NCAAF · 16 minutes ago

USA TODAY Ranks the Top 15 Big Ten Players: 2026 College Football Rankings

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

Now it's Your Turn! Who is the Best of the Best in the Big Ten?
Get in on the Debate: Who's the Big Ten's Best?

USA TODAY has laid out its top 15 Big Ten stars for 2026, but now it's your turn to debate the rankings!
- THE TOP DOG: Is Jeremiah Smith the unanimous #1 player in the conference, or would you take a franchise quarterback like Julian Sayin or Dante Moore at the top?
- THE OREGON TANK: The Ducks placed six players on this 15-man list. Does Eugene have the best overall roster in the country?
- THE SLEEPER: Which defensive disruptor in the 10-15 range, like Koi Perich or Rolijah Hardy, is most likely to earn consensus All-American honors this fall?
Drop your hot takes and player rankings in the comments!
USA TODAY Ranks the Big Ten's Top College Football Players
Big Ten Superstars: USA TODAY Ranks the Top 15 Players in the Conference for 2026

Predicting college football stardom is equal parts track record, raw athletic upside, and NFL draft potential. While August rankings serve as a baseline, Saturdays have a funny way of completely rewriting the narrative before December arrives. Blending career production, individual skill sets, and pro projections, USA TODAY Sports assembled its definitive board of the top 15 Big Ten players taking the field for the 2026 season.

From game-wrecking wideouts and surgical signal-callers to trench monsters and defensive ball-hawks, here are the fifteen elite talents setting the standard in the Big Ten this autumn.
15. Rolijah Hardy
Indiana | LB

Rolijah Hardy brings hard-hitting physicality and high-level diagnose speed to Indiana's defense. A tackle machine who thrives in run fits, Hardy provides the Hoosiers with an uncompromising enforcer right in the center of their defense.
14. Teitum Tuioti
Oregon | LB

Diagnosing plays almost instantly, Teitum Tuioti flies from sideline to sideline to rack up tackles and erase short-yardage options. His instincts and leadership in the middle make him the defensive heart of Eugene's front seven.
13. Iapani Laloulu
Oregon | OL

Iapani Laloulu plays with an explosive punch and relentless leverage, making him an indispensable piece of Oregon's offensive line. His versatility and toughness up front keep the Ducks' passing pocket clean and running lanes wide open.
12. Brandon Finney Jr.
Oregon | DB

Boasting length, smooth hips, and high-end top speed, Brandon Finney Jr. gives the Ducks a lockdown presence on the perimeter. His ability to erase wideout space in man-to-man coverage allows Oregon's defense to play aggressive, attack-minded coverage.
11. Koi Perich
Oregon | DB

A pure football player with lethal ball-hawking instincts, Koi Perich can completely flip momentum in a single play. Whether he's jumping passing routes for takeaways or returning kicks into enemy territory, Perich is a dynamic weapon everywhere on the field. He should transition seamlessly after coming over from Minnesota in the transfer portal.

"Perich’s playmaking ability went a bit unnoticed nationally at times, but he has six career interceptions with two forced fumbles and a sack in two seasons, and was also one of the best kick returners in the Big Ten at Minnesota."
10. Tyrique Tucker
Indiana | DL

Tyrique Tucker brings interior disruptiveness and non-stop energy to Bloomington's front four. His knack for shedding blocks quickly and penetrating backfields makes him a vital piece of the Hoosiers' defensive success.
9. Matayo Uiagalelei
Oregon | DL

A freakish athlete coming off the edge, Matayo Uiagalelei combines length, speed, and power to keep opposing tackles off-balance all afternoon. Even when he isn't racking up official sack totals, his ability to flush quarterbacks out of the pocket disrupts entire game plans.

"Uiagalelei can get to the quarterback. The senior defensive end has 18.5 career sacks with four forced fumbles in three seasons at Oregon, and is a top prospect of the 2027 NFL Draft."
8. John Henry Daley
Michigan | DL

John Henry Daley brings an unrelenting motor and a lightning-quick first step to Michigan's defensive front. Able to bend the edge and blow up backfields in a flash, he fits seamlessly into Kyle Whittingham's physical, attack-first defensive system. Daley followed his head coach via the transfer portal from Utah.
7. Jayden Maiava
USC | QB

Thriving under Lincoln Riley's offensive tutelage, Jayden Maiava has turned Southern California into a launching pad for big passing numbers. His combination of deep-ball touch, pocket mobility, and off-script playmaking gives the Trojans an explosive scoring engine every Saturday.

