Editor’s note: This story is adapted from The Athletic’s preseason guide to all 138 FBS teams ahead of the 2026 season.After years of BCS and Playoff angst, the Big Ten stands atop college football with three consecutive national championships from Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana. Oregon hopes it’s next as it pursues its first national title.Who’s trending up and down in the Big Ten entering 2026? What do you need to know about all 18 teams? Here’s our guide to the league’s teams, coaches and top players, with rankings from Chris Vannini’s The Athletic 138, and Playoff and conference championship odds from Austin Mock’s predictor model.Three storylines to watch: Indiana, Arch and KiffinStewart MandelIllinois Fighting Illini2025 record: 9-4 (5-4 Big Ten)
Location: Champaign, Ill.
Odds to make the CFP: 6.7%
Odds to win the Big Ten: 0.6%
The Athletic 138 ranking: 30thWill they be better, worse or the same this year? Worse (barely), but they have a favorable schedule.Pedigree: Illinois has recorded consecutive nine-win seasons for the first time in program history and consecutive winning Big Ten records for the first time since 1992-93. It’s not a historical power (just nine seasons of nine-plus wins, no top-10 finishes since 1989), but the Illini are enjoying a good recent run.Why they’re interesting: The Illini are moving up the Big Ten food chain. After 10 consecutive sub-.500 seasons from 2012-21, they’ve had three eight-plus-win seasons in the last four years. Also, the retooled defense under new defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck (former Montana head coach) will be worth watching. Plus, there’s the biggest scoreboard in college football.Who is the coach? Bret Bielema, 56, is 37-26 in five years at Illinois. He has won in the Big Ten before, going 68-24 in seven years at Wisconsin and taking the Badgers to two Rose Bowls. Bielema’s five-year stint at Arkansas (29-34 from 2013-17) wasn’t great, but he has a long enough track record over 17 years (134-84) that you know what you’re getting.Who is the QB? Katin Houser (No. 41 in QB Tiers) is an East Carolina transfer who threw for 5,306 combined yards and 37 touchdowns in 19 starts the past two seasons. He offers some Big Ten experience, having started seven games at Michigan State in 2023. Last season, Houser had the 20th-best off-target rate in the FBS, per PFF.Key player: Fifth-year defensive back Matthew Bailey (27 career starts) leads an experienced secondary that will be the strength of the Illini defense (that position group was a reason Bielema wanted to tweak the defensive scheme). Bailey led Illinois in tackles in 2024 and 2025. Nobody on the team has taken as many snaps in an Illini uniform (2,123).Game to circle: Oct. 24 vs. Oregon. The Illini have notched home wins over ranked teams each of the past two years. The home date against the Ducks will likely be their first such opportunity this year.—Sam Khan Jr.Indiana Hoosiers2025 record: 16-0 (9-0 Big Ten)
