Big Ten football teams ranked by returning production for 2026

They say you get better at football by playing football, and you can’t teach experience. Generally, but not always, the more experienced a team is, the more likely it is to succeed. That’s not always the case (bad experience can beget bad experience), but it often is reliable.

For instance, in 2023, Michigan football had the fifth-most returning experience in the country, and it parlayed that into a national championship. However, last year, Illinois had the third most in the country, and it didn’t exactly have the season it expected, going 9-4 and coming in seventh in the Big Ten. However, most of the time, it does indicate something of a leg up.

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ESPN’s Bill Connelly revealed his 2026 returning production series, and the Big Ten looks to be the most experienced of any conference, with four teams in the top 10, another four from 11-20, with an overall percentage of 59.2%. He has four teams who are likely to improve (Oregon, Michigan, USC, and Washington) and only one expected to devolve (Iowa).

With that said, here is how every Big Ten team ranks, as well as how they rank against each other:

Overall

It will be interesting to see what Maryland does with a second-year quarterback and so many returning players, while teams like Minnesota could surprise compared to expectations. Indiana, the defending national champion, could take a step back, while Penn State and Michigan State have uphill battles after coaching changes, with so much inexperience.

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But Connelly also has rated how each team will fare on either side of the ball. Here is how the offense and defenses rank against each other as well as nationally.

By offense

Again, extremely top-heavy, but this time on offense. Several of the top teams have returning quarterbacks, to boot, but the top three teams have new offensive coordinators to go along with all of their returning talent on that side of the ball.

On the defensive side of the ball, it’s not quite so experienced, as it turns out.

By defense

Only a few of the teams have balance with the returning experience, and much of the conference is inexperienced compared to their compatriots. What’s interesting to see is that though both Michigan and Ohio State have among the top returning offenses in the country and the conference, the Wolveirnes are middling in the Big Ten, while the Buckeyes are among the most experienced on that side of the ball.

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This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Big Ten football teams ranked by returning experience