One of the best things the Big Ten did when they expanded the basketball schedule to 20 games a few years ago was move two of them to December. That spruces up the month just fine.
The 2025-26 conference season begins on Tuesday with three league games, include debuts for No. 1 Purdue, No. 7 Michigan State and No. 24 USC. It's going to be fun because the league has been impressive in the first month of the season.
Here's a quick rundown on what everyone has done so far, with the rankings based on what I'm seeing so far. I'm using the KenPom.com rankings and NET rankings as well because they include all 18 Big Ten teams, which the Associated Press poll does not.
1. Purdue Boilermakers
Record: 7-0
Rankings: Associated Press (1), KenPom (2), NET (2)
Best win(s): Beat No. 8 Alabama 87-80; Beat No. 15 Texas Tech 86-56.
Worst loss(es): None.
December Big Ten games: Tuesday Purdue at Rutgers, 8 p.m. ET; Dec. 10 Minnesota at Purdue, 7 p.m. ET.
The skinny: The Boilermakers were the preseason No. 1 and I don't see any reason to move them out. They were a little sluggish early without Trey Kaufman-Renn (hip) but they've been great ever since. Braden Smith is the best point guard in America.
2. Michigan Wolverines
Record: 7-0
Rankings: Associated Press (3), KenPom (1), NET (1)
Best win(s): Beat No. 12 Gonzaga 101-61; Beat No. 21 Auburn 102-72, Beat San Diego State 94-54.
Worst loss(es): None.
December Big Ten games: Saturday Rutgers at Michigan, 4 p.m. ET; Dec. 13 Michigan at Maryland, 8 p.m. ET.
The skinny: I could have put Michigan at No. 1 very easily after their impressive run in Las Vegas last week, winning all three games by 30 or more. Dusty May has put together a heck of a team, one that's certainly capable of winning the Big Ten.
3. Michigan State Spartans
Record: 7-0
Rankings: Associated Press (7), KenPom (15), NET (10)
Best win(s): Beat No. 12 Kentucky 83-66; Beat No. 14 Arkansas 69-66, Beat No. 16 North Carolina 74-58.
Worst loss(es): None.
December Big Ten games: Tuesday Iowa at Michigan State, 7 p.m. ET; Dec. 13 Michigan State at Penn State, Noon ET.
The skinny: Tom Izzo always plays a tough nonconference schedule, but it's been a while since he's run the table. Jaxon Kohler is their leading scorer, a bit of a surprise. This is a deep team, too. They're fun to watch, especially point guard Jeremy Fears Jr.
4. Indiana Hoosiers
Record: 7-0
Rankings: Associated Press (22), KenPom (19), NET (13)
Best win(s): Beat Marquette 100-7; Beat Kansas State 86-69.
Worst loss(es): None.
December Big Ten games: Wednesday Indiana at Minnesota, 7 p.m. ET; Dec. 9 Penn State at Indiana, 8:30 p.m. ET.
The skinny: Darian DeVries was forced to bring in 13 new players after getting hired at Indiana, and it's been impressive that they've come together so quickly. The schedule has been soft, but they're hitting a lot of threes. They've made nine or more in six of seven games.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Record: 8-0
Rankings: Associated Press (28), KenPom (50), NET (32)
Best win(s): Beat Oklahoma 105-99; Beat Kansas State 86-85.
Worst loss(es): None.
December Big Ten games: Dec. 10 Wisconsin at Nebraska, 9 p.m. ET; Dec. 13 Nebraska at Illinois, 4 p.m. ET.
The skinny: Fred Hoiberg has the Cornhuskers really playing well. Having Rienk Mast back from injury is huge. He averaging 17.9 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes
Record: 7-0
Rankings: Associated Press (26), KenPom (21), NET (16)
Best win(s): Beat Ole Miss 74-69.
Worst loss(es): None.
December Big Ten games: Tuesday Iowa at Michigan State, 7 p.m. ET; Saturday Maryland at Iowa, 4 p.m. ET.
7. Illinois Fighting Illini
Record: 6-2
Rankings: Associated Press (14), KenPom (17), NET (24)
Best win(s): Beat No. 11 Texas Tech 81-77
Worst loss(es): Lost to No. 5 UConn and No. 11 Alabama. No shame in either
December Big Ten games: Dec. 9 Illinois at Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. ET; Dec. 13 Nebraska at Illinois, 4 p.m. ET.
