With the start of a new college football season upon us, it is time for the staff of Nittany Lions Wire to go on the record with our final predictions for the upcoming season. The Big Ten is looking to be pretty top-heavy going into the new season with Ohio State and Oregon among the top-ranked teams in the country
to start the season and defending national champion Indiana looking to be a playoff threat once again.USC, Michigan, and Penn State are all ranked in the top-20 to start the season, and could play themselves into the Big Ten hunt. But will anyone from outside of the top three schools make a serious run for the Big Ten crown this fall?
According to our staff predictions, that is unlikely.
Here are our Big Ten championship predictions
for the 2026 college football season.
Kevin McGuire, Lead Writer: Ohio State
For me, the Big Ten is a two-team race between Ohio State and Oregon. Between the two schools, Ohio State has the stiffer challenge on the schedule this season with having to face both the Ducks and the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Ohio State also must play on the road against USC and will make a potentially dangerous road trip to Nebraska late in the season before hosting arch-rival Michigan to close out the regular season. But the Buckeyes are overflowing with talent with players like wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin that will keep them in the thick of the Big Ten title hunt all season long and will prevail in the Big Ten championship game. That title game may be a rematch with Oregon.
Christopher Sheppard, Contributor: Oregon
Yeah, everyone is always gonna be hyped about a team with Jeremiah Smith on it. But Dan Lanning is building something in Eugene that can't be ignored. He's returning perhaps the best quarterback in the nation in Dante Moore and a wildly talented and young receiving corps. The defense looks like a top-5 unit as well, led by Matayo Uiagalelei and new safety Koi Perich. Add in the fact they escape Indiana in the regular season, and it could be smooth sailing for the Ducks in conference play. Their Nov. 7 matchup with the Buckeyes could determine who’s the higher seed in the College Football Playoff as well.
Paul White, Contributor: Oregon
Oregon has finished with the same record or better than the previous year in each season since Dan Lanning took over. They also have a sour taste in their mouth from the CFP loss they had last season, so I expect them to take the next step this year.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Big Ten championship staff predictions from Nittany Lions Wire
