Football's 10 Biggest Storylines Heading into the 2026 Season

The Big Ten has stood at the mountaintop of college football over the past three seasons, with a team in the conference hoisting the College Football Playoff trophy in three consecutive years. But as the league enters 2026, the question isn't whether the Big Ten is the center of the college football universe, but which programs will anchor its next chapter? 

The 2026 season is filled with big stories spanning 3,000 miles, stretching from the Pacific coastline to the Midwest and all the way to the Atlantic seaboard. With coast-to-coast travel, relentless weekly matchups, and an 18-team footprint, the conference has never been deeper. 

Between high-profile coaching transitions, returning superstar quarterbacks, and transfer portal re-tools, here are the 10 biggest storylines shaping the Big Ten landscape this season. 

1. Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana: Who’s next? 

Will 2026 be the season where a Big Ten team wins the national championship for the fourth consecutive season? In 2023, 2024 and 2025, three different programs were at the top of college football in Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana, and in 2026, a Big Ten team could be the final one standing. 

The biggest contenders for the national championship are Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana, who all made the College Football Playoff in 2025 and start the 2026 season top 10 in the AP Poll. Beyond that trio, however, the depth of contenders within the league is staggering, with other ranked teams like USC, Michigan, Washington, Penn State and Iowa all figuring to be in the mix for the playoff. 

Whether it’s Ryan Day or Curt Cignetti vying for their second national title or Dan Lanning’s Ducks going for their first, these three are being viewed nationally as prime contenders.

2. Which teams not in the AP Top 10 will contend for the College Football Playoff? 

There are plenty of Big Ten programs who can make noise late in the season. 

Whether it’s Lincoln Riley’s No. 14 USC — who returns quarterback Jayden Maiava and a FBS- high 15 starters on both sides of the ball — or No. 18 Penn State under new coach Matt Campbell, who brought in 40 transfers this offseason, there is reason to believe there will be more than three Big Ten programs in the field.  

Also gaining attention are Michigan and Washington, who are 16th and 17th in the preseason poll. Michigan enters a new era under head coach Kyle Whittingham with sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood and a top-tier defense; the Wolverines have the firepower to re-establish themselves as national threats after winning the national championship three seasons ago.  Meanwhile, the Huskies enter year three in Seattle under Jedd Fisch, possessing one of the most explosive young offenses in the country, led by rising star quarterback Demond Williams Jr, who had 3,676 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns in 2025. You can also never count out Iowa. Ranked No. 22 in the preseason AP Poll, Kirk Ferentz’s defense and special teams always make the Hawkeyes a tough team to beat. 

From traditional powerhouses reloading to dark horses knocking on the door, the Big Ten’s depth ensures the race for playoff spots will extend far beyond the preseason favorites. 

3. Which new coach will make the fastest impact? 

There are four new faces leading programs in the Big Ten in 2026, with Penn State hiring Matt Campbell, Michigan bringing in Kyle Whittingham, Michigan State tapping Pat Fitzgerald, and UCLA handing the reins to Bob Chesney. 

All four programs have high ceilings for the future, but first, each will look to set a precedent for success. This includes in Happy Valley, where Campbell brought 24 transfers from Iowa State — including quarterback Rocco Becht, running back Carsen Hansen and wide receiver Chase Sowell — hoping to get the Nittany Lions back to the postseason. In Ann Arbor, Whittingham has former top recruit Bryce Underwood, running back Jordan Marshall and wide receiver Andrew Marsh as the offensive foundation behind a perennially strong defense.

While Fitzgerald and Chesney are inheriting programs with less recent success, there’s plenty of reasons for optimism.  Fitzgerald spent 17 seasons  building Northwestern into a consistent Big Ten contender, compiling 110 wins, two Big Ten Championship Game appearances, five AP Top 25 finishes and five bowl game wins. Out west, Chesney arrives at UCLA after leading James Madison to a 12-2 record and a berth in the 2025 College Football Playoff; the hope is that his winning will translate to Hollywood sooner rather than later with an experienced QB-RB duo of Nico Iamaleava and Wayne Knight. ​

4. How will the 2025 CFP teams make up for losses to the NFL? 

The 2025 College Football Playoff featured three teams from the Big Ten in Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon, and all three are back in the fold again. Though, each will have to deal with notable losses. 

