Way Too Early 2026-27 Big Ten Conference Rankings
Updated: Jul 25
The Big Ten is one of the deepest and most competitive conferences in college basketball, featuring a mix of established powers, high-turnover teams, and programs reloading heavily through the transfer portal after the 2025-26 season. These rankings are ordered primarily by projected 2026-27 strength, with heavy emphasis on 2025-26 KenPom offensive efficiency where available, returning production, net portal impact, and specific player movement (including PPG, RPG, APG, shooting splits, and awards). Each team includes both offense and defense context.
1. Illinois Fighting Illini
Net Change: Neutral to better. Strong continuity from a Final Four run.
Biggest additions:
Stefan Vaaks (Providence transfer, 15.8 PPG as a freshman, nearly 3 three-pointers per game)
Biggest losses: Keaton Wagler to the NBA.
Illinois returns three players who logged 28+ minutes in the Final Four against UConn plus starter Jake Davis. Combined with the elite offense from a season ago and the addition of a proven shooter in Vaaks, they enter as clear favorites with one of the best offensive baselines in the country.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
Net Change: Neutral to better. Quality frontcourt and perimeter additions.
Biggest additions:
Aiden Sherell and Samet Yigitolu (proven big men and March winners)
Markus Burton (Notre Dame transfer, 20+ PPG scorer)
Bryce Lindsay (Villanova transfer, helped the Wildcats compete near the top of the Big East with a top-40 KenPom offense and defense)
Biggest losses: limited major departures
Indiana reloads with experienced, winning bigs and high-level scorers/playmakers from strong programs. They should be firmly in the upper tier.
3. Michigan Wolverines
Net Change: Worse. Significant turnover but strong defensive-minded additions.
Biggest additions:
JP Estrella and Moustapha Thiam (each helped their prior teams to top-15 KenPom defenses)
Return of starting guard Elliot Cadeau (from their championship team)
Biggest losses: Head coach Dusty May and three starters to the NBA lottery.
Michigan lost significant production and leadership but countered with high-level defensive transfers and a key returning piece from their title run. They remain dangerous but face an adjustment period.
4. Michigan State Spartans
Net Change: Neutral. Strong returning core but offensive questions remain.
Biggest additions: Limited high-major portal activity noted.
Biggest losses: Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler to the NBA.
Michigan State returns Jeremy Fears Jr. (led NCAA in assists at 9.4 APG), third-leading scorer Coen Carr, and Kur Teng (38.1% from three). The big question is whether they have enough offensive firepower after finishing only 23rd in KenPom offense a season ago.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Net Change: Neutral to better. Strong returning scoring duo on a top-tier defensive foundation.
Biggest additions: Limited major portal activity noted.
Biggest losses: Limited major departures noted.
Nebraska returns its leading scorer Pryce Sandfort and third-leading scorer Braden Frager. Coming off an 8th-ranked KenPom defense, this group has the foundation to compete near the top of the conference.
6. USC Trojans
Net Change: Neutral to better. High-upside returning pieces plus championship experience.
Biggest additions:
Eric Reibe (UConn transfer, played in all of UConn’s March Madness games including the championship game one season ago)
Biggest losses: limited major departures.
With hopeful full seasons from Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas plus the addition of a battle-tested center in Reibe, USC has the talent to contend near the top of the Big Ten
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
Net Change: Neutral to better. Solid returning production plus veteran and high-upside additions.
Biggest additions:
Justin Pippen (veteran guard)
Josh Ojianwuna (big man)
Anthony Thompson (5-star freshman wing)
Biggest losses: Bruce Thornton to the NBA.
Ohio State returns John Mobley Jr. (15.7 PPG as a sophomore) and Amare Bynum. They were already 17th in KenPom offense and won a March game; the additions of experienced guards/big and elite freshman talent should provide seamless experience and wing depth.
8. Purdue Boilermakers
Net Change: Neutral to worse. Massive turnover from the nation’s top offense.
Biggest additions:
Caden Piece (2024 Ivy League Player of the Year)
Biggest losses: Significant turnover including Braden Smith, Fletcher Lawyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn (multiple key contributors departed).
Purdue was the #1 offense nationally a season ago but faces enormous roster turnover. The newer pieces who will receive major rotation minutes bring size (especially Jacobsen), backcourt talent, and proven production from transfer Caden Piece. This is the biggest unknown in the conference — if it meshes, they could be a surprise national contender.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes
Net Change: Neutral. New-look roster under new leadership.
