RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Big Ten arrives in Chicago for media days this month carrying college football's heavyweight belt.
Three consecutive national championships from three different programs -- Michigan , Ohio State and Indiana -- have flipped college football's power structure and given the league unmatched bragging rights entering the 2026 season. That championship streak will frame every conversation inside the Hilton Chicago, where expectations are soaring across an 18-team conference loaded with legitimate playoff threats.
Curt Cignetti sits atop the summit after completing Indiana's improbable rise, while Ryan Day, Dan Lanning and Lincoln Riley remain among the sport's most scrutinized power brokers. Add proven program-builders such as Matt Campbell, Kyle Whittingham, Jedd Fisch and Kirk Ferentz, and there's not a deeper collection of accomplished coaches anywhere in the country.
Big Ten Media Days are no longer simply a Midwest football gathering. This is a three-day summit for the conference currently dictating the national conversation. Quarterback battles, championship expectations and the pressure attached to several high-profile jobs will dominate the week, but the league's central message is already obvious: The road to another national championship still runs through the Big Ten and everyone else is trying to catch up.
Here's a look at where to watch 2026 Big Ten Media Days, along with a breakdown of the full appearance schedule ahead of the anticipated event.
Dates: July 28-30 Location: Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue | Chicago, Illinois TV: Big Ten Network
Illinois (11:30 a.m.) -- Bret Bielema | Matthew Bailey , DB; Juice Clarke , DB; Katin Houser , QB
Iowa (11:45 a.m.) -- Kirk Ferentz | Zach Lutmer , DB; Jayden Montgomery , LB; Addison Ostrenga , TE
Penn State (Noon) -- Matt Campbell | Rocco Becht , QB; Anthony Donkoh , OL; Tony Rojas , LB
Rutgers (12:15 p.m.) -- Greg Schiano | Kwabena Asamoah , OL; KJ Duff , WR; Antwan Raymond , RB
USC (12:30 p.m.) -- Lincoln Riley | Jide Abasiri , DT; Jayden Maiava , QB; Alex VanSumeren , DT
Wisconsin (12:45 p.m.) -- Luke Fickell | Chris Brooks, WR; Sebastian Cheeks , LB; Matthew Jung , S
Michigan State (11:30 a.m.) -- Pat Fitzgerald | Jordan Hall , LB; Nikai Martinez , S; Alessio Milivojevic , QB
Minnesota (11:45 a.m.) -- P.J. Fleck | Maverick Baranowski , LB; Drake Lindsey , QB; Anthony Smith , DL
Ohio State (Noon) -- Ryan Day | Jaylen McClain , S; Julian Sayin , QB; Jeremiah Smith , WR
Oregon (12:15 p.m.) -- Dan Lanning | Teitum Tuioti , OLB; Dante Moore , QB, Jamari Johnson , TE
Purdue (12:30 p.m.) -- Barry Odom | Ryan Browne , QB; Charles Correa , LB; De'Nylon Morrissette , WR
UCLA (12:45 p.m.) -- Bob Chesney | Nico Iamaleava , QB; Cole Martin , DB; Samuel Omosigho, LB
Indiana (11:30 a.m.) -- Curt Cignetti | Isaiah Jones , LB; Carter Smith , OL; Tyrique Tucker , DL
Maryland (11:45 a.m.) -- Mike Locksley | Malik Washington , QB; Daniel Wingate , LB; Michael Hershey , OL
Michigan (Noon) -- Kyle Whittingham | Jordan Marshall , RB; Trey Pierce , DT; Bryce Underwood , QB
Nebraska (12:15 p.m.) -- Matt Rhule | Luke Lindenmeyer , TE; Justin Evans , C; Andrew Marshall , CB
Northwestern (12:30 p.m.) -- David Braun | Robert Fitzgerald , DB; Caleb Komolafe , RB; Griffin Wilde , WR
Washington (12:45 p.m.) -- Jedd Fisch | Landen Hatchett , C; Jacob Manu , ILB; Demond Williams Jr. , QB
Three national titles and counting: The biggest questions facing each Big Ten team at 2026 media days
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