Overview

• Six Big Ten programs begin nonconference play this weekend, with conference games slated for Oct. 30–31 and Ohio State opening next week.
• Penn State visits No. 14/14 Arizona State in a nationally televised series on NHL Network and YouTube, while Michigan State and Notre Dame play exhibitions.
• Coaches picked Michigan State to repeat as regular-season champion, followed by Penn State and Minnesota, with Trey Augustine named to the preseason first team.
• An influx of CHL talent highlights roster upgrades, including Gavin McKenna at Penn State, Cayden Lindstrom and Porter Martone at Michigan State, and Malcolm Spence plus Jack Ivankovic at Michigan.
• The Big Ten Tournament shifts to single-elimination starting March 11, 2026, and the NCAA replaces Pairwise with the NPI, a metric weighing record, strength of schedule, quality wins, and overtime results; Hockey East enters strong with BU favored and five teams in the preseason top 10.