Illinois
Illinois season preview: a Final Four core with new pieces
Illinois returns a senior guard, a sophomore forward and a senior center from a 28-9 Final Four team.
Stories
Season previews for all 18 Big Ten teams, our projections for the standings and awards, and data stories as the season goes on.
Projections. October 13, 2026
Big Ten 2026-27 projections: standings, All-Big Ten teams and awards
Our projected order for all 18 teams, three All-Big Ten teams and our award picks. We have Illinois first and Jeremy Fears Jr. as Player of the Year.
2026-27 season previews
Indiana
Indiana season preview: DeVries rebuilds through the portal
Indiana finished 10th in the Big Ten at 9-11 and adds seven transfers after a third straight missed NCAA tournament.
Iowa
Iowa season preview: Elite Eight team rebuilds its frontcourt
Iowa went 24-13 and reached the Elite Eight, then replaces Bennett Stirtz, a first-round NBA pick, and three other departures.
Maryland
Maryland season preview: DJ Wagner headlines a rebuild
Maryland went 12-21 and 4-16 in Big Ten play, then adds six portal transfers and four high school recruits under Buzz Williams.
Michigan
Michigan season preview: a national champion with a new coach
Michigan won the 2026 national title and the Big Ten regular season. Mike Boynton Jr. now leads a roster without three first-round picks.
Michigan State
Michigan State season preview: Fears leads a veteran core
Michigan State went 15-5 in Big Ten play. Jeremy Fears Jr. is the Big Ten preseason Player of the Year.
Minnesota
Minnesota season preview: Cade Tyson's scoring gap to fill
Minnesota's 15-18 team adds four transfers from Michigan, North Carolina and Villanova after losing Cade Tyson, who averaged 19.6 points.
Nebraska
Nebraska season preview: Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager return
Nebraska returns Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager from a 28-7 team, and replaces four transfers and two players who used their eligibility.
Northwestern
Northwestern season preview: 11 newcomers reshape the roster
Northwestern's 15-19 team returns three players, adds eight transfers, and loses Nick Martinelli and Tre Singleton from last season.
Ohio State
Ohio State season preview: Bruce Thornton is off the roster
Ohio State's 21-13 team returns a veteran core, but Bruce Thornton is off the 2026-27 roster and four freshmen joined.
Oregon
Oregon season preview: interim coach after Dana Altman's retirement
Oregon's 12-20 team starts an interim-coached season after Dana Altman retired, with transfers from USC, Kentucky and Arizona.
Penn State
Penn State season preview: nine newcomers after a 3-17 season
Penn State's 3-17 team starts the 2026-27 season with nine newcomers and Mike Rhoades in his fourth season.
Purdue
Purdue season preview: Four double-digit scorers are gone
Purdue returns C.J. Cox and Daniel Jacobsen after losing four double-digit scorers from a 30-9 team that won the Big Ten tournament.
Rutgers
Rutgers season preview: Tariq Francis returns, nine newcomers join
Rutgers returns Tariq Francis, the 2025-26 scoring leader, after a 14-20 season that ended 14th in the Big Ten.
UCLA
UCLA season preview: Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent are gone
UCLA loses Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent from a 24-12 team but returns Trent Perry and Eric Dailey Jr.
USC
USC season preview: Rodney Rice leads a mostly new roster
USC returns Rodney Rice, the 2025-26 scoring leader, and adds 11 newcomers after an 18-14 season.
Washington
Washington season preview: Hannes Steinbach leaves a big gap
Washington loses Hannes Steinbach and Zoom Diallo from a 16-17 team and adds nine newcomers, including Harun Zrno from Rutgers.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin season preview: Nick Boyd and John Blackwell are gone
Wisconsin returns Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp after losing Nick Boyd and John Blackwell from a 24-11 team.
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