Biggest additions:
Ty’Reek Coleman (Illinois State transfer, 10 PPG on 50% FG and 41.6% from three as a freshman)
Biggest losses: Significant turnover including Bennett Stirtz
With 2nd year head coach Ben McCollum, Iowa adds a promising young guard in Coleman who could develop into a high-impact player similar to other transfers who thrived in March under McCollum’s system.
10. UCLA Bruins
Net Change: Neutral. Solid guard/wing additions.
Biggest additions:
Jaylen Petty (Texas Tech transfer, 9.9 PPG as a freshman)
Filip Jovic (Auburn transfer, helped win NIT, 64% FG)
Biggest losses: Tyler Bilodeau
UCLA brings in experienced guard talent and efficient shooters/forwards. Trent Perry (12.6 PPG, 39.6% from three a season ago) will bring continuity rarely seen these days in college basketball as he enters his third season for the program. They should be competitive in the middle of the conference.
11. Wisconsin Badgers
Net Change: Neutral to worse. Significant turnover in key contributors.
Biggest additions: Trey Autry (11.0 PPG on 38.5% from three at George Washington and Eian Elmer (12.7 PPG on 42.9% from three at Miami Ohio)
Biggest losses: John Blackwell and Nick Boyd.
Wisconsin brings in efficient deep-range shooting through the duo of Trey Autry and Eian Elmer and a very new roster. They will rely heavily on those two for spacing and scoring.
12. Maryland Terrapins
Net Change: Neutral. Reliance on veteran leadership.
Biggest additions: Limited major portal activity noted.
Biggest losses: Limited major departures noted.
Maryland will look to returning big man and fifth-year starter Pharel Payne (17.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG) to lead the way and keep them competitive.
13. Washington Huskies
Net Change: Neutral to worse. Need for improved shooting and production.
Biggest additions:
LeJuan Watts (Texas Tech transfer)
Biggest losses: Returning main scoring guards had poor shooting splits last season.
Washington will lean on LeJuan Watts to provide stability and scoring while hoping for better efficiency from returning guards.
14. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Net Change: Neutral to better. Quality transfers to boost the roster.
Biggest additions:
Kyan Evans (UNC transfer)
Malick Kordel (Michigan national champion transfer)
Biggest losses: Limited major departures noted.
Minnesota adds experienced transfers from strong programs and will look to them for an immediate lift.
15. Oregon Ducks
Net Change: Neutral. Additions from efficient offensive teams.
Biggest additions:
Andrew Meadow (Boise State transfer)
Dwayne Aristode (Arizona transfer) — both from teams that finished in the top 75 KenPom offenses
Biggest losses: Jackson Shelstad to Louisville.
Under Dana Altman, Oregon adds pieces from proven offensive systems and will aim to stay out of the bottom of the conference and push back toward contention.
16. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Net Change: Neutral. Heavy reliance on returning scorer.
Biggest additions: Limited major portal activity noted.
Biggest losses: Limited major departures noted.
Rutgers finished outside the top 150 in offense and top 100 in defense last season. Tariq Francis (17 PPG) will likely need to carry a heavy load again.
17. Northwestern Wildcats
Net Change: Neutral to worse. Loss of primary scorer but strong coaching continuity.
Biggest additions: Limited major portal activity noted.
Biggest losses: Leading scorer Nick Martinelli (23 PPG).
Northwestern lost its leading scorer but head coach Chris Collins has kept the program consistently inside the top 100 KenPom rankings for nearly a decade (only one exception in the last 10 seasons). They should remain competitive.
18. Penn State Nittany Lions
Net Change: Neutral to better. Shooting upgrade on a poor defensive foundation.
Biggest additions:
Brant Byers (Miami Ohio transfer, 14 PPG, 39.2% from three)
Biggest losses: Limited major departures noted.
Penn State had a below-average offense (#93) and very poor defense (#230) last season. The addition of elite shooter Brant Byers should help spacing and competitiveness.
Big Ten Big Picture for 2026-27
Illinois enters as the clear favorite thanks to their elite #2 KenPom offense from a season ago, strong Final Four continuity, and the addition of Stefan Vaaks. Indiana and Michigan are right behind with quality additions and returning talent. Purdue is the ultimate wildcard — coming off the nation’s #1 offense but with massive turnover, their size and new pieces could make them a surprise national contender if everything clicks. The middle of the conference (Ohio State, Nebraska, USC, UCLA, etc.) looks very competitive. Lower-tier teams like Rutgers, Penn State, and Washington will need significant improvement or breakout performances from key returners/transfers to climb the standings. Expect 8–10 NCAA Tournament bids, with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State as the top contenders for the conference title and deep March runs. Purdue has the highest ceiling for a surprise run.
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