Power Rankings
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
10. Minnesota Golden Gophers
It will be Year Ten on the sidelines for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota this fall, now the second-longest tenure in the league. Fleck has built a consistent winner in the Twin Cities, winning at least eight games or more in six of his last seven full seasons at the helm, with a perfect bowl record to his credit. Entering 2026, the question is whether the Gophers can make the jump from merely being solid to becoming a legitimate contender in the conference.
To improve on last year's eight wins, Minnesota will need more from an offense that averaged just 23 points per game last fall - 99th nationally. The personnel will be very familiar, as the Gophers return Drake Lindsey at quarterback, most of their top skill position pieces, and three starters on the O-Line.
Lindsey was impressive in his first season as starter, considering he was a redshirt freshman playing in perhaps the toughest conference in the sport. He threw for 2,382 yards and 18 touchdowns on the year, and did not throw an interception in Minnesota's final five games. The Gophers are excited about what he can do for an encore this fall, especially with what they bring back around him.
The receiver corps was underwhelming a season ago, but returns its top two pass-catchers in Jalen Smith and Javon Tracy, and this was clearly a position of focus for the staff in the portal. Smith was the preseason darling heading into last season and displayed big-play potential - the Gophers are hopeful he can be a true No. 1 in 2026. Cincinnati transfer Noah Jennings looks likely to factor in heavily, while Perry Thompson arrives from Auburn with loads of potential but limited production at this point in his career.
It was certainly strange to see the Gophers, a team that has always pounded the rock under Fleck, struggle to run the ball so much last year. They averaged just 103.2 YPG, which ranked them 126th nationally. The return of Darius Taylor bodes well, but he needs to stay healthy after several injury-plagued seasons. Minnesota needs others to emerge to take the pressure off Taylor - Marshall transfer A.J. Turner missed most of last season with injury but should be back and ready to go in 2026. Elon transfer T.J. Thomas is also expected to see a healthy amount of action.
The ground game will benefit from this offensive line, which has three legitimate All-Big Ten talents in tackle Nathan Roy, guard Greg Johnson, and center Ashton Beers. Right guard and right tackle are both spots where position battles will unfold in fall camp, although adding Tennessee transfer Bennett Warren should help in a major way.
Defensive coordinator Danny Collins had the unenviable task of following up Corey Hetherman after he took off for Miami, and there were certainly growing pains in Year One. The numbers were okay, but the Gophers had some uncharacteristic ugly showings, namely allowing 41 to Iowa and 38 to Northwestern.
Despite the struggles, Fleck decided to roll with Collins for 2026, and there is reason to believe in a resurgence on this side of the ball. For one, this may be the best front seven we've seen here at Minnesota since Fleck took over. Anthony Smith likely would have been a Day One or Two NFL Draft pick, but instead opted to stay put after notching 12.5 sacks last season. He'll be joined by returnees Karter Menz and Jaxon Howard, while Cal transfer T.J. Bush Jr. further bolsters the group.
The linebacker corps will be spearheaded by Maverick Baranowski. The veteran has proven his worth on the field, with 103 tackles a year ago, but is now looking to take on more of a leadership role this year. The likely starter next to him is Matt Kingsbury, who had flashes last fall.
It is the secondary where most of the questions lie, as was the case a year ago. The departure of Koi Perich, who took a massive NIL package with Oregon, stings. However, it's no secret Perich went through a bit of a sophomore slump last year, and Minnesota has important pieces still around. Kerry Brown is perhaps the most underrated safety in the Big Ten, and will now pair with veteran Aidan Gousby. Corner is also in a good spot with John Nestor back after a breakout 2025, but it's unclear who will start opposite of him.
Bottom Line: When you consider the Gophers had a first-year QB, an offense that was statistically among the worst in the Big Ten, and a defense that took a major step backwards, going 8-5 last season should actually be seen as quite the success. This team has all the places in piece to improve on that win total, although the schedule doesn't exactly do them any favors. Mississippi State offers a tough non-conference date and the road schedule is brutal, with the Gophers traveling to Washington, Indiana, Penn State, and Wisconsin. The most likely scenario is another year right around the 8-9 win mark, with the potential for an upset or two if Lindsey takes the jump some think he's capable of after such a solid debut in 2025.