8. USC Trojans
Record: 7-0
Rankings: Associated Press (24), KenPom (26), NET (23)
Best win(s): Beat Seton Hall 83-81; Beat Arizona State 88-75.
Worst loss(es): None.
December Big Ten games: Tuesday USC at Oregon, 10 p.m. ET; Washington at USC, Noon ET.
9. UCLA Bruins
Record: 5-2
Rankings: Associated Press (27), KenPom (32), NET (72)
Best win(s): Beat Pepperdine 74-63
Worst loss(es): Lost to California 80-72; Lost to No. 5 Arizona 69-65
December Big Ten games: Wednesday UCLA at Washington, 11 p.m. ET; Saturday Oregon at UCLA, 6 p.m. ET.
10. Wisconsin Badgers
Record: 5-2
Rankings: Associated Press (40), KenPom (27), NET (68)
Best win(s): Beat Providence 104-83
Worst loss(es): Lost to TCU 74-63; Lost to No. 9 BYU 98-70
December Big Ten games: Wednesday Northwestern at Wisconsin, 9 p.m. ET; Dec. 10 Wisconsin at Nebraska, 9 p.m. ET.
11. Ohio State Buckeyes
Record: 6-1
Rankings: Associated Press (NR), KenPom (33), NET (62)
Best win(s): Beat Notre Dame 64-63
Worst loss(es): Lost to Pittsburgh 67-66
December Big Ten games: Saturday Ohio State at Northwestern, 2 p.m. ET; Dec. 9 Illinois at Ohio State, Noon ET.
12. Northwestern Wildcats
Record: 5-2
Rankings: Associated Press (NR), KenPom (53), NET (46)
Best win(s): Beat DePaul 81-79; Beat South Carolina 79-77
Worst loss(es): Lost to Virginia 83-78; Lost to Oklahoma State 86-81
December Big Ten games: Tuesday Northwestern at Wisconsin, 9 p.m. ET; Saturday Ohio State at Northwestern, 2 p.m. ET.
13. Washington Huskies
Record: 5-2
Rankings: Associated Press (NR), KenPom (57), NET (74)
Best win(s): Beat Washington State 81-69; Beat Nevada 83-66.
Worst loss(es): Lost to Baylor 78-69; Lost to Colorado 81-68
December Big Ten games: Wednesday UCLA at Washington, 11 p.m. ET; Saturday Washington at USC, 6 p.m. ET.
14. Maryland Terrapins
Record: 5-3
Rankings: Associated Press (NR), KenPom (94), NET (203)
Best win(s): Beat Marquette 89-82; Beat UNLV 74-67.
Worst loss(es): Lost to Georgetown 70-60; Lost to No. 8 Alabama 105-72; Lost to No. 12 Gonzaga 100-61
December Big Ten games: Saturday Maryland at Iowa, 4 p.m. ET; Dec. 13 Michigan at Maryland, 8 p.m. ET.
15. Oregon Ducks
Record: 4-3
Rankings: Associated Press (NR), KenPom (86), NET (192)
Best win(s): Beat Oregon State 87-75
Worst loss(es): Lost to San Diego State 97-80
December Big Ten games: Tuesday USC at Oregon, 11 p.m. ET; Saturday Oregon at UCLA, 6 p.m. ET.
16. Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 7-1
Rankings: Associated Press (NR), KenPom (98), NET (84)
Best win(s): Beat La Salle 87-69
Worst loss(es): None. Lost to Providence 77-65
December Big Ten games: Tuesday Iowa at Michigan State, 7 p.m. ET; Dec. 13 Michigan State at Penn State, Noon ET.
17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Record: 5-3
Rankings: Associated Press (7), KenPom (15), NET (10)
Best win(s): Beat No. 12 Kentucky 83-66; Beat No. 14 Arkansas 69-66, Beat No. 16 North Carolina 74-58.
Worst loss(es): None.
December Big Ten games: Tuesday Penn State at Indiana, 8:30 p.m. ET; Dec. 13 Michigan State at Penn State, Noon ET.
18. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 4-4
Rankings: Associated Press (7), KenPom (15), NET (10)
Best win(s): Beat Alcorn State 95-50
Worst loss(es): None. Lost to San Francisco 77-65
December Big Ten games: Wednesday Indiana at Minnesota, 7 p.m. ET; Dec. 10 Minnesota at Purdue, 7 p.m. ET.