There was no shortage of chaos in the first week of Big Ten play, and the opening slate left the league with a little bit of everything: a pile of blowouts, a few hard-fought scraps, and one result that had people questioning what they had just watched.
Every team in the conference has now gotten at least 60 minutes on the field. Of course, not everyone is convinced one of those games stopped there.
The record books will say Michigan opened its 2026 season with a win, but the performance came with enough controversy to drag the Wolverines down in this week’s rankings. The source here is the on-field evidence, not the logo on the helmet, and Michigan’s showing was enough to send it tumbling.
Rutgers also left a mess behind. To put it bluntly: what the Piscataway was that?
Wisconsin was the only other team to take a hit, and that one came at the hands of Notre Dame. The Badgers got knocked around, while the rest of the conference avoided a loss.
Nebraska, meanwhile, worked through some early resistance before finishing strong. The Huskers absorbed the first punches and then closed with a sharp kick, which was enough to earn them a move up in the rankings.
There were some real battles sprinkled into the opening weekend, including a Duck fight. And Saturday night made one thing clear: nobody should take anything for granted. The MAC has teams that can push you for the full 60 minutes, and sometimes even longer.
This week’s rankings and games ahead:
In Other News...
Tony Whites Rough Start Is Changing How Nebraska Fans See His Exit
Tony Whites first season away from Nebraska has not gone the way he or Florida State hoped, and the early returns have only made his old stop in Lincoln look better in hindsight. The Seminoles have struggled defensively in 2026, giving up plenty of yardage and points in recent games, and the criticism has followed White as the unit has failed to settle in.
A rough sequence of performances, including one particularly odd moment against SMU that spread quickly on social media, has only sharpened the contrast for Nebraska fans. With Rob Aurich now in place as the Cornhuskers new defensive coordinator, the bar is clear - Nebraska is trying to build on what White left behind, even as his exit is looking a little different now than it did when he first walked out the door. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Is Testing How Safe Nebraskas 2026 Class Really Is
Florida State is taking a real run at three Nebraska commits in the 2026 class, with the Seminoles reportedly chasing offensive lineman Timi Aliu, defensive lineman Errol Demontagnac and defensive back Jailen Hill. Recruiting analyst Tim Verghese said Florida State has made the effort to stay involved, and the connection is not hard to trace given that the Seminoles staff includes former Nebraska coaches.
For Nebraska, the encouraging part is that Florida State has not made much headway so far. Demontagnac did not make the visit he was expected to take, while Aliu has been to Tallahassee but is still pledged to the Huskers. Hill remains in the picture too, which means this is less a finished battle than an early test of how sturdy Nebraskas class really is. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Brings A Quarterback Edge Bowling Green's Numbers Can't Explain
Anthony Colandrea gave Nebraska a clean, efficient afternoon in its 49-21 win over Ohio, finishing 18 of 32 for 275 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He added 23 rushing yards and another score, and the overall performance drew an 84.3 Pro Football Focus grade, the kind of outing that helps steady an offense and keep the Cornhuskers on schedule.
Bowling Greens Jay Kastantin posted a very different line in the Falcons 20-13 loss to Tarleton State, completing 24 of 30 passes for 262 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The raw numbers were solid enough, but his 61.8 PFF grade points to a gap Nebraska will be watching closely as it looks to press any advantage at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]