11. Wisconsin Badgers
After an incredible run at Cincinnati, it has been genuinely shocking to witness Luke Fickell struggle so throughly in Madison. With a 17-21 record entering his fourth season at the helm, few coaches in college football sit as firmly on the hot seat as he does.
Fickell certainly responded this offseason, moving like a coach on his last stand. The Badgers spent big in the portal to upgrade this roster, beginning with new QB Colton Joseph, who comes over from Old Dominion. Joseph put up monster numbers with the Monarchs, and his dual threat ability should provide this Badger offense with a different look than they've had previously. For Wisconsin to be successful, they need Joseph to limit the turnovers, which was a problem at times at ODU, and stay healthy. Few programs in college football have suffered as rotten injury luck at this position as Wisconsin.
The Badgers need more from this receiver group, too. Chris Brooks Jr. and Eugene Hilton are the top holdovers from 2025, but the staff hit the portal hard. Shamar Rigsby is a name to watch from Oklahoma State, and the Badgers are hopeful they can finally be the ones to unlock Malachi Coleman. He came with high billing from the high school ranks, but simply was not able to see the field at either Nebraska or Minnesota.
It will be Iowa State transfer Abu Sama III as the feature back with Darrion Dupree and TCU transfer Nate Palmer likely to feature. For this ground attack to reach the heights of vintage Wisconsin offenses, the O-Line also has to be better. There are a couple of returning starters, but this is another unit relying heavily on transfers.
For all their struggles last season, this was still a Top 25 defense, and I'm incredibly high on this Badger defense entering 2026. There's a lot of contributors back from last year's group, and the staff filled holes strategically in the portal.
The defensive line is perhaps the top question on this side of the ball, but they'll be helped by a potentially elite linebacker corps. Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa impressed last fall and could both take major leaps during their sophomore campaigns. Posa led the team in tackles and showed real pass rushing chops, with four sacks, and he only started five games. With both of those unleashed, this Badger defense should have a feel reminiscent of the groups that once patrolled the middle for Bret Bielema and Paul Chryst.
Matthew Jung will lead the secondary, but this unit is heavily reliant on transfers. Four new cornerbacks arrived via the portal, and Missouri transfer Marvin Burks Jr. is line to start alongside Jung at the safety spot.
Bottom Line: As bad as these last three years have been for Fickell, there's reason to believe the Badgers could be in store for a turnaround. The quarterback situation quite literally could not be any worse than it has the last two seasons, and Joseph appears like a genuine upgrade. There's real depth behind him this year, too, in a way there simply wasn't the last couple of years. The Badgers also upgraded the roster top-to-bottom with transfers, spending like a program ready to get back to their winning ways. Perhaps most importantly, the schedule is quite favorable, after Wisconsin played some of the hardest schedules in the conference over the first three Fickell years. The season opener with Notre Dame at Lambeau Field will be tough, but the Badgers miss Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana inside the league. At the very least, a return to the postseason seems to be in the cards, which may be just enough to get Fickell a fifth season in Madison.
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers
A 6-2 start had Nebraska fans thinking big last fall, but four losses in their final five games led to an unfulfilling 7-6 finish. Among those four losses was a 27-point thumping from a Penn State team that had effectively quit on their season, a 24-point defeat to rival Iowa, and a loss in the bowl game to Utah by three touchdowns. Those results have Matt Rhule under a bit of job pressure as he looks towards 2026. Rhule has gotten the Cornhuskers back to respectability, but is there another gear he can reach with the program?
Any hopes of greater heights this season will rest heavily on the shoulders of new quarterback Anthony Colandrea. Now with his third school, Colandrea is hoping he can find the consistency that has eluded him throughout his collegiate career. The senior has many amazing moments, but limiting turnovers and taking more calculated risks are what Nebraska is hoping for from him this fall.
