Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana appear to have three of the best rosters in the country entering the 2026 season.
The Buckeyes have the best player in college football (Jeremiah Smith), the only returning Heisman Trophy finalist from last season (Julian Sayin) and several other returning stars on offense along with plenty of potential breakout stars on defense. Oregon has a potential No. 1 overall pick at quarterback (Dante Moore), a dynamic group of receiving weapons and a defense that’s loaded with experience and NFL talent. Indiana returns numerous key stars from its national championship team, including All-American left tackle Carter Smith and leading tackler Rolijah Hardy, and pairs them with another strong group of transfer additions.
As such, my preseason All-Big Ten predictions for 2026 are dominated by the three teams that are expected to be the best in the conference this year. Ohio State has seven first-team selections on my preseason All-Big Ten team, while Indiana and Oregon follow just behind with six each.
My preseason All-Big Ten team is intended to be a forward-looking prediction of which players will make the postseason All-Big Ten team at the end of the year, not a career achievement award of what players have already done before this season. While players who earned all-conference honors last year drew strong consideration, it didn’t guarantee them a spot on this list.
Since the Big Ten doesn’t release an official preseason all-conference team, here’s one writer’s opinion on who will be the best players in the conference at every position this season.
QB: Julian Sayin, Ohio State
This was a tough decision between Sayin and Moore, who I believe could be the two best quarterbacks in college football this season in their second year as starters. But Sayin was already the most accurate quarterback in college football last season, and he still has the advantage of throwing to Jeremiah Smith. With that in mind, I believe Sayin ends Ohio State’s three-year drought of winning Big Ten Quarterback of the Year honors – which Ohio State’s starter had won in 10 of the previous 11 seasons.
Other contenders for All-Big Ten honors include USC’s Jayden Maiava – who split third-team honors with Moore last season – and Washington’s Demond Williams Jr., the conference’s most dynamic dual-threat quarterback.
Second-Team: Dante Moore, Oregon
RB: Bo Jackson, Ohio State
RB: Jordan Marshall, Michigan
After running for the third-most yards (1,090) among all FBS freshmen last season, Jackson is a top candidate to be the Big Ten’s best running back this year.
His top competition for Big Ten Running Back of the Year honors will come from Ohio State’s rival. Marshall excelled after taking over as Michigan’s No. 1 running back last season, running for at least 110 yards with seven combined touchdowns in his final four healthy games before suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two of Michigan’s final three games and forced him to leave the Wolverines’ loss to Ohio State early.
Rutgers’ Antwan Raymond is another top running back to watch, as he had the most rushing yards (1,243) last season among all returning Big Ten players. Oregon’s Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. and USC’s King Miller will all be looking to build off strong freshman seasons like Jackson, while Penn State’s Carson Hansen was a second-team All-Big 12 selection last year.
Second-Team: Antwan Raymond, Rutgers; Jordon Davison, Oregon
WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
WR: Charlie Becker, Indiana
WR: Nick Marsh, Indiana
Already a two-time Big Ten Receiver of the Year, Smith is the easiest selection for this list at any position. It would come as a shock if Smith isn’t an All-American, let alone an All-Big Ten selection, as he’s firmly established himself as college football’s best receiver, leading the Big Ten in receiving for both of his first two years as a Buckeye.
Becker, a breakout star in the second half of last season for Indiana, projects to be the Big Ten’s second-best receiver if he builds off of his performance during last year’s championship run, especially now that he’s the Hoosiers’ No. 1 receiver with Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt in the NFL. Marsh, Michigan State’s leading receiver for the past two seasons, also projects to be one of the Big Ten’s best wideouts as he moves into one of the conference’s best offenses opposite Becker.
Other top All-Big Ten candidates around the conference include Michigan’s Andrew Marsh, who led all Big Ten freshmen with 651 receiving yards last season; Rutgers’ KJ Duff, the Big Ten’s third-leading receiver last year with 1,084 yards; and Oregon’s Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart, who were expected to be one of the nation’s top receiving duos last year before injuries derailed their seasons.
Second-Team: Andrew Marsh, Michigan; KJ Duff, Rutgers; Dakorien Moore, Oregon
TE: Jamari Johnson, Oregon
Johnson had the second-most receiving yards among Big Ten tight ends last season even though he was Oregon’s No. 2 TE behind last year’s All-Big Ten first teamer, Kenyon Sadiq. Now that Sadiq has moved on to the NFL as the No. 16 overall draft pick, Johnson – a projected first-round draft pick himself – should emerge as one of the top tight ends in the entire country.
