The Big Ten has 18 football members in 2026, unchanged since Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington joined in 2024 and stretched the conference from New Jersey to the Pacific. It is one of the Power Four conferences, and its champion is decided in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis in early December.
2026 college football
Every Big Ten football team
18 members, alphabetical, with nickname and state.
IllinoisFighting Illini
IL
IndianaHoosiers
IN
IowaHawkeyes
IA
MarylandTerrapins
MD
MichiganWolverines
MI
Michigan StateSpartans
MI
MinnesotaGolden Gophers
MN
NebraskaCornhuskers
NE
NorthwesternWildcats
IL
Ohio StateBuckeyes
OH
OregonDucks
OR
Penn StateNittany Lions
PA
PurdueBoilermakers
IN
RutgersScarlet Knights
NJ
UCLABruins
CA
USCTrojans
CA
WashingtonHuskies
WA
WisconsinBadgers
WI
Membership is for the 2026 season, effective July 1, 2026, and is updated when realignment changes it.
Big Ten Football at a Glance
| Members in 2026 | 18 |
| Subdivision | FBS, Power Four |
| Championship game | Early December 2026 |
Related
Every FBS team by conference · College football standings · AP Top 25 · College football TV schedule · FCS teams by conference
2026 membership as listed in ESPN’s 2026 realignment guide.