Big Ten Basketball 2026-27 Season Record Predictions

Big Ten basketball starts today! We have the usual preseason predictions from the staff thanks to the extremely well made spreadsheet by MNWildcat. Unfortunately, MNWildcat has been too ill to focus long enough to rattle off his own predictions so he falls off after 1.5 teams. Meanwhile, our otter in chief couldn't be bothered to think about basketball. So, while we have picks from six different writers (a new high!) there is a fairly high percentage of predictors with Purdue alliances. Perhaps that threw things off, perhaps it didn't.

Without much further ado, please see our regular season predictions for all 18 Big Ten teams, along with links to each team's preview article. Make your own predictions in the comments and be sure to complain about our lack of faith in your team. I'm sure most of us are willing to defend our predictions in the comments, but unfortunately your Boilerbot pulled together this article series a little too late to solicit those comments for the article itself.

Illinois Fighting Illini

Average 25.9-6.1 (15.6-4.4 in Big Ten)
High: 28-4 (17-3 in Big Ten), glassjawed
Low: 25-7 (14-6 in Big Ten), MaximumSam
Non-conference schedule grade: C+

The Illini were a popular pick to win the conference and have the highest average win/loss record in the conference. HoustonBoiler, Kind of..., and glassjawed all predict that Illinois will win more games than anyone else.

Indiana Hoosiers

Average 20.2-11.8 (10.1-9.9 in Big Ten)
High: 23-9 (13-7 in Big Ten), MaximumSam
Low: 18-14 (9-11 in Big Ten), RUReady4Brazil
Non-conference schedule grade: C-

I'm just going to assume MNWildcat has Indiana going 0-12 in the non-conference.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Average 19.2-12.8 (10.8-9.2 in Big Ten)
High: 21-11 (12-8 in Big Ten), MaximumSam
Low: 18-14 (9-11 in Big Ten), BoilerUp89
Non-conference schedule grade: C

Maryland Terrapins

Average 19.7-12.3 (10.5-9.5 in Big Ten)
High: 22-10 (14-6 in Big Ten), MaximumSam
Low: 17-15 (9-11 in Big Ten), glassjawed
Non-conference schedule grade: B

Michigan Wolverines

Average 22.5=9.5 (13.5-6.5 in Big Ten)
High: 25-7 (15-5 in Big Ten), HoustonBoiler
Low: 20-12 (10-10 in Big Ten), Kind of...
Non-conference schedule grade: A+

Michigan had one vote to win the conference (RUReady4Brazil).

Michigan State Spartans

Average 25.0-7.0 (15.2-4.8 in Big Ten)
High: 26-6 (16-4 in Big Ten), BoilerUp89 & glassjawed
Low: 24-8 (14-6 in Big Ten), Kind of... & RUReady4Brazil
Non-conference schedule grade: D+

MaximumSam & BoilerUp89 both believe that Sparty will take home the regular season trophy.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Average 20.3-11.7 (10.3-9.7 in Big Ten)
High: 22-10 (11-9 in Big Ten)/21-11 (12-8 in Big Ten), Kind of.../glassjawed
Low: 19-13 (9-11 in Big Ten), RUReady4Brazil
Non-conference schedule grade: C

It appears glassjawed thinks some tough non-conference losses will supercharge Minnesota's team and they finish the season better than they begin it.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Average 22.2-9.8 (11.7-8.3 in Big Ten)
High: 24-8 (12-8 in Big Ten)/ 23-9 (13-7 in Big Ten), BoilerUp89/glassjawed, Kind of..., & RUReady4Brazil
Low: 20-12 (10-10 in Big Ten), MaximumSam & HoustonBoiler
Non-conference schedule grade: C

BoilerUp89 believes Nebraska'a non-conference schedule is weak, while others are more optimistic about their Big Ten slate.

Northwestern Wildcats

Average 13.0-19.0 (5.0-15.0 in Big Ten)
High: 14-18 (6-14 in Big Ten), glassjawed
Low: 12-20 (4-16 in Big Ten), MaximumSam & Kind of...
Non-conference schedule grade: C-

The average here was undoubtedly hurt by MNWildcat's absence.

The Ohio State Buckeyes

Average 19.0-13.0 (10.3-9.7 in Big Ten)
High: 20-12 (11-9 in Big Ten), MaximumSam & HoustonBoiler
Low: 18-14 (9-11 in Big Ten), RUReady4Brazil
Non-conference schedule grade: C

Oregon Ducks

Average 10.7-21.0 (3.3-16.7 in Big Ten)
High: 12-18 (6-14 in Big Ten), Kind of...
Low: 8-24 (1-19 in Big Ten), glassjawed
Non-conference schedule grade: C

Kind of... predicted that Oregon would play just 30 games this season. Interesting that he believes they will cancel two non-conference games. If it happens, we burn the witch.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Average 12.5-19.5 (4.3-15.7 in Big Ten)
High: 15-17 (6-14 in Big Ten), Kind of...
Low: 11-21 (3-17 in Big Ten), MaximumSam, HoustonBoiler, & RUReady4Brazil
Non-conference schedule grade: D-

Purdue Boilermakers

Average 20.7-11.3 (12.2-7.8 in Big Ten)
High: 21-11 (14-6) in Big Ten), RUReady4Brazil
Low: 19-13 (11-9 in Big Ten), BoilerUp89
Non-conference schedule grade: B+

BoilerUp89: Honestly, I thought I was being optimistic. Pass me whatever the rest of you are drinking.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Average 10.3-21.7 (4.2-15.8 in Big Ten)
High: 15-17 (7-13 in Big Ten), RUReady4Brazil
Low: 7-25 (1-19 in Big Ten), glassjawed
Non-conference schedule grade: C-

BoilerUp89: I'm almost certain that my total for Rutgers is a mistake... they aren't going 4-8 in the non-conference with that sorry excuse for a schedule. However, I'm also too lazy to fix the graphic or the numbers as I proofread this article while watching Liberty/High Point wrap up. Go ahead and assume I meant they go 8-4 in the non-conference and had a moment of mathematical dyslexia.

UCLA Bruins

Average 24.3-7.7 (13.8-6.2 in Big Ten)
High: 26-6 (15-5 in Big Ten), glassjawed
Low: 12-8 (22-10 in Big Ten), Kind of...
Non-conference schedule grade: C/Incomplete

Southern Cal Trojans

Average 21.3-10.7 (11.0-9.0 in Big Ten)
High: 23-9 (12-8 in Big Ten), BoilerUp89
Low: 19-13 (9-11 in Big Ten), RUReady4Brazil
Non-conference schedule grade: B

Washington Huskies

Average 12.2-18.8 (5.3-14.7 in Big Ten)
High: 16-16 (8-12 in Big Ten), Kind of...
Low: 11-20 (4-16 in Big Ten), glassjawed & MaximumSam
Non-conference schedule grade: F

Kind of... & RUReady4Brazil appear to believe that Washington will schedule their 32nd game at some point. Perhaps they will. Certainly a possibility.

Wisconsin Badgers

Average 21.8-10.2 (12.5-7.5 in Big Ten)
High: 24-8 (13-7 in Big Ten), BoilerUp89
Low: 21-11 (12-8 in Big Ten), MaximumSam, HoustonBoiler, & Kind of...
Non-conference schedule grade: B+