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Brant's Big Ten rankings and college football projections for all 18 teams. His 2025 season outlook for the Big Ten, including Ohio State, Penn State, and more.
It is now August, which means it is football month. The college football season kicks off in just a few weeks, meaning we can move from speculation season to full-blown on-the-field analysis.
In the meantime, speculation season continues. The Big Ten was a fun conference last season. From one of the top games of the season as Oregon beat Ohio State at home by one under the lights, to an unprecedented Indiana rise, to Ohio State falling out of the title game after an inexplicable loss to Michigan, to Oregon going undefeated and winning the conference title in its first year in the league, to a thrilling playoff run that resulted in back-to-back B1G National Champions, every team had its ups and downs.
Let’s take a look at how college football’s premier conference stacks up heading into 2025. Note that these power rankings are not necessarily predictions on how the season may go, but how I feel the landscape of the conference looks with each team’s current roster as we enter a new season.
18 - Purdue Boilermakers
After the season they had last year, there is nowhere for Purdue to go but up. Barry Odom is in as head coach, and he has completely flipped this Boilermakers’ roster. Given that their starters will be primarily transfers, it is tough to project how good or bad this team could be. With that being said, it appears that Ryan Browne, who started a few games last season and flashed, is likely to be the starting quarterback.
The goal for Coach Odom is simple: don’t be in the hunt to be considered the worst Power Five team. Anything on top of that is a bonus. The Boilermakers have been unsuccessfully searching for a coach ever since Jeff Brohm left for Louisville, and fans need some optimism that Odom could be the guy.
Key Games: Oct 4 vs. Illinois, Oct 25 vs. Rutgers, Nov 28 vs. Indiana
17 - Wisconsin Badgers
Luke Fickell is in trouble. After missing a bowl game a season ago, Wisconsin now faces an uphill battle to return to relevancy. While nabbing former Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. in the portal was a good play to add some experience to the roster, the Badgers do not look to be much more talented on paper than they were a year ago.
dawg look at Wisconsin’s schedule.
Luke Fickell already on the hot seat and now he’s gonna deal with one of the hardest stretches from Sept 13th to Oct 25th 😂 pic.twitter.com/tyiRrBKScI
— 2025 NATTY CHAMPS Bucky Bo (@BuckyBoston) July 29, 2025
It gets worse when you look at the upcoming schedule. They open the season against Miami Ohio, who made the MAC title game last season and added former Toledo star DeQuan Finn at quarterback. They get one more game to ramp up, then they play Alabama, Maryland, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota in 10 consecutive games. In the era of super conferences, someone is going to get screwed. It happens to be the Badgers this year.
Key Games: Sep 20 vs. Maryland, Oct 11 vs. Iowa, Nov 8 vs. Washington
16 - Northwestern Wildcats
David Braun’s team took a big step back last season, finishing 4-8 just one year removed from an impressive 8-5 year off the back of Pat Fitzgerald’s firing. Braun dove into the transfer portal to patch up holes, notably grabbing former SMU quarterback Preston Stone to call the shots. Stone’s addition was one of the most underrated pickups in the conference this year.
In 2023, he passed for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns. This is the type of talent Northwestern hasn’t had under center since Trevor Siemian.
Griffin Wilde says goodbye 💨
(Also Chase Mason’s first passing TD)
— Digital Z South Dakota (@DigitalZSD) December 16, 2023
Stone’s top target will likely be South Dakota State transfer receiver Griffin Wilde. The former FCS receiver put up 1,154 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. In addition to adding playmakers at quarterback and receiver, Braun brought in three new starters on the offensive line and more reinforcements on defense. This team should be improved from where they were a season ago.
Key Games: Sep 27 vs. UCLA, Nov 22 vs. Minnesota, Nov 29 at Illinois
15 - Maryland Terrapins
Mike Locksley is on the hot seat, and this team may be the reason he is pushed out at Maryland. There is a lot of ambiguity surrounding this version of the Terrapins, starting at quarterback. True freshman Malik Washington is expected to be the Day 1 starter. Starting a true freshman rarely works out, and while he may be very talented, it is not a good thing in the short term for Maryland.
Washington does have some promising weapons surrounding him in Oklahoma transfer Jalil Farooq and former Georgia State tight end Dorian Fleming. Still, it remains to be seen just how far the freshman can carry this team.
Fresh off a 4-8 season, the talent level has plummeted even further. The one saving grace is the schedule, as the Terps dodge Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon. It is a make-or-break year for Locksley, and the team surrounding him will have to fight every game to keep him around.
