The countdown to the 2026-27 season is officially on with the release of the complete Big Ten schedules for men’s basketball and women’s basketball.  

Anchored by reigning national champions in Michigan on the men's side and UCLA on the women's side, the Big Ten once again stands at the epicenter of college hoops. Here are some of the premier matchups on the slate we can’t wait to watch. 

Men’s Basketball 

The Big Ten is at the center of the college basketball world with two teams making the Final Four in 2026. Along with the champion Michigan Wolverines, the Illinois Fighting Illini made it to the Final Four for the first time since 2005. Outside of those teams, there is a deep field including Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans, Matt Painter’s Purdue Boilermakers and Ben McCollum’s Iowa Hawkeyes, who made the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987. 

These are some of the games you can’t miss. 

1. January 2: Illinois at Wisconsin 

Right after the new year, Illinois and Wisconsin clash in Madison following two overtime thrillers won by the Badgers last season, headlined by a 91-88 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal. Fresh off a Final Four run, the Illini return a loaded roster featuring David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, and the Ivisic twins. Veteran forward Nolan Winter and Wisconsin will be looking to make it four straight wins over the Illini. 

2. January 5 and 8: Purdue at Illinois and Michigan  

Matt Painter’s Boilermakers go on the road to face two teams that made the Final Four in 2026. First, Purdue will head to Champaign to face the Fighting Illini; the teams met only once last season, with Keaton Wagler’s 46 leading Illinois to a win at Mackey Arena. 

Three days later, the Boilermakers will face the defending national champions in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines went 19-1 in the Big Ten in the regular season before losing to Purdue 80-72 in the conference tournament championship. 

3. January 16 and 30: Iowa vs. Nebraska 

Iowa and Nebraska have long been rivals, but that took a whole new meaning in March 2026 when the teams met in the Sweet 16. It was the Hawkeyes who came out victorious to advance to their first Elite Eight since 1987, downing the Huskers — who won their first two NCAA tournament games in program history. 

This season, Ben McCollum’s and Fred Hoiberg’s teams are looking to build on magical seasons; the player to watch is Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort, who after transferring from Iowa, earned First-Team All-Big Ten Honors. We can’t wait to see these rematches. 

4. February 13 and 26: Michigan State vs. Michigan 

Few in-state rivalries pack the national pedigree of Michigan vs. Michigan State. Both programs have won two national championships, but last season, the Wolverines got the best of the Spartans twice. You can bet Tom Izzo’s squad will be looking to return the favor this season. 

Even after losing key talent, both teams boast championship-caliber backcourts. Veteran guards Elliot Cadeau and Jeremy Fears Jr. are two of the elite floor generals in college hoops, giving their teams a chance any given night. 

5. February 13 and March 6: USC vs. UCLA 

Crosstown rivals meet twice in the final month – including the regular season finale – with major Big Ten and postseason implications. USC’s reloaded roster under Eric Musselman will feature transfer KJ Lewis and freshman brothers Adonis and Darius Ratliff joining Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice. The Trojans will clash with a veteran UCLA group featuring Trent Perry, Eric Dailey Jr., Xavier Booker, and Auburn transfer Filip Jovic.  

Both squads feature the depth and talent to make noise in March, setting up two high-stakes battles to close out the regular season. 


Women’s Basketball 

 

Fresh off a 37-1 season and first national championship in program history, the UCLA Bruins lead a stacked Big Ten field into this season. From the Bruins and their crosstown rival USC — with the return of JuJu Watkins — to eight First Team All-Big Ten stars returning, there are plenty of matchups to watch. 

1. January 2 and 21: Ohio State at Maryland 

Coming off top-six Big Ten finishes, the Terrapins and Buckeyes look to take the next step toward the top of the standings. The spotlight features a premier backcourt duel between First-Team All-Big Ten returners Oluchi Okananwa (Maryland) and Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State). These two squads, led by their elite scorers, will look to send a message to the rest of the league.  

2. January 9: Iowa at Minnesota 

Expect fireworks in a Minneapolis showdown. Coming off its fourth Sweet 16 in program history, Minnesota returns top scorers Tori McKinney (12.7 PPG), Grace Grocholski (12.1 PPG), and Mara Braun (11.7 PPG), while adding Penn State transfer Gracie Merkle (19.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG) and Tayla Thomas (9.7 PGG, 7.2 RPG).  

Meanwhile, Jan Jensen’s perennial-contending Hawkeyes bring dynamic interior firepower led by Ava Heiden (18 PPG) alongside sharpshooter Chit-Chat Wright, Georgia transfer Dani Carnegie (First Team All-SEC last season), and five-star freshman McKenna Woliczko (No. 6 in 2026). This is an early-season Big Ten benchmark for teams with March Madness aspirations. 

3. January 30: Michigan at USC 

Two of the most talented rosters in the Big Ten clash in Los Angeles in late January. The Trojans bring their high-powered attack led by JuJu Watkins and reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson into the Galen Center to host a Michigan squad guided by Kim Barnes Arico and fueled by premier talents Syla Swords and Olivia Olson. The Wolverines will look to disrupt USC's star-studded backcourt in the opening leg of a West Coast road trip — before taking on defending champion UCLA across town just a few days later. 

4. February 7: Iowa at Michigan 

Michigan looks to reset the narrative against Iowa in a February battle at Crisler Center. The Hawkeyes hold a seven-game winning streak in the series, most recently knocking off Michigan in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Iowa brings the paint production with Heiden and Woliczko, while Michigan’s backcourt tandem of Olson and Swords aim to turn the tide and protect home court. 

5. February 7 and 25: UCLA vs. USC 

The battle for Los Angeles features two elite national title contenders in a marquee February home-and-home. Defending champion UCLA brings a reloaded roster under Cori Close, working to replace six departing seniors with dynamic playmakers in Iowa State transfer Addy Brown and sophomore Siena Betts.  

Across town, USC counters with explosive firepower with Watkins returning after missing all last season, joining Davidson to form one of the premier duos in college basketball. Add to that five-star recruit Saniyah Hall, Sara Okeke and Sitaya Fagan, and the court will be loaded with stars (what else would you expect in L.A.?) With deep talent and championship aspirations on both sides, this rivalry series has all the makings of an instant classic. 

6. February 4 and 25: Oregon vs. Washington 

The Pacific Northwest rivalry will have major implications with March on the horizon. Kelly Graves’ Ducks — driven by Seattle-native guard Katie Fiso and forward Ehis Etute— bring a well-balanced attack into these matchups. They’ll be tested by a tenacious Huskies squad under Tina Langley, led by a dangerous duo in First-Team All-Big Ten guard Sayvia Sellers (18 PPG) and wing Avery Howell, who nearly averaged a double-double in a breakout year. With late-season Big Ten Tournament seeding hanging in the balance, this could come down-to-the-wire between two familiar foes. 

Whether it’s historic in-state rivalries or coast-to-coast clashes, this season’s slate leaves no shortage of premier basketball. As the Big Ten continues to anchor the national spotlight on both the men's and women's sides, tipoff can't come fast enough.