Colandrea will benefit playing in a Dana Holgorsen offense, one that is going to look to stretch the field vertically and take their shots in a way we didn't see often with Dylan Raiola in 2025. The receiver group is talented, led by the duo of Nyziah Hunter and Jacory Barney Jr., but it's still looking for a true alpha. Both Hunter and the staff are hopeful is performance in the Maryland win a year ago was a sign of things to come - he burned the Terrapins for 5-125 and two touchdowns.
The departure of Emmett Johnson at running back is significant. After a pair of productive seasons, Johnson had his true breakthrough season in 2025, going for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns before being taken in the fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs. The 'Huskers are likely to turn to a committee approach in the hopes of replicating some of his production. Mekhi Nelson and converted wide out Isaiah Mozee are likely to see the bulk of action right away, but highly touted newcomer Jamal Rule could end up being the best of the trio when it's all said and done.
The Nebraska offensive line has a few pieces back, fortunately at two of the best important positions in left tackle Elijah Pritchett and center Justin Evans. However, this is going to be yet another O-Line that relies heavily on transfers, and how quickly they can gel could be a huge factor in the offense's eventual success.
Much like Nebraska as a whole, the defense was tremendous throughout the season's first half, but slipped in a major way down the stretch. Giving up 37 points or more in all three of their final losses was a genuine shock, and Rhule acted quickly when firing coordinator John Butler. In his place will be Rob Aurich, who brings with him a 4-2-5 defensive scheme from San Diego State.
Aurich has some interesting pieces to work with on this defense, and it starts up front. The duo of defensive ends Cam Lenhardt and Williams Nwaneri is supremely talented, but needs to be better in 2026. Nwaneri in particular was one of the country's top recruits when he signed with Missouri coming out of high school, and at 6'7", he looks like an NFL pro. Yet, just 2.5 sacks last fall indicates there is plenty of work to be done.
Junior linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. will play a key role in shoring up a rush defense that was leaky throughout much of last season, and this was an area of focus in the portal. Dexter Foster comes over from Oregon State, while Owen Chambliss reunites with Aurich after starring at San Diego State for him a year ago.
The pass defense may be short on big name star power but it was an elite group in 2025, finishing third in the nation in pass defense. Three starters are back this fall, so we can expect Aurich to play around and perhaps be more creative with the looks he will deploy up front given he knows he has this group behind them.
Bottom Line: The long-awaited Year Three breakthrough for Matt Rhule never quite materialized last fall, and I'm not sure it will arrive in Year Four, either. There are still reasons for optimism in Lincoln, as Colandrea feels like a much better fit for this offense than Raiola, and the defense has some very nice pieces. But the lack of Johnson offensively is concerning, and there simply is not the NFL talent on this roster Nebraska fans were hoping for from Rhule at this point in his tenure. In fact, 2026 feels like it could just be a repeat of last year, as the schedule sets up in a similar way. A hot start is likely, perhaps even a 5-0 record, before Nebraska hits an October and November that includes Indiana, Oregon on the road, Washington, Ohio State, and Iowa on the road. Rhule will have ample opportunities to get the big win that has eluded him so far in his Cornhusker tenure, but it's hard to imagine this team improving much on last year's 7-6 mark.
13. UCLA Bruins
Of the four former Pac-12 schools that joined the Big Ten prior to the 2024 season, it's been UCLA who has struggled to find their footing the most. The Bruins have gone 8-16 total, including a 3-9 record last fall that led to the dismissal of head coach Deshaun Foster and most of his start.
Enter Bob Chesney, who comes over from James Madison after leading the Dukes to a College Football Playoff appearance a year ago. Chesney brings a lot to the table - he's a young coach with the right energy and attitude for this job, along with a proven track record of winning. He also brought a whole slew of former Dukes with him to Westwood.
Among the arriving Dukes is star tailback Wayne Knight, who totaled over 1,700 all-purpose yards a year ago and will be a central focus of this Bruin offense in 2026. Knight will run behind an offensive line that also includes three James Madison transfers, all of whom will likely see playing time right away.