Johnson’s top competitors for All-Big Ten honors will include Penn State’s Benjamin Brahmer, a second-team All-Big 12 selection last year at Iowa State, and Iowa’s DJ Vonnahme, the leading receiver last season for an Iowa Hawkeyes offense that uses its tight ends heavily.
Second-Team: DJ Vonnahme, Iowa
OT: Carter Smith, Indiana
OT: Trevor Lauck, Iowa
After Jeremiah Smith, Carter Smith was the second-easiest choice for the preseason All-Big Ten team. A consensus All-American and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year last season, Smith – who grew up just north of Columbus in Powell, Ohio – enters 2026 as the best left tackle in college football.
Lauck, meanwhile, earned the second-highest Pro Football Focus grade among Big Ten offensive linemen last season as the left tackle for an Iowa offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award, and projects as the leader of the unit this season following the departures of 2025 first-team All-Big Ten honorees Gennings Dunker and Logan Jones.
Second-Team: Andrew Sprague, Michigan; Ian Moore, Ohio State
Carter Smith was the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-American last season. (Photo: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
G: Luke Montgomery, Ohio State
G: Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
Siereveld would also be a strong candidate for first-team All-Big Ten tackle honors if he stays at left tackle, but I’m operating under the expectation that Siereveld will move to right guard with Ian Moore taking over as Ohio State’s left tackle. If that happens, Ohio State could have the two best guards in the Big Ten this year.
While Siereveld projects as one of the Big Ten’s best offensive linemen no matter where he lines up for the Buckeyes this year, Montgomery enters his second full season as Ohio State’s starting left guard with the talent to be one of the best guards in the country. Both of them look to move one rung up the ladder after earning second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025.
Other top veteran guards in the Big Ten include Minnesota’s Greg Johnson, Oregon’s Dave Iuli and Indiana’s Drew Evans, Bray Lynch and Joe Brunner (with either Evans or Lynch expected to move to center this season).
Second-Team: Greg Johnson, Minnesota; Drew Evans, Indiana
C: Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
A first-team FWAA All-American last season, Laloulu is entering his third year as Oregon’s starting center and should be a Rimington Trophy contender.
That said, Laloulu faces steep competition for first-team All-Big Ten honors as center is the conference’s strongest offensive line position entering the year. Other All-Big Ten candidates include Iowa’s Kade Pieper, who takes over at center after starring at right guard for the Joe Moore Award winners last season; Nebraska’s Justin Evans, who had the highest PFF grade among returning Big Ten centers last season; and Ohio State’s Carson Hinzman, who was a first-team AFCA All-American in 2025.
Second-Team: Kade Pieper, Iowa
DE: Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
DE: John Henry Daley, Michigan
This was one of the toughest positions to decide who not to include on the first team – and even the second team – as there are five very strong candidates to earn All-Big Ten defensive end honors in Michigan’s John Henry Daley, Minnesota’s Anthony Smith, Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti and Ohio State’s Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
Uiagalelei is one of the nation’s top defensive ends when he’s at his best and my personal pick to be the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. Daley was a first-team All-American last season at Utah and the projected star of Michigan’s defense this year, so I felt like I couldn’t leave him off.
Smith was the toughest omission from the first team, as he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors last year after leading the conference with 12.5 sacks, but I also wouldn’t be surprised to see a first-team All-Big Ten season from Jackson, who played to that level in the second half of last season after a quiet start to 2025.
Second-Team: Anthony Smith, Minnesota; Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Ohio State
DT: Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
DT: A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
The heart of Indiana’s defensive line, Tucker is a returning first-team All-Big Ten selection from last season who should contend for All-American honors in 2026.
The second defensive tackle spot was a tough choice between two Oregon Ducks. Bear Alexander was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree last season while Washington was a third-team pick in 2025, but I’m giving the slight edge for this year’s all-conference team to Washington, a 330-pound behemoth who earned the second-best Pro Football Focus grade among Big Ten defensive tackles last season behind only Kayden McDonald.
Ohio State has several All-Big Ten candidates too in Eddrick Houston, James Smith and John Walker, but one of them will need to have a big breakout year like McDonald did a year ago to earn a first-team all-conference nod.
Second-Team: Bear Alexander, Oregon; Eddrick Houston, Ohio State
LB: Isaiah Jones, Indiana
LB: Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
LB: Tony Rojas, Penn State
Indiana has the Big Ten’s two best returning linebackers in Jones and Hardy, who each had 15-plus tackles for loss a year ago. Bryant Haines’ defensive scheme should continue to create plenty of playmaking opportunities for both of them, so I like both of their chances to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Picking the third linebacker for the All-Big Ten first team was a tougher choice. I considered Minnesota’s Maverick Baranowski, Wisconsin’s Mason Posa, Ohio State’s Payton Pierce and Maryland’s Daniel Wingate for the final spot, but ultimately sided with Rojas, an experienced and well-rounded veteran linebacker who new Penn State defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn will likely build his defense around – as long as Rojas is fully healthy for the season, which he’s expected to be, after tearing his ACL last October.