Starting with the national champion Hoosiers, who saw Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders after leading IU to a 16-0 national championship run.  Indiana lost a program-record eight players to the 2026 NFL Draft , including wideouts Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., cornerback D'Angelo Ponds and lineman Pat Coogan. To replace these players, Curt Cignetti reloaded in the portal; he brought in quarterback Josh Hoover from TCU, wide receiver Nick Marsh from Michigan State, running back Turbo Richard from Boston College and cornerback A.J. Harris from Penn State, which highlights the  eighth ranked class in the country.  

Ryan Day and the 2024 champions Buckeyes saw a similar yearly migration to the NFL stage, especially on defense, where they lost All-Americans Arvell Reese (Giants), Sonny Styles (Commanders), and Caleb Downs (Cowboys), all of whom went in the top 15 of the 2026 NFL Draft. To answer this, Ohio State brought in key transfers in the portal, such as Alabama edge defender Qua Russaw and defensive tackle James Smith to bolster the front seven, alongside Duke safety Terry Moore to help reinforce a secondary that lost Davison Igbinosun and Lorenzo Styles Jr. With those high-impact additions joining top-tier developmental talent already on the roster, the Buckeyes have the depth to field another championship-caliber defense to complement their explosive offense. 

On offense, the Buckeyes had yet another wide receiver drafted high with Carnell Tate going fourth overall to the Tennessee Titans. But Ohio State returns arguably the best QB-WR pairing in America in Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, plus running back Bo Jackson returns for his sophomore year after a 1,090-yard, six-touchdown freshman campaign. The biggest question lies beneath Smith on the wide receiver depth chart; No. 4 is considered the best receiver, if not player in college football, and it’s up to Brandon Inniss and UTSA transfer Devin McCuin — along with freshmen Chris Henry Jr. and Jerquaden Guilford — to make up for Tate’s departure. 

Heading out west, Oregon has the most returning production out of the three. On offense, Dante Moore will start his second season in Eugene after forgoing the 2026 NFL Draft, and he’s surrounded by a collection of returning talent which includes running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. and wide receivers Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart and Jeremiah McLellan. On defense, it’s much of the same, with Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander and Brandon Finney Jr. 

But the Ducks did not stop there, replacing some of their losses with star transfers, most notably wide receiver Iverson Hooks from UAB on offense and star safety Koi Perich from Minnesota on defense. Hooks is coming off a 900-yard, seven-touchdown season at UAB to give Moore another explosive weapon in the slot, while Perich steps in as one of the most dynamic ball-hawking safeties in the conference next to Aaron Flowers, who forced two fumbles and registered three passes defended in 2025. 

5. What will the Big Ten’s quarterback landscape look like? 

In 2026, the Big Ten has a blend of star returners, key transfers, and younger players looking to break out. The conference quarterback hierarchy starts with Ohio State’s Sayin and Oregon’s Moore, both of whom ranked near the top of college football in 2025, but this is one of the deepest quarterback classes the Big Ten has ever had. 

The 2026 season brings a fresh wave of experienced Big Ten quarterbacks entering their second full year as starters in the conference. Jayden Maiava (USC), Demond Williams Jr. (Washington), and Nico Iamaleava (UCLA) head the group, each positioned to make a major leap forward. They aren't alone — Michigan's Bryce Underwood, Michigan State's Alessio Milivojevic, Maryland's Malik Washington, Minnesota's Drake Lindsey, and Purdue's Ryan Browne are all gearing up for year two at the helm. 

Then, there are seven Big Ten schools that will probably have a transfer QB starting Week 1: 

• Indiana: Josh Hoover (TCU) 
• Illinois: Katin Hauser (East Carolina) 
• Nebraska: Anthony Colandrea (UNLV) 
• Northwestern: Aidan Chiles (Michigan State) 
• Penn State: Rocco Becht (Iowa State) 
• Rutgers: Dylan Lonergan (Boston College) 
• Wisconsin Colton Joseph (Old Dominion) 

Hoover faces the steepest mountain to climb in Bloomington, tasked with replacing the Heisman winner Mendoza. Meanwhile, Colandrea brings his explosive playmaking ability to Lincoln to jumpstart the Huskers' offense, Hauser steps in to maintain Illinois' vertical passing threat after Luke Altmyer departed for the NFL, and Chiles provides Northwestern with mobility under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Rutgers has officially locked in its starter after a high-stakes competition between AJ Surace and Dylan Lonergan. The Scarlet Knights ultimately opted for Lonergan's upside as an Alabama and Boston College transfer to lead the offense. 

