The Big Ten is set to be a behemoth once again in 2026.
The conference features the past three national champions in Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan, and three teams under 10/1 to win this year’s title: Ohio State (+600), Oregon (+800) and Indiana (+800).
Those three juggernauts top the board to win the Big Ten, but the chasing pack is also quite strong with Michigan (10/1) and USC (15/1) poised for big seasons, while Penn State (20/1) is looking for a bounce-back under new head coach Matt Campbell.
The middle class of the conference also features some high-ceiling teams, most notably Washington (30/1) and Iowa (50/1), both of whom would be favored by 14 points on a neutral field against an average FBS team, per Bill Connelly’s SP+ metric.
Even long shots like Nebraska (100/1), Wisconsin (150/1), and Illinois (125/1) have some things going for them this fall.
Conference championships don’t carry the same weight that they once did in college football, but the team that lifts the trophy in Indianapolis will have earned it.
Best bet: Wisconsin (150/1, BetMGM)
It may seem crazy to back a long shot in the Big Ten, but I’d much rather place a small bet on a price in this conference than try to pick the right favorite.
Here’s the logic:
Ohio State (+180) has Indiana, Oregon and Michigan on its schedule.
Oregon (+275) goes to USC and Ohio State, hosts Michigan and then closes the season on the road against Washington.
Indiana (+275) faces a lighter schedule than the Bucks and Ducks, but they encounter a difficult three-game stretch: at Nebraska, then home against Ohio State and finally at Michigan.
The point is, the heavyweights, plus USC, Penn State, Michigan, and Washington, are going to chew each other up. It’ll be a war of attrition, and the losses will come, which could leave the door open for a surprising team to crash the party at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Wisconsin has the schedule, and the upside, to bust through the gate.
The Badgers may get pasted by Notre Dame in their opening game, but their conference schedule is a gift. They won’t see Ohio State, Indiana, or Oregon, and they’ll get to host USC. Trips to Penn State and Iowa won’t be easy, but they’re not unwinnable.
And if Wisconsin can keep itself in the mix into November, things really open up. The Badgers close the season with Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue and Minnesota.
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Winning the schedule lottery is great, but what about the team?
Luke Fickell looked like a lame-duck coach last season, but the program decided to back their guy instead of cutting bait.
Fickell responded by overhauling his roster in the portal, most notably grabbing quarterback Colton Joseph from Old Dominion.
He may not be a household name, but Joseph is well known to college football die-hards after he helped turn Old Dominion into one of the biggest surprises in the Group of 5 last season.
The junior quarterback amassed 2,264 passing yards, 1,100 rushing yards (not including sacks) and 34 combined touchdowns for the Monarchs. He is a game-breaker and gives Wisconsin something they haven’t had since Russell Wilson lit up Madison in 2011.
With a sturdy defense behind him and a soft schedule in front of him, bet on Joseph to lead the Badgers to a stunner.
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