Second-Team: Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota; Mason Posa, Wisconsin; Payton Pierce, Ohio State
DB: Jaylen McClain, Ohio State
DB: Koi Perich, Oregon
DB: Devin Sanchez, Ohio State
DB: Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon
DB: Jontez Williams, USC
There’s been a ton of buzz around McClain and Sanchez in Columbus this offseason, so I’m buying stock in both of them being breakout stars and earning first-team All-Big Ten honors this season. McClain looks ready to emerge from Caleb Downs’ shadow and become the new star of Ohio State’s defense from the safety position, while Sanchez looks ready to be one of the nation’s elite cornerbacks after a dominant spring.
Perich already earned All-Big Ten honors twice at Minnesota – including first-team honors in 2024 – and should have even more opportunities to make big plays at Oregon with the star-studded defensive line he’ll have creating disruption in front of him. Finney was already one of the Big Ten’s top defensive playmakers last season and should be even better this year now that he’s no longer a true freshman.
Williams was one of the nation’s best cover cornerbacks for the past two years at Iowa State. Like Rojas, he’s coming off a torn ACL, but he’s expected to be full-go for the season and could be an All-American candidate if he’s fully healthy.
Other top candidates for All-Big Ten honors in the secondary include Northwestern safety Robert Fitzgerald and Iowa nickelback Zach Lutmer, who were both second-team honorees last year; Indiana’s Jamari Sharpe and Amare Ferrell, who are both returning stars from last year’s national championship defense; Michigan’s Jyaire Hill, who should also rank among the Big Ten’s best cornerbacks this year; and Illinois safety Xavier Scott and Michigan safety Rod Moore, who are both former All-Big Ten honorees coming off of injuries that sidelined them for most of last season.
Second-Team: Jamari Sharpe, Indiana; Robert Fitzgerald, Northwestern; Zach Lutmer, Iowa; Xavier Scott, Illinois; Rod Moore, Michigan
K: Mateen Bhaghani, UCLA
With five made field goals of 50+ yards over the past two seasons and an 83% career conversion rate on field goals, Bhaghani is the most proven long-distance kicker in the Big Ten. Ohio State is hoping Connor Hawkins will change that this season and become its first All-Big Ten first-team kicker in more than 20 years, but Bhaghani is the pick here because he’s already proven it in the conference.
Indiana’s Nico Radicic is the Big Ten’s reigning Kicker of the Year after missing only one field goal last season, but his range for long field goals remains a question mark as he has not made a kick longer than 46 yards or attempted a 50-yard field goal in three college seasons.
Second-Team: Nico Radicic, Indiana
P: Hunter Green, Washington
Green was one of the nation’s top punters last season at San Diego State, ranking eighth in the FBS with an average of 47 yards per punt. With reigning Big Ten punter of the year Ryan Eckley of Michigan State now in the NFL, the door is open for Green – and fellow Mountain West transfer Billy Gowers (Indiana), who ranked 14th in the FBS in punting average last season at Hawaii – to immediately establish himself as the Big Ten’s top punter.
Second-Team: Billy Gowers, Indiana
RET: Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska
Despite being Nebraska’s No. 2 kickoff returner last season behind Kenneth Williams, Barney earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025 as he totaled 270 yards on 22 punt returns and 275 yards on 13 kickoff returns. He’ll face competition from Williams for All-Big Ten honors, as Williams transferred to Michigan State this offseason, but Williams only returns kickoffs whereas Barney returns both kicks and punts.
A wild card candidate for All-Big Ten return honors is Koi Perich, who was dynamic as both a kick and punt returner at Minnesota. However, it’s unclear how often Oregon will use Perich as a returner or if he will focus on defense with the Ducks, who have plenty of other candidates to return kicks and punts among their offensive skill-position players.
Ohio State’s Legend Bey is another candidate to break out as a game-changing returner this season, but that will depend on whether the Buckeyes trust him in that capacity as a true freshman and whether they become more aggressive with their return units under new special teams coordinator Robby Discher.
Second-Team: Kenneth Williams, Michigan State
LS: Dalton Riggs, Ohio State
Admittedly, I have no idea how to evaluate or project who the best long snapper in the Big Ten will be this season, so I’ll make the homer pick with Riggs, who Ryan Day has described as “the best long snapper in the country” after he had zero inaccurate snaps last season at UCF.
Second-Team: Alan Soukup, Minnesota