In Iowa City, the starting QB battle between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown could last into the season. Hecklinski flashed dual-threat potential late last season, while Brown possesses great arm strength and has impressed during camp. Either way, the Hawkeyes are leaning on internal growth to give their offense a spark.   

With elite established stars, high-profile portal additions, and homegrown talent vying for starting spots across the board, the Big Ten’s 2026 quarterback landscape is as deep and diverse as any conference in the country. 

6. Who are the biggest non-quarterback transfers? 

Transfers play a massive role across the gridiron beyond the quarterback room, reshaping starting lineups at virtually every school in the expanded 18-team Big Ten. High-profile wideouts like Nick Marsh (Indiana) and Iverson Hooks (Oregon) are the headline grabbers, but the portal's biggest ripple effects came on defense and in the trenches.  

At Ohio State, the Buckeyes re-tooled their front seven with former Alabama trench pieces (Russaw and Smith), pairing them with Duke transfer safety Moore, who had 10 passes defended, four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2024, to anchor the secondary. Oregon landed arguably the portal's premier defensive prize in All-Big Ten safety Perich from Minnesota, giving Dan Lanning a ball-hawking playmaker on defense and special teams. 

In Ann Arbor, Whittingham brought elite edge rusher John Henry Daley with him from Utah to immediately fuel the pass rush after an 11.5-sack campaign, while former Utes tight end JJ Buchanan will give Bryce Underwood a massive target in the passing game. Further east, Penn State reloaded with familiar talent that Campbell brought from Iowa State, headlined by tight end Ben Brahmer and running back Carson Hansen.  

Out west, UCLA added the explosive James Madison transfer running back Wayne Knight, who ranked seventh in the FBS with 1,373 rushing yards in 2025, and Washington grabbed former Oregon tailback Jayden Limar to pair with Adam Mohammed in the backfield. Lincoln Riley boosted USC's perimeter with NC State standout receiver Terrell Anderson, while Wisconsin anchored its backfield with Iowa State transfer running back Abu Sama III. 

Elsewhere, Iowa added FCS breakout receiver Tony Diaz, Michigan State landed UConn tackle Ben Murawski, Purdue added Penn receiver Bisi Owens, Nebraska brought in South Carolina tackle Tree Babalade, and Rutgers re-tooled its edge with Toledo’s Malachi Davis. From game-changing skill talent to veteran trench anchors, these moves could shift the balance of power across the conference. 

7. Which coordinator changes will have the biggest impact on teams? 

There have been some notable coordinator changes across the conference. Whether a flashy new addition or a key loss to head coaching jobs, these changes will have an impact on 2026. 

The biggest news is out in Eugene, where Oregon lost both their coordinators to head coaching jobs, with Will Stein heading to Kentucky and Tosh Lupoi to Cal. Head coach Dan Lanning opted for continuity by promoting internally, elevating Drew Mehringer to OC and Chris Hampton to DC. While maintaining scheme familiarity helps prevent roster turmoil, both newly minted play-callers face immediate pressure to keep the Ducks in Big Ten contention. 

Beyond Eugene, coordinator moves will have ripple effects across the conference landscape in 2026. USC landed head-coaching heavyweight and defensive mastermind Gary Patterson — the winningest coach in TCU history  who led the nation in total defense five times with the Horned Frogs  — to take over as defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, Northwestern brought in seasoned play-caller Chip Kelly to helm the offense. Kelly arrives in Evanston with a deep resume across both college and the pros, having served as head coach at Oregon, UCLA, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers, alongside offensive coordinator stints at Ohio State and with the Las Vegas Raiders.  

Both programs are betting on proven head-coaching minds to overhaul single units. If these high-profile choices pay off for a USC defense and a Northwestern offense, it could reshape the conference standings and fundamentally alter the trajectories of both programs. 

