The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
116 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY ANTHONY BROOME T he Big Ten sent three teams to the College Football Playoff last season in Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon and captured its third straight na- tional championship crown, with the Hoosiers finishing off a dominant 16-0 season. Those three teams head into the 2026 season as projected top-5 caliber programs and title contenders and could once again headline the conference race. Oregon brings back as much talent as anyone in the conference (the Ducks are tied for second nationally in starters re- turning with 14, trailing only USC's 15) and sit as the preseason No. 1 in the eyes of some of the pundits. Each of the Big Ten's three title-winners — Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024, Indiana in 2025 — brought back key players from the pre- vious season citing unfinished business. OSU fits the billing there, too, and Indiana is showing no signs of slowing down under Curt Cignetti. However, the Big Ten's "big three" could have some stiffer competi- tion this year, and the league could provide an opportunity to get a fourth team into the playoff picture like it did in 2024. Michigan and Penn State will be im- proved thanks to their new coaching hires in Kyle Whittingham and Matt Camp- bell, respectively. USC is on the verge of a breakout in Lincoln Riley's fifth season, and teams like Iowa and Washington could be lurking as dark horse CFP contenders. Preview The Big Ten Conference Has Great Shot At A Fourth Straight National Champion The Wolverine's Top 25 Players By School School Offense Defense/ST Total Oregon 2 6 8 Ohio State 4 0 4 Michigan 2 2 4 Indiana 2 1 3 Rutgers 2 0 2 USC 1 0 1 Washington 1 0 1 Iowa 1 0 1 Minnesota 0 1 1 Will a different Big Ten team win it all this year after Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana each stormed their way to the title over the past three seasons? Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and his squad hopes so — a CFP semifinalist a year ago, the Ducks return 14 starters in 2026. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL