Michael T. Mondak speaks on what every Big Ten conference team needs to do better for 2026 in football

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026, we take a deep dive on what each Big Ten conference football team needs to do better in football for 2026.  Note that I'm going in alphabetical order.

Illinois:  Do a better job in finishing games on their terms.

Indiana:  Prove that their 2025 Big Ten championship season was not a fluke.

Iowa:  Get rid of the pink visitors' locker room.  One in-conference team used to wear pink and black before 1890.

Maryland:  Do a better job recruiting in the DC/Maryland/Virginia region.  Many of the region's top recruits wind up in Happy Valley.

Michigan:  Convince all the naysayers that they can win consistently without Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines.

Michigan State:  Pat Fitzgerald needs to remind potential recruits to forget about the hazing scandal at Northwestern that he had no knowledge of that ultimately got him terminated.

Minnesota:  Do a better job promoting life in the Twin Cities.

Nebraska:  Fire Matt Rhule if they do not contend in the Big Ten.

Northwestern:  Hype up the new stadium coming in 2028.

Ohio State:  Need a new offensive coordinator.  Brian Hartline accepted the head coaching position at South Florida.

Oregon:  Extend head coach Dan Lanning's contract long term.

Penn State:  Beat Michigan.

Purdue:  Barry Odom needs to do a better job coaching in game.  7 wins in the last three seasons is unacceptable.  Barry Odom must win, or he will be the first coach to be fired in 2026.

Rutgers:  Do a better job recruiting in the New York City metropolitan area and in state.  Like Maryland above, many of the top recruits in the NYC metro area and in New Jersey wind up in Happy Valley.

UCLA:  Hype up the fact that they are now in the Big Ten and prove that their second year in the conference was not a fluke.

USC:  Hype up the fact they are now in the Big Ten.

Washington:  Sustain success in the Big Ten following their close call in the 2023 CFP National Championship.

Wisconsin:  Tune out the off-field distractions surrounding head coach Luke Fickell's job security.

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