The Big Ten enters the 2026 season with the kind of shine that only comes from owning the last three national championships, and the league’s opening-week pecking order is already taking shape. Indiana is set to launch its title defense Saturday afternoon against North Texas, but in the conference picture, the Hoosiers are the team everyone is chasing.
Only one Big Ten program saw action in Week 0, and USC handled business with a 42-26 win over San Jose State. With the full slate arriving this weekend, the conference’s first power rankings of the year are about more than just where teams landed - they’re a snapshot of who looks ready, who still has questions, and who is already buried.
At the bottom, the cellar is crowded. Purdue, Rutgers, Michigan State and Maryland occupy the last four spots, and each comes with its own problems.
Purdue has gone 0-9 in Big Ten play in back-to-back seasons. Rutgers and Maryland both finished 4-8 and combined for a 3-15 mark in conference games last year.
Michigan State is trying to find some traction as the Pat Fitzgerald era gets underway in East Lansing.
A tier above that sits a group that could go either way. Wisconsin, UCLA, Northwestern and Nebraska are all in the “show me” category entering 2026.
Luke Fickell’s run in Madison has not yet produced much, though injuries - especially at quarterback - have been part of the story. UCLA has a new face in Bob Chesney and plenty of need for a spark.
Northwestern is opening a new state-of-the-art stadium and hoping Chip Kelly and QB coach Jerry Neuheisel can help rebuild the offense. Nebraska, meanwhile, is still waiting for a true breakthrough under Matt Rhule, and this may not be the year it arrives.
Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Penn State and Washington make up the next cluster, a group that should at least get to bowl eligibility and could do more than that. Indiana’s only road matchup against one of those teams comes on Nov. 21 at Washington, where Husky Stadium figures to make life difficult. Penn State is another team to watch after Matt Campbell takes over in Happy Valley, and the schedule breaks kindly in Year 1 with no Ohio State, Indiana or Oregon on the regular-season slate.
Then there’s Indiana, which stands alone at the top. The Hoosiers are No. 6 in the AP Top-25 preseason poll, the highest ranking in program history, and third among Big Ten teams behind No.
1 Ohio State and No. 2 Oregon.
But the ranking only tells part of the story. Indiana is 27-2 under Cignetti, has absorbed plenty of NFL departures and still managed to reload across the roster.
The respect is warranted, and so is the caution around betting against them.
Until someone proves otherwise, Indiana is the clear No. 1 in the Big Ten power rankings.
In Other News...
Indiana Fans Are Getting A Memorial Stadium Experience Theyve Never Had
Indiana Athletics is rolling out a noticeably different Memorial Stadium experience ahead of the 2026 college football season, with a set of gameday additions designed to make Saturdays feel bigger before the first snap. Among the new offerings are chances for fans to run onto the field with the team, take facility tours, and spend time in a new tailgate area that includes a photo op with the national championship trophy.
The upgrades go well beyond the novelty touches. Indiana is also adding expanded concessions, improved restroom facilities and stronger wireless service infrastructure through AT&T and Verizon, while commemorative signage tied to the 2025 national championship will be part of the backdrop. Rally towels featuring players and a pop-up IU Team Store round out the changes, giving the stadium a more polished and interactive feel for fans who have long wanted more from the gameday atmosphere. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Title Defense Starts With One Big Week 1 Concern
Indiana opens its title defense at home against North Texas, and the spotlight lands immediately on a new era under center. Josh Hoover, the transfer from TCU, steps in as the Hoosiers starting quarterback after Fernando Mendoza moved on to the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving Indiana to defend a national championship with a different face leading the offense.
The timing makes the matchup feel a little less routine than a typical season opener. North Texas arrives with a new head coach and a roster that has been heavily remade after the previous coach left and a wave of transfers followed, so the Hoosiers are not just easing into a new season, they are trying to do it while answering one of the biggest questions of any title defense: how quickly the new quarterback settles in when the real pressure starts. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Has A New Receiver Battle Fans Should Be Watching
Indianas wide receiver room still looks loaded heading into 2026, even after the Hoosiers lose key playmakers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt to the NFL. Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh are already drawing first-round buzz, and the depth behind them gives Indiana a chance to keep the passing game rolling without taking a step back.
The real intrigue now is how the rest of the targets shake out around that top tier. Tyler Morris, Davion Chandler, Lebron Bond and Shazz Preston are all positioned for larger roles, while the tight end spot remains unsettled with unproven options. Turbo Richard could also become a bigger part of the passing attack, which only adds another layer to a receiver competition that should stay worth watching all offseason. [Read more 🡒]