
Big Ten 2026 Preview: Bold takes, surprises, and a race without a clear favorite
CBS Sports’ Big Ten preview gathers multiple writers to name overrated and underrated teams, lays out bold predictions, and presents a detailed projected order of finish for 2026. The piece highlights Iowa, Michigan, USC, and Penn State as overrated and Maryland, Penn State, Washington, UCLA, Iowa, and Minnesota as underrated by different contributors, then offers varied bold takes (e.g., explosive offenses, a loss-filled conference, and a potential Ohio State–Indiana dynamic) and several authors’ champion picks (with Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana all mentioned). The result is a wide-open, highly competitive season with no single preseason favorite.













