Greg McElroy sees three Big Ten programs with real national title credentials, and the list starts with the same heavy hitters that have already been living at the top of the sport.
On his “Always College Football” podcast, the former Alabama quarterback put Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana in the first tier of his Big Ten rankings. That group stands out even in a league with depth questions, because each one has already proven it can play at the sport’s highest level. Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana have won national championships in the last three seasons, and Oregon is trying to break through in 2026.
Ohio State looks like the safest bet of the bunch. McElroy’s view is built on the kind of offensive firepower that can carry a team through almost anything.
The Buckeyes bring back Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin at quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher in Bo Jackson and what might be the most dangerous offensive weapon in college football in Jeremiah Smith. The defense took a hit to the NFL draft, but defensive coordinator Matt Patricia showed last season he can rebuild that side of the ball quickly.
The road won’t be easy, though. Ohio State has one of the toughest schedules in the country, with Texas early and then Indiana, USC, Oregon and Michigan all waiting in the second half of the season.
Oregon has plenty of reasons to believe this could be the year it finally gets over the hump. Among McElroy’s three contenders, the Ducks are the ones that kept the most star power from last season.
Dante Moore returns, along with many of his top targets, which should keep the offense humming. Up front, Oregon brings back its entire defensive line, and the secondary is veteran-heavy with All-Big Ten transfer Koi Perich joining at safety.
At the same time, Oregon is the only one of McElroy’s title-level teams that has never won a national championship. The Ducks’ College Football Playoff history has been rough, with every loss coming by 20 points or more, including a 56-22 defeat in the Peach Bowl last season.
Indiana is the reigning national champion and is trying to do something no team has done since Georgia in 2022: repeat. The Hoosiers built their title run with portal hits, and that formula is back in play for 2026. Wide receiver Charlie Becker and three offensive linemen are the only returning offensive starters, while the defense kept several important pieces from the championship team.
The schedule also gives Indiana a clear runway early. The Hoosiers don’t face a ranked opponent in the first half of the season, setting them up to enter a home game against Ohio State unbeaten. Later on, they’ll have a home date with USC and road trips to Michigan and Washington, but the path is there for a third straight College Football Playoff appearance.
In Other News...
Purdues New AD Is Already Walking Back His Indiana Shot
Tommy McClelland has not been in the Purdue athletic director chair for long, but he is already trying to put distance between himself and an ill-timed jab at Indiana football. Speaking on two podcasts, McClelland said his earlier remark was an off-the-cuff joke that missed the mark, acknowledging it was misguided and expressing regret that it turned into a distraction instead of staying in the realm of rivalry banter.
The timing only made the comment look worse, given that McClelland also said he knew Indiana was the reigning national champion and had attended the Hoosiers' title game. For a cross-state audience that lives and breathes the rivalry, the cleanup matters because it shows how quickly a throwaway line can become a defining part of a new administrators introduction. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Pass Rush Battle Just Got A Lot More Intense
Indianas defensive front already had the look of a strength heading into the next season, and the group got another notable boost after a U.S. District Court judge granted an additional year of eligibility to certain athletes. That ruling opened the door for EDGE rusher Kellan Wyatt to return, and Indiana has now officially added him back to the roster as it continues to build out a deep pass-rush rotation with returning players and transfer help.
Wyatts return matters because the Hoosiers were already preparing to lean on a crowded and competitive line room, and another experienced body only sharpens that battle for snaps. He was part of the mix before his injury cut his season short a year ago, and now Indiana can sort through an even more intriguing group as it gets closer to the 2026 campaign. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana's Loaded Defensive Front Just Created A New Problem For Bryant Haines
Indianas defensive front got a boost this week when Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt were cleared for a fifth season and signaled theyre coming back to Bloomington. Both edge rushers were significant pieces before season-ending injuries in 2025, and their return gives the Hoosiers another layer of experience and athleticism as they start shaping the 2026 defense.
For Bryant Haines, though, the good news comes with an obvious complication. Indiana already had reason to feel good about the group up front, and now the challenge shifts to fitting everybody into the mix without wasting anyones best traits. The staff can afford to be creative with how it uses its front, but the bigger question is how to keep the rotation balanced when more proven bodies are suddenly back in the picture. [Read more 🡒]