Joining Knight in the backfield is quarterback Nico Iamaleava, returning for his second season in Westwood. Iamaleava's messy exit from Tennessee has made him an easy target for criticism, and his debut campaign with the Bruins saw his head coach and offensive coordinator fired three games in. This is still a supremely talented signal-caller who was considered among the nation's best coming out of high school. Perhaps Chesney is finally the coach to help him unlock his full potential.
Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of familiar names for Iamaleava to throw the ball to, and it's unclear who the top playmakers will end up being. Mikey Matthew is one of the few holdovers, finishing second in receiving yards last fall, and he'll do damage from the slot. Semaj Morgan had flashes of brilliance at Michigan, and his versatility will be quite the asset in this offense. Beyond that, it's a whole lot of unproven transfers.
Chesney brought defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler with him, tasked with rebuilding a group that surrendered over 33 points per game a season ago (125th in the nation). There are a few returning pieces, but Hitschler is going to hope the right mix of transfers can jolt the defensive improvement UCLA is hoping for.
Defensive end Sahir West starred on the James Madison defense last season and will be a key part of Hitschler's group in 2026. He's going to have to play a particularly large role, as there's little to be inspired by from a pass rush that struggled to put any pressure on opponents last year.
Linebacker Sammy Omosigho was an important addition to help stabilize the rush defense, as he played regularly on an elite Oklahoma defense last season. There are further additions to bolster the back-end, namely senior Tao Johnson, who comes over from Utah. UCLA was pretty good stopping the pass in 2025, so it's encouraging to see some returning starters, including junior corner Rodrick Pleasant.
Bottom Line: There's a bit of a 2024 Indiana makeup to this UCLA team, with a coach from James Madison taking over a struggling program and bringing a whole bunch of former Dukes with him. Unfortunately, I'm not sure the success will be the same, although this team could still be feisty. The offense has real potential, and the defense has nowhere to go but up after last season's struggles. The schedule also offers up a mixed bag - the road schedule is tough, but there are several games at the Rose Bowl that should be winnable. The non-conference is no breeze, including a road game at Cal, and home games with San Diego State and Nevada, but the Bruins could still find a way to go 3-0 against that slate. Reaching a bowl won't be easy, but it's not out of the question and it could set the stage for much greater things to come in the Chesney era.
14. Maryland Terrapins
Few hot seat head coach lists would be complete without Mike Locksley, now entering his ninth year in College Park. Locksley seemed to be building a home for himself at Maryland with three straight seasons of at least seven wins from 2021-2023, but things have slipped in a major way. A pair of 4-8 seasons, including 1-8 records in the Big Ten, have Locksley battling for his job in 2026.
The good news for Locksley is that he has a young, gifted quarterback who now has a year of starting experience in the Big Ten under his belt. Malik Washington was a high-profile recruit, and he genuinely impressed as a true freshman last season. The hiring of coordinator Clint Trickett is a play to boost Washington as he begins his sophomore campaign.
The rest of the offense has potential, but needs to find balance and identify new weapons on the perimeter. Tailback DeJuan Williams was also a revelation as a freshman, and needs to jolt a ground game that was among the worst in the conference last fall. He'll benefit running behind an offensive line that has three starters back in the fold.
With the departure of their top three receivers from last fall, tight end Dorian Fleming will have to lead this group of pass-catchers, as will veteran Kaleb Webb. At 6'5", his size on the outside should give Washington a key jump ball receiver to work with.
You may not see a better young pass rushing duo anywhere in the country than what Maryland boasts on that side of the ball. Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart both recorded Freshman All-American seasons their first year on campus, and the duo should lead this Terrapin defense this fall. Joining them will be five-star defensive end Zion Elee, who is a consensus Top 10 player in the 2026 Class. If he can acclimate quickly, this has a chance to be a genuinely nasty front seven.
The rest of the defense has more questions, but there's ample returning experience. Senior linebackeer Daniel Wingate broke the 100 tackle mark a year ago, and while be joined by rising sophomore Carlton Smith in the middle of the defense.