8. How will Big Ten teams deal with hard schedules? 

Before conference play starts, there are high-profile matchups across the conference, with 17 out of 18 teams having a top-40 strength of schedule in America,  according to ESPN.  Leading the way are the Ohio State Buckeyes, who have the eighth hardest schedule in the country; this includes a Week 2 trip to Austin to face Texas, October road trips to both Bloomington and Los Angeles to face Indiana and USC respectively, and November home games against both Oregon and Michigan. 

But, the Buckeyes are not the only team with tough matchups before conference play starts. In Week 2, Oregon goes to Stillwater to face a scary Oklahoma State team led by new head coach Eric Morris; Michigan hosts Oklahoma in the second half of a home-and-home series, and Iowa hosts Iowa State in the Cy-Hawk rivalry.  

In Week 3, Maryland welcomes old ACC rival Virginia Tech — led by former Penn State head coach James Franklin — to SECU Stadium in College Park for a regional clash, while Wisconsin collides with championship favorite Notre Dame at Lambeau Field on September 6 to open the season. Michigan State also travels to South Bend to renew its rivalry with the Fighting Irish, and Purdue tackles a tough early slate featuring home dates against both Wake Forest and Notre Dame. 

A few other key early-season matchups adding to the gauntlet: 

• Oregon vs. Boise State (Sept. 5): A tough early season game in Eugene against a dangerous Group of 5 playoff contender before the Ducks head to Stillwater. 
• Minnesota vs. Mississippi State (Sept. 12): An SEC-Big Ten non-conference battle at Huntington Bank Stadium.  
• Northwestern vs. Colorado (Sept. 19): A high-profile non-conference clash in Evanston to wrap up the early slate. 
• Oregon at USC (Sept. 26): A massive early-season West Coast showdown that serves as an immediate Big Ten benchmark game. 

The 18-team Big Ten landscape offers no safety nets once conference play begins. In a league where depth and physical endurance are tested weekly, whoever makes it to Indianapolis will have fought and earned that championship bid. 

Consider USC. The Trojans face tough road tests at Happy Valley and Camp Randall, while defending home turf against powerhouses in Oregon and Ohio State. On the opposite coast, Penn State’s path is equally treacherous. Over a six-week stretch, the Nittany Lions collide with Wisconsin, USC, Michigan, and Washington.  

9. Who can break program and conference records in 2026? 

Heading into 2026, several Big Ten superstars are on the verge of rewriting both school and conference record books. 

At the top of the list is Ohio State wideout Jeremiah Smith, who enters his junior season positioned to shatter virtually every major receiving milestone in Buckeye history. Through his first two years in Columbus, Smith has racked up 163 receptions, 2,558 receiving yards, and 27 receiving touchdowns — the most productive opening two seasons by any receiver in Big Ten history.  

Smith enters the fall needing: 

• 43 receptions to pass former teammate Emeka Egbuka (205) for Ohio State's all-time career catches record.  
• 341 receiving yards to eclipse Michael Jenkins' program standard of 2,898 yards set in 2003.  
• 9 receiving touchdowns to pass Chris Olave (35) as Ohio State's all-time leader in touchdown catches. 

While capturing Ohio State's program crowns is virtually a foregone conclusion, Smith's trajectory puts several all-time Big Ten records within reach. Catching 12 touchdowns would move him past Michigan legend Braylon Edwards (39) as the most prolific TD target in conference history. He is also 1,230 yards shy of eclipsing Purdue icon  John Standeford’s long-standing record (3,788) for the all-time yardage crown . Additionally, grabbing 90 receptions would vault him past Edwards into the Big Ten's top five. 

Smith isn't the only Buckeye chasing history, either. Quarterback Julian Sayin returns after setting the Big Ten single-season completion percentage record (77.0%) in 2025 while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns. He returns with a chance to challenge Dwayne Haskins’ single-season Big Ten passing record (4,831 yards, set in 2018). 

The record chases don’t stop at the top. Here are some of the other ones to watch across the conference.  

