With Indiana’s historic triumph, it’s clear that the college football world is in the midst of an era of Big Ten supremacy. During the BCS era, the SEC claimed nine of the 16 championships. That number bumps to 11 of 16 if you want to include current SEC members. Then, the CFP began, and the SEC won six of the first nine titles. The SEC won every championship from 2006 through 2012, spreading seven titles between four programs. The kings of college football for a long time were the SEC.
College football now runs through the Big Ten. The last three champions all hail from the Big Ten, and, perhaps most impressively, they were won by three different programs. From Michigan’s embattled run in 2023, Ohio State’s dominant four-game stretch in 2024, and Indiana’s incredible 16-0 campaign, each team did it its own way. While there are underlying similarities like fielding an older, more experienced team, each had its own flair.
Michigan ran the ball well, limited mistakes on offense, and had a dominant, almost clairvoyant defense. Ohio State’s 12-team CFP run was predicated on a strong transfer portal class with a handful of NFL-bound playmakers returning. Indiana has the best coach in college football, and he won with a roster of fifth and sixth-year players along with his merry band of JMU transfers.
Now, it’s time to look ahead to 2026. Could the Big Ten make it four for four? According to FanDuel’s way-too-early futures odds, there are four teams with better than +4000 odds to win it all.
Can The Big Ten Win Its Fourth Consecutive Title in 2026?
Ohio State (+600)
Leading the way are the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ryan Day’s squad won it all in 2024 after a near-miraculous run through the first 12-team College Football Playoff. Last year, the Buckeyes were bullied right out of the CFP by Miami. Looking to 2026, the team is going to look a little different.
Once again, the defense will need to be rebuilt. The starting lineup lost seven (eight if you include Tywone Malone), and lost a handful of prospective next men up to the transfer portal. On offense, the Buckeyes still have Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin at quarterback with unanimous All-American Jeremiah Smith out wide. The offensive line will be under the microscope with four starters returning in 2026.
The schedule is a tad more difficult in the fall. In terms of the final AP Poll, the Buckeyes play six teams finishing the year ranked. Of those six, four are on the road, including at Indiana and Texas.
The Buckeyes have won 10+ games 33 times in their history. In non-COVID seasons, Day has averaged 11 regular-season wins in his tenure. If he wins 11 again in 2026, the Buckeyes will certainly have earned it.
Indiana (+700)
It’s still weird to say, “The Indiana Hoosiers are national champions,” isn’t it? Well, get used to it. If anyone thinks the Hoosiers are going to suffer a major drop-off, they don’t know Curt Cignetti. If there is a coach out there who will be able to stave off complacency, it’s him.
Indiana is going to look a little different in 2026 with so many players graduating and/or declaring for the NFL Draft. However, as we have seen, Indiana works the portal with ease. According to 247Sports’ tracker, the Hoosiers are bringing in 17 transfers.
Nick Marsh (Michigan State), Joe Brunner (Wisconsin), and Josh Hoover (TCU) can be expected to be the next men up to lead the Hoosiers’ offense.
Indiana’s schedule looks to be a bit tougher in 2026 as well. While it gets Ohio State and USC at home, Indiana travels to Michigan and Washington, two notoriously difficult places to win.
Oregon (+1000)
Oregon at +1000 seems like a fantastic value if you feel like taking advice from folks on the internet. The Ducks were solid in 2025, but were decimated by injuries. You can’t plan for injuries, but if Oregon can stay healthy in 2026, watch out.
Dante Moore, a player who would have been in contention for the first-overall pick, is returning to school. The Ducks had to play a handful of true freshmen in 2025, and they all made massive impacts. Dakorien Moore, Jermiah McClellan, Dierre Hill Jr., and Jordon Davison are about as good a quartet of skilled guys as you can find. Plus, Jamari Johnson is going to step into the role vacated by Kenyon Sadiq at tight end (51 catches, 560 yards, eight touchdowns).
The Ducks’ defense was elite and should be just as good next year. Brandon Finney had a breakout freshman year, and Minnesota star safety Koi Perich is coming in to take over the safety room. A’Mauri Washington, a potential late-day-one/early-day-two pick, is coming back.
Oregon is going for it. The schedule looks favorable again. While the Ducks play Ohio State, Michigan, and Washington, only the game against Ohio State is on the road.
USC (+3300)
Finally, what is USC? The last time we saw the Trojans, they decided tackling was optional and let TCU score a miracle of a touchdown to lose the Alamo Bowl. The Lincoln Riley hype machine is in full swing with the oddsmakers, but can the Trojans finally reach the CFP? Last year, they faltered and missed the boat.
Jayden Maiava took a step in his development last year, of course. He led the Big Ten with 3,711 yards and threw 24 passing touchdowns. Of course, replacing his top two receivers (128 catches, 1,901 yards, 15 touchdowns, and one Biletnikoff Award) is going to be tough.
The Trojans are bringing in eight transfers and a whopping 35 true freshmen in 2026. That top-rated recruiting class (seventh-best by average) may need to step up early.
USC’s schedule still isn’t finalized, with the program getting rid of the Notre Dame matchup. Regardless, that third non-conference foe likely won’t move the needle. However, it has a tougher route. USC has trips to Indiana and Penn State, but it gets to host Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington.
If USC missed the CFP, could 2026 be the final year of the Riley era?
The Longshots
- Michigan (+4000)
- Penn State (+5500)
- Iowa (+12500)
- Washington (+12500)
- Illinois (+40000)
Michigan brought in Kyle Whittingham, one of the most respected coaches in all of college football. It will want to put the whole Jim Harbaugh/Sherrone Moore scandal years behind it with a solid 2026, but it doesn’t look championship-worthy just yet. Penn State fired its coach midseason due to a massively underwhelming year. Now, Matt Campbell takes over. That may be a bit of a process to get the Nittany Lions back to prominence.
Iowa is still Iowa, so if the Hawkeyes suddenly find an ability to play offense, they could be dangerous. But that’s a big if. Washington was expected to be in the at-large discussion in 2025, but fell short against the good teams on the schedule. Time will tell if the Demond Williams Jr. saga will be a distraction.
Finally, Illinois was also supposed to be in the discussion, but fell short. Bret Bielema is certainly building a solid program in Champaign, but who will replace Luke Altmyer at quarterback?
Just Donate Your Money Somewhere Else
- Maryland
- Michigan State
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Northwestern
- Purdue
- Rutgers
- UCLA
- Wisonsin
The rest of the Big Ten boasts +100000 odds, so unless you have the sports almanac from “Back to the Future,” you’re probably better off just donating your bet to your favorite school’s NIL collectives.
Maryland may be moving on from its coach after the year. Michigan State brought in Pat Fitzgerald, so the Spartans may be okay in the long run. As for 2026, making a bowl game should be the goal. Minnesota has a solid quarterback in Drake Lindsey, but it doesn’t look like this year will be their year. What is going on at Nebraska?
If you’re betting on Northwestern, Purdue, or Rutgers to win it all, we need you to dial 1-800-GAMBLER.
UCLA made a coaching change, but that likely won’t be enough to get it to the CFP level. Finally, Wisconsin was bad last year. The program put its confidence behind Luke Fickell and has ramped up its NIL funding, but time will tell.
