl game should be considered a successful season in 2026. No bets.

The Big Ten Championship Game is Sat., Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the Big Ten is shooting to place 3-4 teams in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Big Ten will shoot for their fourth straight national title with the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday, January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in the Las Vegas. See you there.

You can bet on it.