"Maiava returns to USC for his second season as the starter under Lincoln Riley after ranking second in college football with an 89.9 QBR in 2025. He lost his top two receivers to the NFL in Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, but the Trojans’ offense shouldn’t take much — if any — step back in 2026."
6. Kade Pieper
Iowa | OL

Carrying on Iowa's long-standing tradition of producing ruthless offensive linemen, Kade Pieper brings pure physical nastiness to every single snap. He plays through the whistle, anchors the Hawkeyes' rushing attack, and sets an uncompromising, blue-collar tone for the entire offense.
5. A'Mauri Washington
Oregon | DL

Clogging up interior run lanes while consistently collapsing the pocket, A'Mauri Washington is an absolute force in the middle of Eugene's defensive line. His raw power forces opposing offenses to commit double teams, opening pristine blitz lanes for his linebackers.
4. Carter Smith
Indiana | OL

Trench play rarely gets the viral highlight reels it deserves, but Carter Smith's dominance upfront is absolute art for offensive line purists. Serving as the physical anchor for the Hoosiers, his ability to blow open massive running lanes and set a clean pocket makes everyone around him exponentially better.

"Smith has 41 career starts and is coming off a consensus All-American season with the Hoosiers. He was also named the Big Ten’s Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2025, and bolstered an offensive line that paved the way to six 300-yard rushing games last season, a program record."
3. Dante Moore
Oregon | QB

Armed with elite vertical passing touch and a lightning-fast release, Dante Moore gives the Ducks a legitimate game-changer every time he drops back to pass. Opting to return to Eugene instead of making the NFL leap, Moore possesses the total package required to guide Oregon through a deep national title run.

"Moore was widely expected to go No. 2 overall to the New York Jets after last season, but opted to return to Oregon for his second season as the starter. The talent is undeniable, and another year of college football could be huge for his development."
2. Julian Sayin
Ohio State | QB

Conducting the Buckeyes' high-powered scoring machine with surgical precision, Julian Sayin operates like a seasoned NFL veteran under center. His ability to make rapid pre-snap reads and thread the needle on high-stakes money downs keeps Ohio State's offense performing at an elite, championship-caliber frequency.

"With another year under his belt, Sayin could be even more prolific than he was a year ago, when he passed for 3,610 yards with 32 touchdowns to eight interceptions."
1. Jeremiah Smith
Ohio State | WR

Jeremiah Smith isn't just a wide receiver; he's a defensive coordinator's worst nightmare brought to life. Blessed with an absurd blend of size, speed, and acrobatic catch radius, the Buckeye phenom makes double-coverage look like a mild inconvenience, cementing his status as the single most dominant non-quarterback in the entire country.

"The 6-3 former five-star receiver is a generational prospect coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard-plus seasons, a national championship in 2024 and a consensus All-American nod in 2025. It'd be a surprise if Smith doesn't win the Biletnikoff Award this season, especially with Sayin back at quarterback."
Now it's Your Turn! Who is the Best of the Best in the Big Ten?
Get in on the Debate: Who's the Big Ten's Best?

USA TODAY has laid out its top 15 Big Ten stars for 2026, but now it's your turn to debate the rankings!
- THE TOP DOG: Is Jeremiah Smith the unanimous #1 player in the conference, or would you take a franchise quarterback like Julian Sayin or Dante Moore at the top?
- THE OREGON TANK: The Ducks placed six players on this 15-man list. Does Eugene have the best overall roster in the country?
- THE SLEEPER: Which defensive disruptor in the 10-15 range, like Koi Perich or Rolijah Hardy, is most likely to earn consensus All-American honors this fall?
Drop your hot takes and player rankings in the comments!
USA TODAY Ranks the Big Ten's Top College Football Players
Big Ten Superstars: USA TODAY Ranks the Top 15 Players in the Conference for 2026

Predicting college football stardom is equal parts track record, raw athletic upside, and NFL draft potential. While August rankings serve as a baseline, Saturdays have a funny way of completely rewriting the narrative before December arrives. Blending career production, individual skill sets, and pro projections, USA TODAY Sports assembled its definitive board of the top 15 Big Ten players taking the field for the 2026 season.

From game-wrecking wideouts and surgical signal-callers to trench monsters and defensive ball-hawks, here are the fifteen elite talents setting the standard in the Big Ten this autumn.