Preseason power rankings are always a little ridiculous, and that’s part of the fun. They give you something to argue with now and something to laugh at later. That’s the whole deal heading into Week 1 in the Big Ten, where Oregon opens as the No. 1 team and everybody else is trying to prove the list wrong as fast as possible.
At the top, Oregon gets the nod over Ohio State after a preseason built on both substance and feel. Dan Lanning’s team brings back what the rankings call arguably the best defensive line in the country, and the offense is being handed to future first-round pick Dante Moore. Based on vibes alone, that’s enough to put the Ducks first heading into their Week 1 matchup with Boise State.
Ohio State lands at No. 2, and the logic is familiar: the Buckeyes may be replacing a lot on defense, including Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs, but they’re still Ohio State. The piece points to Matt Patricia’s defense taking a small step back, though the expectation is that five-star talent will fill plenty of those gaps. On offense, the Buckeyes remain what they usually are - a juggernaut.
Indiana comes in at No. 3, even with the challenge of replacing Fernando Mendoza. Curt Cignetti’s group is described as loaded across the board, and the only thing really holding the Hoosiers back from the very top tier is the quarterback spot being notably worse than the teams ahead of them. That’s enough to keep them behind Ohio State and Oregon, but not enough to push them out of the CFP conversation.
Michigan checks in at No. 4, with the reminder that Week 2 against Oklahoma will tell us a lot more about this team. For now, the Wolverines get the benefit of the doubt because of the talent on the roster, both from retention and from the transfers Kyle Whittingham brought with him from Utah.
USC sits fifth after a strange Week 0 that had more to do with the empty Coliseum than the football itself. The Trojans beat San Jose State 42-26, but the fan turnout made the bigger headline. Still, Lincoln Riley’s offense looks dangerous again, even if the defense remains a concern.
Penn State lands at No. 6 as the Matt Campbell era begins in Happy Valley. James Franklin took a big chunk of the roster to Virginia Tech, while Campbell brought much of his Iowa State core with him. The schedule is described as arguably the easiest in the Big Ten, which keeps the Nittany Lions in the CFP mix whether the talent fully clicks right away or not.
Iowa follows at No. 7, and the formula looks familiar. Phil Parker’s defense should be solid, even if it may not reach elite levels.
The Hawkeyes still have their usual collection of All-American caliber offensive linemen, but the quarterback situation is a major issue. Kirk Ferentz’s team will have to win despite the passing game, not because of it.
Washington is No. 8, with the Demond Williams offseason situation now behind them, at least “allegedly.” Williams is one of the more electric quarterbacks in the conference, capable of taking over with his legs or hurting his own team with costly interceptions. That boom-or-bust profile makes the Huskies one of the most fascinating teams in the league.
Illinois is ninth, with Bret Bielema keeping the program pointed in the right direction overall. The problem is that the Fighting Illini lost a lot of production from 2025’s team, and that leaves them looking more like a team that can spring an upset or two than one that will matter much in the Big Ten race.
Minnesota rounds out the top 10. P.J.
Fleck’s group is a heavy favorite in Week 1 against Eastern Illinois, with the spread sitting at 43.5. On paper, the Gophers still look like the familiar version of themselves: a huge offensive line that isn’t especially skilled and a defense full of athletes.
Until they start knocking off top Big Ten contenders, they’re likely to stay in the middle of the pack.
The rest of the conference shakes out like this: Nebraska at 11, UCLA at 12, Wisconsin at 13, Northwestern at 14, Maryland at 15, Michigan State at 16, Rutgers at 17, and Purdue at 18.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans Got An Early Look At The Portal Losses
Michigan fans got an early reminder in Week 0 of just how busy the transfer portal can make the offseason. A handful of former Wolverines were already back on the field for their new schools to open the 2026 season, with Jake Garcia seeing action at Furman, while Brandyn Hillman and Devon Baxter turned up at Virginia. CJ Hester was in the mix at Stony Brook, and Davis Warren was also on the move, suiting up for Stanford as the new college football calendar got underway.
It is the sort of roster churn that has become part of the modern game, and Michigan supporters are getting a first glimpse of how those departures are shaping up elsewhere. Beyond the headliners, other former Wolverines also logged recent game contributions for their new teams, giving the portal watch a familiar mix of curiosity and lingering what-ifs as the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Opener Just Revealed A Real Concern For Whittinghams Debut
Michigans 2026 picture already has a few clear markers after Kyle Whittinghams preseason press conference, and one of them is the kind of health note that can shape an entire fall. The coach said running back Micah Kaapana and offensive lineman Ace Hamilton will miss the season because of injury, while other players are dealing with minor issues as the Wolverines start sorting out depth and roles.
Whittingham still pointed to reasons for optimism, especially the growth of quarterback Bryce Underwood, the strength up front on the defensive line and what he sees as a stronger leadership base across the roster. But for a team aiming at a Big Ten championship, the first real test of the year is already clear: how quickly the supporting cast settles in around those missing pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Got An Intriguing Sign In A Five Star Battle
A major in-state recruiting battle is starting to take shape around Deandre Bidden, the five-star wide receiver from Harper Woods who has become one of the most heavily pursued prospects in the country. More than 30 programs are involved, but Michigan has kept him near the top of its board, with first-year wide receivers coach Micah Simon making Bidden a clear priority and staying in close contact throughout the process.
The next useful checkpoint comes on September 12, when Bidden plans to make an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor for the Oklahoma game. For Michigan, the timing matters: getting one of the states premier talents on campus for a marquee nonconference matchup gives the staff another chance to sell the programs direction, and it adds another layer to a recruitment that already feels like it could stretch deep into the fall. [Read more 🡒]