The secondary has three returning starters, including both cornerbacks, and the staff has raved about sophomore Messiah Delhomme, who appears favored to slide into a starting free safety spot. There are questions about depth, so staying healthy will be a key priority for this position group.
Bottom Line: It looks like it may be another long season at Maryland, but there is some very exciting young talent on this roster. Assuming the Terrapins can start off 2-0, they'll have to scratch and claw for each additional win on the calendar, with UCLA, Rutgers, and a road game against Purdue their best chances. Will it be enough for Locksley to keep his job? The best hope is that the young talent shines through, namely Washington and the pass rushers defensively and this team surprises and reaches the postseason. If not and the Terrapins move on from Locksley, it feels likely it's a fire sale here, with programs all across the country sweeping in for a chance at the talented sophomores that dot this roster.
15. Northwestern Wildcats
A four-game win streak in the heart of their season propelled Northwestern to a bowl game, which they took full advantage of by smashing Central Michigan 34-7. It was the final punctuation mark on a solid third season for David Braun, with the Wildcats going 7-6 overall.
Yet, as Northwestern embarks on their 2026 journey, the offseason brought notable turnover. The offense will look much different, as Braun went out and hired former Oregon and UCLA head coach Chip Kelly to improve a group that was 96th nationally in scoring last fall.
Kelly will pair with a brand-new quarterback, as Aiden Chiles comes over from Michigan State. It's an intriguing pairing with some potential, but what are the chances it ends up being a success? Kelly is not the same offensive mastermind he was in the early 2010s, as a frustrating finish to his UCLA tenure indicated. And while Chiles has long had the talent, he has struggled mightily over three seasons at two schools. Chiles will benefit from being healthy again after being bit by the injury bug in 2025, but the pressure will be on for him to rewrite the story of his career.
There are pieces to like around Chiles in this offense, including tailback Caleb Komolafe. He quietly ran for 941 yards and 11 scores again and will have some help, as Northwestern went out and added a big play threat in Gavin Sawchuk.
On the perimeter, Griffin Wilde is one of the most underrated receivers in the Big Ten, but others have to step up if this passing attack is going to improve from its 106 national ranking last year. At tight end, I've long had my eye on Alex Honig, a converted quarterback who played tight end at UConn before coming to Northwestern. The 6'7" target is a freakish athlete, but it's now or never for him to have the production to match.
The offensive line is a real concern, especially for an offense that is likely going to be built around the run, at least early on. Ezomo Oratokhai is a key returnee, but even he is in store for changes, as he makes the transition from guard to center. The rest of the unit is a mishmash of other pieces, one that will rely heavily on transfers after four starters departed.
Northwestern has long been a program that prides itself on physical, disciplined defense and this team will look the same in 2026. The defensive line struggled to get pressure on opponents last fall, but hit the portal hard, and will also lean heavily on returnee Michael Kilbane. Now in his fourth year with the program, we've seen the flashes as a rotational piece, but the Wildcats hope there is a whole other level he can reach.
The back seven is the strength of the roster, with plenty of returning experience and the addition of Oklahoma transfer Kobie McKinzie at linebacker. This is going to be an exceptionally difficult team to pass on, as Braden Turner and Robert Fitzgerald will make plays all over the field. Fitzgerald was the team leader in tackles last season, with 115.
Bottom Line: Northwestern has a tendency to flip flop between successful and down years, and the Braun tenure has mirrored that so far. After an 8-5 debut campaign, they fell down to 4-8 overall and 2-7 in the league in 2024. Then, there was the resurgence last fall and the return to the postseason. Perhaps this team can be the one to flip the script if Chiles and Kelly can find some magic in their one season together. Yet, the more likely scenario is this team sits at around the .500 mark before a crucial November stretch ultimately decides their season, with trips to Ohio State and Minnesota.
16. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Greg Schiano's return to Piscataway has not exactly been a smashing success, but two consecutive bowl trips in 2023-24 seemed to indicate the program had found a footing. Then, the Scarlet Knights slipped back down the conference last fall, as seven losses in their final nine left them 5-7 and missing a bowl game.
