The UCLA Bruins are on the board, snagging four votes in the very first USA TODAY Sports US LBM Coaches Poll of the 2026 season after their Week 1 triumph over the California Golden Bears. While it might not be the haul they saw in the Associated Press’ Top-25, head coach Bob Chesney’s squad became the fourth Big Ten team to get some love from the voters without actually cracking the top 25. This poll is wild, and our own No. 19 Washington Huskies are right in the thick of it.
Big Ten Shake-Up: Who’s Flying and Who’s Falling
UCLA’s four votes put them squarely as the No. 12 team in the Big Ten based on this poll, joining Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota as unranked conference teams who still got some respect. Illinois led that pack with 45 votes, Nebraska grabbed 11, and Minnesota picked up nine. But the real story here is the chaos in the top ranks. Ohio State? Still No. 1, staying on top like they own the place. The 2025 National Champions, the No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers, shot up a spot after a 36-point Week 1 blowout against North Texas, showing they’re ready to defend that title. Meanwhile, the No. 6 Oregon Ducks saw their slow start against Boise State cost them big, dropping four ranks right out of the Top-5. That’s a brutal early season hit for a team with high hopes.
Michigan’s Scare, Iowa’s Rise, and the Huskies’ Stand
The Big Ten is already proving it is going to be a grinder. USC stayed put at No. 14, which, honestly, feels like a win when everyone else is bouncing around. Penn State nudged up one spot to No. 16, showing some early momentum. But the biggest shocker might be the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines. Talk about a narrow escape against Western Michigan, and it cost them a staggering eight ranks, the steepest decline of any ranked team. That’s a huge tumble for a program that usually starts strong. And for us here in the Emerald City? Our No. 19 Washington Huskies held firm, staying put in a poll that saw massive shifts. They’ve got the No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes right on their tail, though, with Iowa shifting up one spot to put the pressure on.
This first Coaches Poll of the season is a wake-up call, showing just how quickly things can change in college football. The Huskies standing firm at No. 19 amidst all this turbulence is a solid early indicator, but with Iowa breathing down their neck, every game will matter. We’ll be watching to see if our Dawgs can keep their spot and push even higher as the season rolls on. Go Dawgs!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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