Updated Big Ten football 2026 team recruiting rankings (July 18)

The class of 2026 recruiting cycle has quieted over the last few weeks. Official visits have concluded, plus most of the class' top recruits have announced their verbal commitments.

July is college football's closest thing to a month off in today's age. There are no bowl games, no transfer portal window, no training camp practice and, for these purposes, no recruiting visits or contact. The closest thing to news that we get is a commitment or two and the start of dedicated season preparation.

That preparation will pick up significantly next week, as the Big Ten holds its media days in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 22-24. Wisconsin is one of six programs scheduled for Wednesday, July 23's session

Before that date turns full focus to the fast-approaching season, it's worth taking a few late-summer looks at the Big Ten team recruiting rankings for the class of 2026. The rankings are close to final, with limited commitments trickling in throughout the month.

Updated Big Ten football class of 2026 team recruiting rankings (July 18)

1. USC Trojans
   • Class Recap: 31 commits, 21 blue-chip (one five-star), 92.14 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 1
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
   • Class Recap: 20 commits, 15 blue-chip (two five-stars), 46 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 7
3. Oregon Ducks
   • Class Recap: 15 commits, 13 blue-chip (two five-stars), 93.77 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 9
4. Michigan Wolverines
   • Class Recap: 21 commits, 14 blue-chip, 90.88 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 11
5. Penn State Nittany Lions
   • Class Recap: 24 commits, 12 blue-chip, 89.16 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 16
6. Washington Huskies 
   • Class Recap: 18 commits, seven blue-chip (one five-star), 88.62 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 19
7. UCLA Bruins
   • Class Recap: 23 commits, three blue-chip, 87.71 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 21
8. Illinois Fighting Illini
   • Class Recap: 23 commits, five blue-chip, 87.93 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 22
9. Minnesota Golden Gophers
   • Class Recap: 24 commits, four blue-chip, 87.32 average player rating
   • National Ranking: No. 25
10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    • Class Recap: 21 commits, four blue-chip, 87.47 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 27
11. Indiana Hoosiers
    • Class Recap: 22 commits, four blue-chip, 87.38 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 29
12. Michigan State Spartans
    • Class Recap: 22 commits, three blue-chip, 87.11 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 32
13. Purdue Boilermakers
    • Class Recap: 20 commits, zero blue-chip, 86.68 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 47
14. Iowa Hawkeyes 
    • Class Recap: 14 commits, five blue-chip, 88.41 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 51
15. Wisconsin Badgers
    • Class Recap: 15 commits, two blue-chip, 87.68 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 53
16. Northwestern Wildcats
    • Class Recap: 17 commits, zero blue-chip, 86.02 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 62
17. Maryland Terrapins
    • Class Recap: 12 commits, two blue-chips (one five-star), 88.32 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 64
18. Nebraska Cornhuskers
    • Class Recap: 12 commits, three blue-chip, 88.20 average player rating
    • National Ranking: No. 66

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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Big Ten football 2026 recruiting rankings update in late July