Hopes of an improved 2026 will depend heavily on how Rutgers navigates a quarterback battle to replace Athan Kaliakmanis. A.J. Surace is the quarterback who has been in the program, but he lacks much live game action. Dylan Lonergan is the newcomer, arriving at his third school after a recent stint at Boston College. Surace likely holds a slight edge just given his familiarity with the system, but this battle will wage into the fall.
The rest of the skill position talent is genuinely fun. Tailback Antwan Raymond may be the most underrated Doak Walker Award candidate in the nation after tallying 1,275 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago. At receiver, K.J. Duff is a legit alpha who stands at 6'6" and is known for making difficult catches. He'll give whoever starts at quarterback a security blanket who they can throw the ball up to in key situations.
The question for this offense (beyond QB) is who else can make plays beyond Raymond and Duff. Junior Ben Black is a popular breakout candidate at receiver, but the Knights do need someone to emerge in the slot. Rutgers is also working with a depleted offensive line, one that will need left tackle Tyler Needham to establish himself as the clear leader.
After a season in which Rutgers allowed nearly 433 yards per game, Schiano made sweeping changes. The new coordinator will be Travis Johansen, who won 10 games this past fall as South Dakota head coach. Johansen is going to lean heavily on new blood to rebuild this unit, particularly in the front seven.
Malachi Davis from Toledo and J'Dan Burnett from Tulsa are the major additions to the defensive line, while the linebacker corps will include Rice transfer Ty Morris and one of the returning starters, senior Abram Wright.
Junior safety Kaj Sanders finished last season strong, and ended up as the team's leading tackler. He'll have to be even better this fall, with a whole bunch of transfers around him. Mikey Munn followed Johansen from South Dakota, and is line to start at cornerback. The starter opposite of him could be Kevyn Humes from Maryland, who will hope to replace Bo Mascoe.
Bottom Line: Rutgers could be fun with Raymond and Duff, but this feels like a team with a limited ceiling. Breaking in a new quarterback is no easy road in the Big Ten, and it's even harder when you are not confident on what the other side of the ball will bring. Johansen does seem like a good hire, but it's impossible to know what to expect given all the new pieces. Even if they acclimate quick, there is a long way to go given just how bad this unit was for much of the 2025 campaign. The Scarlet Knights feel like they will be right around five wins once more, although a breezy non-conference could elevate that win total.
17. Michigan State Spartans
Three years after a hazing scandal ended his time at Northwestern, Pat Fitzgerald is back in the Big Ten. His mission is to resurrect a Michigan State program that has been through a rough three-year stretch, including a 4-8 mark in 2025. Last season included an eight-game losing streak, ended only by a win in the season finale over Maryland.
Fitzgerald is hoping to open up the offense in a way he didn't at Northwestern, as he brought in Nick Sheridan, a Kalen DeBoer assistant, to be his offensive coordinator. Sheridan has a promising young QB in Alessio Milivojevic, but not much elsewhere. Milivojevic finished last season on a high note, going over 250 yards in three of his final four games.
It's a complete guessing game who else will step up on offense. The Spartans will break in a whole bunch of transfers, starting at running back. UConn transfer Cam Edwards is the headliner, but also arriving are Jaziun Patterson (Iowa), Marvi Parrish (Western Kentucky), and Kenneth Williams (Nebraska).
The receiver corps will dearly miss rising star Nick Marsh, who went out and got an NIL bag from Indiana. Fredrick Moore is coming in from in-state rival Michigan and speedster Chrison McCray could be a fun player to watch. Yet, this may be the worst crop of receivers in the Big Ten, and there's no clear tight end now that Jack Veling is in the NFL.
Up front, Michigan State loses a bunch, but they did bring in a lot of starting experience through the portal. Senior guard Conner Moore could make the switch to tackle depending on need, with UConn transfer Ben Murawski the likely starting left tackle.
