The Big Ten is once again proving to be the home to some of the top teams in the country as the men’s college basketball season hits the midpoint of January. Soon enough, the focus will shift to the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament in Chicago and the NCAA tournament after that. The race for the top spot in the conference is certainly heating up with some expected contenders like Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois, but the Nebraska Cornhuskers continue to dazzle this season as the only unbeaten team left standing in the conference. In fact, Nebraska is one of just three unbeaten teams left standing in Division 1, joining Arizona of the Big 12 and Miami Ohio in the MAC.
Unlike last season, this year’s Big Ten men’s basketball tournament will include all 18 members. Last year’s tournament was limited to the top 15 schools after the conference expanded with the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington. So that may be good news for a school like Penn State, which missed the Big Ten tournament a year ago.
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Here are the updated Big Ten men’s basketball standings through January 18, 2026. Rankings reflected are from the most recent USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
|
Big Ten |
Overall |
|
|
No. 10 Nebraska |
7-0 |
18-0 |
|
No. 5 Purdue |
7-0 |
17-1 |
|
No. 3 Michigan |
6-1 |
16-1 |
|
No. 12 Michigan State |
6-1 |
16-2 |
|
No. 13 Illinois |
6-1 |
15-3 |
|
5-2 |
13-5 |
|
|
4-3 |
12-5 |
|
|
UCLA |
4-3 |
12-6 |
|
Minnesota |
3-4 |
10-8 |
|
3-4 |
14-4 |
|
|
No. 23 Iowa |
3-4 |
13-5 |
|
Indiana |
3-4 |
12-6 |
|
2-5 |
10-8 |
|
|
Rutgers |
2-5 |
9-9 |
|
1-6 |
8-10 |
|
|
Maryland |
1-6 |
8-10 |
|
0-7 |
9-9 |
|
|
Northwestern |
0-7 |
8-10 |
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State stuck at bottom of updated Big Ten basketball standings
