2026 Big Ten Media Days put Penn State and the SEC rivalry on center stage
Penn State, USC and Wisconsin faced pressure questions in Chicago as Tony Petitti pushed back on SEC schedule chatter.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
The 2026 Big Ten Media Days opened in Chicago with Penn State’s fresh start, USC’s playoff pressure and commissioner Tony Petitti’s SEC comments driving the first wave of college football talk, according to CBS Sports.
The league arrived after three straight national championships, and the mood around the event reflected a conference no longer ducking comparisons with the SEC. Petitti told reporters that the rivalry between the leagues is good for fans, while also rejecting the idea that the middle of the Big Ten is soft.
What were the biggest 2026 Big Ten Media Days takeaways?
Penn State drew attention because Matt Campbell is entering his first season with a roster he knows unusually well. CBS Sports reported that half of the projected starting lineup is made up of former Iowa State players, giving Campbell built-in familiarity after leaving the Cyclones.
The Nittany Lions also have a schedule break. CBS Sports noted Penn State is the only Big Ten team that does not face Ohio State, Oregon or Indiana in the regular season, creating a path to nine wins or more if the rebuilt roster clicks.
Campbell said his focus has been culture and fit, telling reporters that “the right people with the right value” have been a priority over the last six months. He also said only a “perfect opportunity” could have pulled him away from Iowa State, and he viewed Penn State that way.
USC coach Lincoln Riley faced a different kind of heat. CBS Sports reported that the Trojans bring back a nation-leading 15 starters and signed the nation’s top recruiting class, but the program is still seeking its first College Football Playoff appearance since the postseason expanded in 2014.
Riley said playoff-level pressure is what USC should feel like, adding that he expects to compete for championships every year. He also said this team is better equipped than his previous USC teams, pointing to alignment and momentum inside the program.
A College Football Playoff spot now means making the 12-team bracket. For USC, CBS Sports framed that as the clearest measuring stick for Riley after staff changes that included hiring defensive coordinator Gary Patterson.
What did Tony Petitti say about the SEC?
Petitti said he spoke with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey five times before his Tuesday appearance, with their conversations covering the Protect College Sports Act and broader college football issues, according to CBS Sports.
He said fans enjoy the Big Ten-SEC rivalry and that more games between the conferences would be good from a fan perspective. Petitti also described his working relationship with Sankey in positive terms, even as the two leagues remain central figures in College Football Playoff expansion debate.
The Big Ten has supported a 24-team playoff model, CBS Sports reported. Sankey recently floated the idea of the SEC breaking away from the NCAA, according to the same report.
Petitti pushed back on SEC strength-of-schedule arguments that surfaced during SEC Media Days in Tampa, saying the idea that the middle of the Big Ten is not difficult “is not right.”
Elsewhere in Chicago, Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell admitted the last two seasons have fallen short of the program’s standard and said the Badgers are “going in a different direction.” CBS Sports reported Wisconsin added 33 transfers and opens against Notre Dame before facing Penn State and Michigan State in its first five games.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema said transfer rules and revenue sharing have changed roster building across the sport. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said the Scarlet Knights have their deepest and most talented roster since he returned, while Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said the Hawkeyes have not decided between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski at quarterback.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.