Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546586
4 4 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M its new stadium and a White Out clash with USC. 7. Washington The Huskies boast one of the Big Ten's most dynamic quarterbacks in junior Demond Williams Jr., and he's got a strong receiver corps to work with in sophomores Dezmen Roebuck and Chris Lawson along with senior Rashid Williams. Despite 202 yards from that trio, the Huskies had trouble pulling away from Washington State in the season-opening Apple Cup. They did ultimately get the job done, finishing off their stubborn cross- state rival, 24-10, and they got by Utah State, 16-14. It would be a mistake to un- derestimate this team in Year 3 of the Jedd Fisch coaching era. 8. Iowa Senior Kamari Moulton posted an eye- opening stat line in the Hawkeyes' 40-0 rout of Northern Illinois on opening day, rushing for a career-high 183 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 11 carries. Moulton won't find that kind of run- ning room against Michigan and Ohio State, who happen to be Iowa's first two conference opponents. But if the Hawk- eyes can pair a strong rushing attack with efficient quarterback play from senior Hank Brown and a typically stout defense, they'll be a tough out. 9. Nebraska The Cornhuskers have a lot of run- way to work with before hitting Indiana and Oregon on consecutive Saturdays in October. Their first two Big Ten foes are Michigan State and Maryland, giv- ing well-traveled senior quarterback An- thony Colandrea, formerly of UNLV and Virginia, a chance to get settled in. The Huskers also like what they've seen so far from true freshman running back Jamal Rule, who had 122 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving) against Ohio on opening day and 88 yards and 1 TD on the ground in a 56-7 win over Bowling Green in Week 2. 10. Illinois Katin Houser takes over at quarterback for the Illini after spending two years apiece at East Carolina and Michigan State. He completed 13 of 17 attempts for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns in a season- opening win against UAB and was 24 of 35 passing for 271 yards and 3 TDs in a 31-27 loss to visiting Duke. With Houser at the helm, the Illini could end up being one of those teams that sneaks up on people. While they couldn't have asked for a tougher Big Ten opener (Sept. 26 at Ohio State), the con- ference slate is full of favorable matchups. 11. Minnesota Drake Lindsey might be one of the T O P 1 0 D E F E N S I V E P L AY E R S 1. Anthony Smith | DE | Minnesota The fifth-year senior is coming off a 2025 season in which he led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks. At 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, he'll be a problem for everyone this fall. 2. A'Mauri Washington | DT | Oregon Washington isn't going to stuff the stat sheet; interior linemen rarely do. But the 6-3, 325-pound senior is an athletic marvel and a likely early-first-round pick in next year's NFL Draft. 3. John Henry Daley | DE | Michigan Daley was a first-team All-America edge rusher at Utah last year and figures to be a force for Michigan, having recovered from the season-ending Achilles injury he su- sained in November. 4. Isaiah Jones | LB | Indiana Jones totaled 15.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks during Indiana's 2025 championship season. He opened his senior campaign with 12 tackles against North Texas. 5. Teitum Tuioti | LB | Oregon The Ducks got off to a slow start defen- sively against Boise State, but Tuioti im- pressed, finishing with 6 stops including 2 for loss. 6. Brandon Finney Jr. | S | Oregon A former Penn State recruiting target, Finney has been as good as advertised. He was a Freshman All-American for the Ducks last year and opened his sophomore season by making 8 tackles versus Boise State. 7. Tony Rojas | LB | Penn State Coming back from a season-ending knee injury, Rojas will be a difference-maker for the Lions. He led the team with 7 tackles against Marshall despite playing just 35 snaps and posted another 7 takedowns against Temple. 8. Mason Posa | LB | Wisconsin The Badgers' star sophomore linebacker made 15 tackles against Notre Dame on open- ing night. No Big Ten player had more stops in Week 1. 9. Koi Perich | S | Oregon After compiling 128 tackles and 6 interceptions in two seasons at Minnesota, Perich has taken his talents to Eugene. He had a team-high 11 tackles against Boise State. 10. Jyaire Hill | CB | Michigan Hill was an honorable mention All-Big Ten cornerback last year, and he opened his 2026 season with 7 stops versus Western Michigan. His fourth-quarter interception led to the game-winning touchdown in the Wolverines' upset of Oklahoma in Week 2. Minnesota edge rusher Anthony Smith led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks last season. PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA ATHLETICS