Big Ten Dominates Early 2026 College Football Rankings

Ohio State and Oregon lead the way as the Big Ten asserts its control over the sport

Mar. 28, 2026 at 12:35am

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The latest SP+ rankings have the Big Ten firmly in control of college football, with Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana all ranked in the top 5. The SEC still has depth, with 7 teams in the top 15, but the Big Ten appears poised to continue its recent dominance of the College Football Playoff.

Why it matters

The shift in power away from the SEC and towards the Big Ten has major implications for the upcoming 2026 season. With three of the top 5 teams hailing from the Big Ten, the conference is set to be the center of attention in the race for the playoff. This could also impact the strength of schedule debate, as Big Ten teams face each other week after week.

The details

The SP+ rankings, a respected advanced metric system, have Ohio State ranked #1, Oregon #2, and defending champion Indiana #5. The SEC still has impressive depth, with 7 teams in the top 15, including Georgia at #4, Texas at #6, and LSU at #10. However, the Big Ten appears to have the clear top teams, with 5 in the top 14. Powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana are expected to once again be in the College Football Playoff mix.

  • The 2026 college football season is just a few months away, with teams set to start fall practices soon.
  • The latest SP+ rankings, which incorporate returning talent, recruiting, and coaching changes, were just released for the 2026 season.

The players

Ohio State

The Buckeyes are ranked #1 in the early 2026 SP+ rankings, establishing them as the team to beat in the Big Ten and nationally.

Oregon

The Ducks are ranked #2 in the SP+ rankings, giving the Pac-12 a top contender to challenge the Big Ten's dominance.

Indiana

The defending national champion Hoosiers are ranked #5 in the early 2026 rankings, showing they are poised to make another playoff run.

Georgia

The Bulldogs are the highest-ranked SEC team at #4, maintaining the conference's status as a national power.

Bill Connelly

The creator of the respected SP+ ranking system, which is being used to evaluate the 2026 college football landscape.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard to believe, but somehow we're just a few months away from college football teams starting fall practices ahead of the 2026 regular season. And the end of the 2025-2026 postseason confirmed that the balance of power in the sport has conclusively shifted.”

— Ian Miller, Author

“Well, the first edition of one of the sport's best ranking systems has officially been released, and it's already indicating that the Big Ten may be in the driver's seat to make it four in a row.”

— Ian Miller, Author

What’s next

As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on the Big Ten powerhouses like Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana to see if they can continue their recent dominance of the College Football Playoff. The strength of schedule debate will also be a major storyline, as Big Ten teams face each other week after week.

The takeaway

The balance of power in college football appears to have shifted decisively towards the Big Ten, with the conference poised to continue its recent stranglehold on the playoff. While the SEC still has impressive depth, the top of the Big Ten looks primed to lead the sport in 2026 and beyond.