Fitzgerald opted to keep Joe Rossi on as defensive coordinator, which came as a bit of a surprise given the defensive struggles last fall. Rossi was highly accomplished at Minnesota, but his stint in East Lansing has been uneven. He is hoping the front seven can lead the way this year, and the transfers can mix together well in the back-end.
Cornerback Charles Brantley began his career as a Spartan before a pit stop at Miami, and now he's back. That should give Spartan fans a familiar face, because the rest of the unit is primarily newcomers. There is safety Nikai Martinez, back healthy again after missing most of last season.
Bottom Line: Michigan State has always been a program with potential, and we saw the heights of it under Mark Dantonio. This is a program that should benefit from getting out of the Big Ten East, and should be a contender. But, I'm not sure Fitzgerald is the guy to lead them there. He seems like he wants to modernize his operation by bringing on Sheridan, but can he recruit at the level he needs to? This is a much different job than Northwestern, and a much different time than when he was last in college football. 2026 will be an experimental year, a "Year Zero" for him. That's likely not going to result in much wins, unless Milivojevic can pull some magic in his first full season as starter.
18. Purdue Boilermakers
The odds were never in Barry Odom's favor heading into his first season at Purdue. He took over a 1-11 program that had all its remaining pieces sucked up in the portal, leading him to bring in over 50 newcomers. The result was a 2-10 mark, which saw the Boilermakers fail to win a single game in the league.
The complete rebuild continues in 2026, as Odom will once again bring in a collection of newcomers in an effort to make this roster competitive in the Big Ten. One of the few holdovers is at quarterback, where Ryan Browne will start. But even there, Browne transferred out to UNC for the spring before doing a 180 and returning to West Lafayette. He brings experience, but turnovers need to be cut down in 2026 if this team has any hope.
Devin Mockobee may not have been flashy, but he has an effective piece in this Purdue backfield for years. With his graduation, Purdue is starting anew, although there are pieces to like. Jerrick Gibson arrives from Texas, and Fame Ijeboi had his moments in this league at Minnesota. After this team managed just 126.4 YPG in 2025, there's reason to believe they could be better.
The rest of the offense is a mess. It's a bunch of transfers at receiver without a clear leader in the room. Xavier Townsend from Iowa State at least brings power conference experience, and getting holdover De'Nylon Morrissette back from injury is helpful.
The offensive line brings back one starter, left tackle Joey Tanona, but this group needs major improvement. They were absolutely shredded in league action last season, and will now have to mix in a bunch of new pieces.
Odom made an interesting hire to help bolster a defense that was one of the worst in the nation last year. Kevin Kane followed Ryan Walters from Illinois to Purdue and served as his coordinator during his disastrous two-year run. After a year at Minnesota as OLB coach, he's back to run things for Odom.
Kane did quite a big win when linebacker Charles Correa stayed put, giving him a clear leader in the heart of the defense. Purdue will need Correa to play all over the field, because there's not a lot of proven commodities beyond him. There are high expectations around end Elo Modozie in the front seven, who began his career at Army before a pit stop at Georgia. If the Georgia defensive staff took him, that saws something about Modozie's upside, and Purdue needs pass rushers.
Cornerback Hudauri Hines is the only other returning starter to rejoin with Correa, and he'll play an outsized role in this secondary. Safety Jaden Mangham is a player Big Ten fans know well, as he's previously played at both Michigan and Michigan State. An injury in 2024 sidetracked his career, but Mangham has 103 career tackles and has the physical tools to be a difference-maker.
Bottom Line: This was always going to be an uphill climb for Odom, and 2026 is almost sure to be another long year at Ross-Ade Stadium. The program is in a tough spot trying to build and develop a roster. They're relying nearly entirely on transfers and if a player does happen to shine, they become easy plucking in the portal. If there is hope for Purdue fans, it's that the team did show real fight all of last season, and Odom will squeeze every last bit he can from this roster. Yet, I'm not sure that will show up in the W-L column. The Boilermakers likely beat Indiana State in the opener, then it's likely 11 straight games of being the underdogs.
