Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten has enacted a basketball-specific rule barring players who have signed professional contracts from competing in the conference. Under the new policy, former pros will be ineligible to play Big Ten basketball, a move with implications for college rosters as the line between college and professional basketball blurs.

The Big Ten has adopted a basketball-specific rule prohibiting players who have signed professional contracts with the NBA, G League or WNBA from competing in conference college basketball. The measure blocks former professionals, including those who signed deals after entering the transfer portal, from returning to college rosters. It marks one of the most explicit conference-level restrictions on ex-professional players and is likely to shape recruiting and transfer decisions across the league.

No. 13 Penn State begins its Big Ten conference schedule with a matchup against Wisconsin. Coverage focuses on how to watch the game, key storylines entering the contest, and predictions for the outcome. The game draws attention as an early conference test for the ranked Nittany Lions.

The Big Ten has adopted a rule preventing professional basketball players from returning to play college basketball within the conference. The move addresses the growing intersection of professional and college pathways in men's college basketball, and it is drawing attention across the sports world as conferences weigh how to handle players with pro experience amid shifting NCAA rules.

No. 17 Iowa faces No. 18 Michigan in a ranked Big Ten college football matchup at Michigan Stadium, known as the Big House. Both teams enter with strong records, making the game a key test in the conference race. Betting outlets are heavily promoting the game, with predictions, picks and odds drawing wide attention, and the matchup is trending in US search rankings as fans weigh the evenly matched sides.

The Big Ten has enacted a new rule restricting professional athletes, according to a report from Purdue's student newspaper. The measure, which concerns eligibility or participation of professional players in conference competition, is drawing attention as college sports continue to grapple with the blurred lines between amateur and professional status. Details of the rule's scope and enforcement were not immediately available, and reactions from member schools and athletes are still emerging.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke with reporters ahead of the fifth-ranked Buckeyes' road matchup against 14th-ranked Iowa. The comments came as the team prepared for a ranked Big Ten clash on the road, with reporters including Reilly Cahill covering Day's remarks. Fans are weighing Ohio State's chances against a tough Iowa side.

The Big Ten conference has voiced its support for the US Senate's decision to pass the Protect College Sports Act, a piece of legislation concerning college athletics. The endorsement, reported by Ohio State's student newspaper The Lantern, signals the conference's alignment with the federal measure. The full scope of the act and what its passage means for college sports programs has not yet been detailed.

The Athletic has published a review of the college football season so far, naming one surprise and one disappointment for each of the Power 4 conference programs. The piece runs through teams across the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC, assessing which contenders and strugglers have defied or fallen short of preseason expectations at the midpoint of the 2026 campaign.

Attention is turning to Illinois's weekend matchup against Purdue in Big Ten college football, with debate over whether the game is a must-win for the Illini. Commentators are weighing what a loss would mean for Illinois's conference and postseason hopes as the season reaches a critical stage.