The 2026 college football season is just around the corner, and the Big Ten is gearing up for another exciting year of competition. With the conference boasting the last three national champions, it's no surprise that the 2026 season is shaping up to be another thrilling one. But who will come out on top? Let's take a closer look at the projected win-loss records for each team in the Big Ten.
Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers are predicted to finish with a 1-11 record, with a 0-9 conference record. After two consecutive winless seasons in Big Ten play, it's hard to see where Purdue gets a conference win in 2026. Coach Barry Odom is in his second year at the helm, and while the roster has improved incrementally, Purdue remains in the basement of the Big Ten.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers is projected to finish with a 2-10 record, with a 0-9 conference record. The loss of experienced quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis will likely make the Scarlet Knights' offense less than stellar. Running back Antwan Raymond will have to carry a heavy load in his second season as the starter. Those issues, combined with a porous defense, mean a winless season in conference play could be on the table.
Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern is projected to finish with a 3-9 record, with a 1-8 conference record. The Wildcats' schedule is as tough as it gets, with games against Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Penn State, and Iowa. While they overachieved in 2025, that won't happen this fall. Northwestern will continue its up-and-down win total trend in recent seasons with 2026 being a down year.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska is projected to finish with a 5-7 record, with a 2-7 conference record. Out went Dylan Raiola and in came UNLV transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who will battle talented youngster TJ Lateef for the starting nod. Regardless of who gets the starting nod, coach Matt Rhule's squad lost a great deal of talent from last year and didn't reload as they had hoped. That should lead to a regression from last year.
Maryland Terrapins
Maryland is projected to finish with a 5-7 record, with a 3-6 conference record. The Terrapins' biggest win over the offseason was retaining ultra-talented freshman quarterback Malik Washington. Although he's back, and Maryland has a chance to be frisky because of his talent, there's not much to be proud of around him. Maryland sniffs bowl eligibility, but misses out.
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State is projected to finish with a 6-6 record, with a 4-5 conference record. The Spartans were a mess and a disappointment during Jonathan Smith's two-year tenure as the coach. In comes Pat Fitzgerald, who should provide the stability Smith couldn't. A .500 record in Fitzgerald's first season would be a win.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota is projected to finish with a 6-6 record, with a 3-6 conference record. The Golden Gophers' relatively easy schedule in 2025 that led them to eight wins isn't the case in 2026. They'll have to take on Indiana, Penn State, Washington, Michigan, and Iowa. Despite bringing back quarterback Drake Lindsey and star running back Darius Taylor, the roster around them just isn't good enough to win those games.
Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin is projected to finish with a 7-5 record, with a 5-4 conference record. Coach Luke Fickell is still around, clearly with support from the athletic department after a disappointing start to his tenure. He pulled off a major move in the portal, landing Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph after his illustrious career with the Monarchs. Joseph's talent alone should win the Badgers a couple more games than a season ago, elevating them to bowl eligibility.
UCLA Bruins
UCLA is projected to finish with a 7-5 record, with a 5-4 conference record. It can't get much worse than last season for the Bruins. With the old James Madison coaching staff coming in, and with Nico Iamaleava at quarterback surrounded by a solid roster talent-wise, UCLA should be much more respectable this fall. They will not be world-beaters, but seven wins would be a solid season for them.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois is projected to finish with a 7-5 record, with a 4-5 conference record. Though the roster is depleted from last season, it's hard to see coach Bret Bielema allowing the Fighting Illini to drop below .500. Seven wins seems like the right number, with a big game coming against Duke in the nonconference portion of the schedule serving as an important litmus test.
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan is projected to finish with a 7-5 record, with a 5-4 conference record. The Wolverines drew an absolutely brutal schedule. They'll play against Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, and Penn State — oh, and they have a nonconference Week 2 meeting with Oklahoma. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, while talented, is still very raw and doesn't quite have what it takes to pull off the upset in any of those games.
USC Trojans
USC is projected to finish with an 8-4 record, with a 5-4 conference record. With Jayden Maiava back at the quarterback spot, the Trojans have a high ceiling. But after a strong defensive performance as a whole in 2025, I'm expecting a regression on that side of the ball. USC should be in games against Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon, but just like their first two seasons in the Big Ten, they will not be able to close the deal.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa is projected to finish with a 9-3 record, with a 6-3 conference record. Death, taxes, and Iowa finishing with nine wins every year. There's a tough three-week stretch in the middle of the season in which the Hawkeyes are on the road against Michigan and Washington sandwiched around a home date with Ohio State, which are their only projected losses. There's no reason to believe the offense will suddenly come to life this year, limiting their ceiling.
Washington Huskies
Washington is projected to finish with a 9-3 record, with a 6-3 conference record. The Huskies are knocking on the door of Big Ten contender status, but once again are shut out with losses to Indiana and Oregon. The quarterback dual between Demond Williams Jr. and Jayden Maiava for USC should be one to watch, but ultimately Washington doesn't get over the hump in 2026.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State is projected to finish with a 10-2 record, with a 6-2 conference record. In Matt Campbell's first year at the helm after an extremely underrated stint at Iowa State, the Nittany Lions enjoy a very favorable schedule, missing Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. While they'll finish with 10 wins, a nice bounce back from last season, think of them more as an 8- or 9-win-caliber team.
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana is projected to finish with an 11-1 record, with an 8-1 conference record. The Hoosiers lost a lot of talent across the roster, but they didn't lose the most important piece: coach Curt Cignetti. He reloaded via the transfer portal, landing TCU quarterback Josh Hoover and Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh. With Cignetti at the helm, expect Indiana to push for a Big Ten title game berth.
Oregon Ducks
Oregon is projected to finish with an 11-1 record, with an 8-1 conference record. Trips to Columbus have resulted in wins for the Ducks in recent years, but the Buckeyes prevail in this 2026 matchup. No matter, as Oregon will go undefeated the rest of their schedule and achieve a third straight berth in the playoff. With Dante Moore leading the way and one of the best defenses in the country from a roster perspective, the Ducks have as high of a ceiling as any team in the country.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State is projected to finish with a 12-0 record, with a 9-0 conference record. It's simply hard to imagine the Buckeyes losing a game in the regular season considering it will be wide receiver Jeremiah Smith's third year and second working with talented quarterback Julian Sayin. The defense always seems to reload with elite prospects, and that should happen once again. Don't be surprised if Ohio State is the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff come December.