• Antwan Raymond & KJ Duff (Rutgers): Greg Schiano returns two of the league's most explosive skill players. Raymond is coming off a 1,241-yard rushing campaign (1,466 all-purpose yards), putting Ray Rice’s single-season all-purpose benchmarks within sight. Meanwhile, Duff caught 60 passes for 1,084 yards as a sophomore — one of only three Big Ten receivers to hit 1,000 yards in 2025 — putting him on pace to challenge Kenny Britt (1,371 yards) on Rutgers' single-season receiving chart. 
• Jayden Maiava (QB, USC): Led the entire Big Ten in passing yards in 2025. Returning for 2026 under Lincoln Riley, Maiava enters within range of Caleb Williams single-season USC passing mark (4,537 yards) after putting up 3,711 in 2025, which is sixth on the list.  
• Anthony Smith (DE, Minnesota): Fresh off leading the Gophers with 12.5 sacks and 17.5 TFLs in 2025 — finishing just 5 yards short of Karon Riley’s single-season sack yardage record — the Shippensburg, Pa. product has school history squarely in his sights. Smith is within striking distance of Lamanzer Williams’ single-season sack record (18.5), as well as Minnesota’s career benchmarks for sacks (Karon Riley, 29.0) and TFLs (Willie VanDeSteeg, 43.5). 
• Demond Williams Jr. (QB, Washington): One of the Big Ten's premier dual-threat weapons, Williams returns after leading the Huskies to nine wins in 2025. He takes aim at the top three for Washington's modern single-season quarterback rushing yards, while also holding the Huskies’ total offense record.  
• Charlie Becker (WR, Indiana): Becker steps up as the clear No. 1 target in Bloomington. After showing elite big-play efficiency during Indiana's national championship run, Becker is positioned to challenge the Hoosiers' single-season receiving touchdown benchmark of 16, set by James Hardy in 2007, and receiving yards record of 1,265 set by Ernie Jones in 1987. 

10. What are some off-field storylines to watch this season? 

The Big Ten storylines don’t stop on the field, with all 18 teams navigating a landmark era defined by unprecedented national momentum, elite program growth, and major infrastructure upgrades. 

Coming off a magical postseason run, Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers enter 2026 as the reigning kings of college football. Bloomington has transformed into a premier football destination, fueling sold-out crowds, massive campus pride, and historic national optimism. On October 17, Indiana will have arguably the biggest game ever in Bloomington when it hosts Ohio State. 

The conference will also see a major venue change, with Northwestern’s new Ryan Field set to open on October 2 against Penn State. The world-class facility gives Northwestern one of the most intimate, modern home environments in the nation. 

Beyond Ryan Field, the conference is taking center stage in iconic sports venues across the region. Wisconsin headlines the neutral-site slate on Labor Day weekend when they clash with Notre Dame at historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay for the Shamrock Series, giving Badgers fans a bucket-list spectacle in their home state. Meanwhile, non-conference rivalry games — like Washington hosting Washington State in the Apple Cup and Iowa welcoming Iowa State for the Cy-Hawk Trophy — continue to capture the national spotlight, reinforcing how deep fan passion runs across every corner of the Big Ten.  

At the same time, the 18-team coast-to-coast footprint is transforming how fans and teams experience the season. Supporters are embracing cross-country travel in record numbers, creating vibrant game-day atmospheres that blend classic Midwestern tailgating traditions with historic West Coast venues from Seattle to Los Angeles. Behind the scenes, athletic departments are operating at a professional level, deploying advanced sports science, sleep-tracking technology, and restructured schedules to help athletes handle the travel. 

With prime-time broadcasts and sold-out stadiums spanning from New Jersey to Southern California, the Big Ten’s off-field momentum and national footprint will shape the college football conversation all season long. 

​Time for Kickoff

As college football continues to expand, the Big Ten will be at the center of all the action throughout the 2026 season. Will the conference take home the national championship for the fourth consecutive year? What teams and players will make history? Heading into the fall, Big Ten fans have plenty to be excited for. 

The season kicks off on August 29 in Los Angeles where USC welcomes in San Jose State before the remaining teams get their 2026 campaigns started the following week. While these storylines might dictate the early part of the season, only a handful will emerge from the pack as the weeks go on. 

For Big Ten fans, it’s time: Sit back and watch how football season unfolds.  Check out the full schedule .

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