All-Big Ten Teams
First Team
QB Dante Moore, Oregon
RB Bo Jackson, Ohio State
RB Antwan Raymond, Rutgers
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
WR Charlie Becker, Indiana
TE D.J. Vonnahme, Iowa
OL Carter Smith, Indiana
OL Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
OL Kade Pieper, Iowa
OL Andrew Sprague, Michigan
OL Drew Evans, Indiana
DL John Henry Daley, Michigan
DL Anthony Smith, Minnesota
DL Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
DL Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
LB Isaiah Jones, Indiana
LB Desman Stephens Jr., USC
LB Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
CB Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon
CB Jyaire Hill, Michigan
S Koi Perich, Oregon
S Zach Lutmer, Iowa
Second Team
QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State
RB Darius Taylor, Minnesota
RB Jordan Marshall, Michigan
WR Dakorien Moore, Oregon
WR Nick Marsh, Indiana
TE Jamari Johnson, Oregon
OL Ezomo Oratokhai, Northwestern
OL Greg Johnson, Minnesota
OL Ianapani Laloulu, Oregon
OL Joe Brunner, Indiana
OL Philip Daniels, Ohio State
DL Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State
DL A'Mauri Washington, Oregon
DL Bear Alexander, Oregon
DL Sidney Stewart, Maryland
LB Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
LB Mason Posa, Wisconsin
LB Tony Rojas, Penn State
CB Xavier Scott, Illinois
CB Devin Sanchez, Ohio State
S Rod Moore, Michigan
S Kerry Brown, Minnesota
The Five Most Important Games
1. Oregon Ducks @ Ohio State Buckeyes (November 7) -- Oregon and Ohio State have given us some instant classics in recent years, and this one is shaping up to be perhaps the most important regular season game of the 2026 college football season. Not only will the winner position themselves as the Big Ten favorite, they also have a good chance to be the national frontrunner. Plus, with how much talent will be on the field in this one, Heisman implications are a real possibility.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes @ Indiana Hoosiers (October 17) -- Indiana proved they were no fluke with last season's incredible run, but 2026 will tell us where they are a staying power. The Hoosiers are fortunate enough to welcome the Buckeyes to Bloomington this time around, in a game that should have some more scoring than last year's 13-10 affair. After Charlie Becker made the catch that sunk Ohio State in last season's Big Ten Championship Game, you better believe he'll be a central focus for the Buckeyes in this one.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes @ Texas Longhorns (September 12) -- For the second straight year, two of the most storied programs in all of college football collide in early September. The winner will likely become the national favorite, the loser will have less margin of error for reaching the College Football Playoff. This feels like extra important for Texas, who has lost to Ohio State twice in the last couple of seasons and is out to prove they are a bonafide National Title favorite. Arch Manning is also looking for his own redemption after an ugly showing in the 14-7 loss to the Buckeyes a year ago.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines (November 28) -- No explanation needed here. Perhaps the best rivalry in all of college football, and a game that may have more stakes after being a foregone conclusion in 2025. Depending on how Ohio State handles a gauntlet of a schedule, they may need to secure a win in this game. On the other side, the Wolverines feel like a team right on the cusp of Playoff contention - going into Columbus and taking down the Buckeyes would be quite the statement that they deserve a spot in the field.
5. Wisconsin Badgers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (September 6) -- There may end up being far more important games in the Big Ten this year than this one, but the novelty of it lands this matchup a spot here. The Badgers will face off with Notre Dame in Lambeau Field, a game originally scheduled for 2020 before being moved due to COVID. Notre Dame has legitimate National Title aspirations, but they don't want to get caught sleepwalking against a Wisconsin team that could be plucky. For the Badgers, a positive showing here gives them momentum against a favorable September and early October slate. There is a real 2016 energy to this game, when a National Title favorite, LSU, went into Lambeau and was shocked by the Badgers.
Superlatives
Offensive Player of the Year: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year: Koi Perich, S, Oregon
Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham, Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Savion Hiter, RB, Michigan
Transfer of the Year: Koi Perich, S, Oregon
Big Ten Championship Game: Oregon over Ohio State
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