With Indiana joining Michigan and Ohio State in making it three straight national championships for the Big Ten, it’s clear that the league has surpassed the SEC in running the college football universe right now.
And with the league releasing its 2026 schedules on Wednesday, it’s natural to start thinking about some of the top matchups for the fall. There’s no way to know for sure who’s going to be among the Big Ten’s best in 2026 just yet, but if the recent past is any indication, there’s going to be no shortage of must-watch games.
Here are a few that already look like appointment viewing when the Big Ten season kicks off.
Oregon at USC (Sep 26)
The Ducks have the schedule to get themselves back to the Big Ten Championship Game, if they can pass a couple of major tests. This is the first one, and it’s one they’ve handled well in recent years.
Oregon has won four straight against USC and its past two against the Trojans in Los Angeles. That alone makes this a fascinating tone-setter for the season.
For USC, the move to the Big Ten has not gone as planned. The Trojans have not only failed to reassert themselves nationally, but they have also fallen behind Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, and Penn State in the league hierarchy. This is a chance for USC to prove it still belongs in the elite tier.
Ohio State at Indiana (Oct 17)
The past two national champions played a classic in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title, and this marks the Buckeyes’ first visit to Bloomington in the Curt Cignetti era. Ohio State hasn’t lost to Indiana in the regular season since 1988, but this obviously isn’t the same Indiana by a long shot.
For the first time in recent memory, Ohio State fans won’t be able to take over Memorial Stadium. More importantly, they now know that Indiana is for real.
The Hoosiers have a very soft schedule leading into this game, so if they take care of business, they should be undefeated when the Buckeyes come to town. Ohio State might not be, as it has to survive a trip to Texas and a home game against Illinois. The winner will have the inside track toward the league title game. The loser will have a steep climb back.
Penn State at Michigan (Oct 17)
Will Matt Campbell rebuild Penn State enough to compete at the top of the Big Ten? The Nittany Lions were one of college football’s biggest disappointments in 2025, finishing 6-6 after starting the year ranked second overall.
But the 2026 schedule sets up nicely for a rebound. Penn State avoids Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. Instead, it draws Rutgers, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Purdue, who combined for just five Big Ten wins last season.
Michigan represents one of the only real hurdles on the schedule, assuming Kyle Whittingham can keep the Wolverines together. Michigan paid for Sherrone Moore’s off-field issues, and Whittingham figures to bring stability back to Ann Arbor. The Wolverines face a brutal stretch here, with Indiana visiting the Big House the following week.
Oregon at Ohio State (Nov 7)
Since joining the Big Ten, Oregon has lost three games, and all came to the eventual national champion: Ohio State in 2024, and Indiana twice this past season. Ohio State does not lose often at home, outside of the occasional Michigan disaster.
Oregon is the last team not named Michigan to beat Ohio State in Columbus, and that happened back in 2021. Now this is a full-fledged conference game with massive implications.
The Ducks showed they could beat Ohio State in their first meeting in 2024, but the Buckeyes adjusted and dominated the rematch. A win in Columbus would be enormous for Oregon’s playoff resume.
Iowa at Illinois (Nov 21)
The Hawkeyes have an outside shot at relevance if they can survive early games against Michigan and Ohio State. After that, the schedule softens considerably, with this trip to Illinois standing out as the biggest remaining obstacle.
The Illini have become a tough mid-tier program under Bret Bielema, and Iowa has not shown enough consistency to feel safe against solid competition.
If Iowa wins this one, it could sneak into Big Ten title contention through the back door. Illinois has its own outside hopes, but road trips to Columbus and hosting Oregon make that path extremely narrow. More realistically, this game could be for CFP at-large positioning.
Michigan at Ohio State (Nov 28)
It’s the biggest rivalry in college football, so it has to be here.
Kyle Whittingham gets his first crack at Ohio State as Michigan’s coach, and the Buckeyes try to build on finally solving the Michigan problem. Records never matter in this game. Emotions always do.
Ohio State has lost two straight to Michigan in Columbus, and that still lingers around the program. Ryan Day is in a better spot now, but he has not beaten the Wolverines at home since before the pandemic. Another home loss to Michigan would erase a lot of goodwill very quickly.
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