Preseason expectations set the stage
The USA TODAY Network’s 2026 Big Ten preseason poll has already sparked conversation among fans and analysts, revealing how the conference’s power balance is reshaping early forecasts.
Ohio State emerges as the clear favorite, garnering eleven first‑place votes and positioning itself as the team to beat as the league prepares for another competitive season.
Close behind the Buckeyes, Oregon secures a projected second‑place finish with five first‑place votes, while Indiana, the reigning national champion, rounds out the top three, underscoring the depth of talent across the conference.
Iowa, despite being placed eighth, is not overlooked. The Hawkeyes boast two offensive linemen — Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck — who earned spots on the 2026 preseason All‑Big Ten team, a testament to the unit’s continuity and excellence.
Both Pieper and Lauck were starters on last season’s Joe Moore Award‑winning line, and they now face the challenge of replacing three departing starters who were all drafted into the 2026 NFL Draft.
Defensive back Zach Lutmer also received preseason All‑Big Ten honors after leading the team with three interceptions — including a pick‑six against Minnesota — and ranking fourth in total tackles last year.
At the tight end position, DJ Vonnahme was named honorable mention on the preseason team, having topped the Hawkeyes in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns during the 2025 campaign, including a strong finish with 370 yards over the final five games.
The upcoming Big Ten Media Days will feature Iowa’s player representatives — Lutmer, Addison Ostrenga and Jayden Montgomery — who will help shape the narrative around the team’s prospects and the broader conference storylines.