Key Games: Sep 20 @ Wisconsin, Nov 8 @ Rutgers, Nov 29 @ Michigan State
14 - UCLA Bruins
Expectations were rock-bottom for first-year head coach DeShaun Foster after Chip Kelly departed UCLA late last spring for the Ohio State offensive coordinator job. The Bruins were very slow out of the gate, but finished the season at 5-7 after playing a lot better down the stretch.
.@nico_iamaleava8 ▶️ Maxwell Award Watch List
Presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.#GoBruins | 📝: https://t.co/dHzgnvbkZj pic.twitter.com/2rfE9AHQnY
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) July 30, 2025
Expectations are a lot higher this year with former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava under center. The Bruins have the talent to reach a bowl game and to potentially pull off some big upsets, given that the schedule is far from easy. Six wins should be the goal for Foster, and if he can eclipse that, it will be a successful season.
Key Games: Aug 30 vs. Utah, Oct 11 at Michigan State, Nov 29 at USC
13 - Michigan State Spartans
Jonathan Smith's first year did not go well, as the Spartans finished 5-7, culminating in a low note with a 41-14 loss to Rutgers. Spartans fans are expecting a better return in Year 2, with quarterback Aidan Chiles having a year of experience as a starter. Michigan State does have one of the most talented receivers in the nation in sophomore Nick Marsh, who went for 649 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman.
It remains to be seen if the defense will take a step forward, as they weren’t great last season but were also young and inexperienced. An early-season home game against Boston College should tell us just how competitive this team can be in Big Ten play this year.
Key Games: Sep 6 vs. Boston College, Sep 20 at USC, Oct 25 vs. Michigan
12 - Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nobody knows what to expect of this year’s Minnesota team, as P.J. Fleck has a ton of new faces to work with. The expected starting quarterback is redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey, who threw five passes last season. The one constant offensively is star running back Darius Taylor, who should be primed for a huge season should he remain healthy.
The Golden Gophers lost a lot on defense, but have a budding star in sophomore safety Koi Perich, who recorded five interceptions as a true freshman.
Fleck will have a bit of a runway to kick the season off, as Minnesota opens with Buffalo and then plays Northwestern State before travelling to Cal for a non-conference game in Week 3. The two toughest matchups are road games against Ohio State and Oregon, both of which are likely to be losses. Aside from those two games, it is anybody’s guess as to how the season will go for the Gophers.
Key Games: Sep 13 at Cal, Oct 17 vs. Nebraska, Oct 25 at Iowa
11 - Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Greg Schiano has turned Rutgers from a perennial Big Ten bottom dweller into a middle-tier program in the conference. While they still don’t have the talent to hang with the big dogs, the Scarlet Knights won meaningful games last year. They were streaky as they started 4-0, then lost four straight, then finished 3-1 before losing the Rate Bowl in a shootout against Kansas State.
CFB SEASON PREVIEWS: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Greg Schiano enters season 6 in his second stint with Rutgers. Kirk Ciarrocca enters season 3 as OC in also his second stint while Robb Smith/Zach Sparber enter season 1 as Co-DCs.
- Rutgers currently has the 10th ranked BIG10… pic.twitter.com/yyva3FRL7u
— Garrett Armbrust (@4thandsaturday) July 17, 2025
Athan Kaliakmanis is back at quarterback, and he has a trio of formidable receivers in Ian Strong, KJ Duff, and DT Sheffield. Schiano revamped the defense with transfers, and this team will again be a thorn in the side of any opponent in 2025. Making a bowl game is the expectation, and they will want to have six wins before closing the season at Ohio State and home against Penn State.
Key Games: Sep 19 vs. Iowa, Sep 27 at Minnesota, Nov 8 vs. Maryland
10 - USC Trojans
The Lincoln Riley experiment has not worked out as USC had hoped thus far. The Trojans stumbled to a 7-6 finish in their first season in the Big Ten but finished on a positive note, defeating Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The 2025 version of the Trojans looks a little different. Jayden Maiava is set to be the starting quarterback after replacing Miller Moss near the end of 2024. JUCO transfer Waymond Jordan is expected to carry the load on the ground, and top receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane are back.
It remains to be seen if USC’s defense can finally take a step forward, and it again may hold them back from being truly competitive in a physical Big Ten.
Key Games: Sep 27 at Illinois, Oct 18 at Notre Dame, Nov 1 at Nebraska
9 - Iowa Hawkeyes
College football’s longest-tenured head coach is back at the helm in Iowa for his 27th season. Not counting 2020 (6-2), Kirk Ferentz has won at least eight games every season since 2014. Iowa is consistently a rock-solid program, and more of the same should be expected in 2025.
Every season, we project the offense to be more explosive, and every season, we sit back and wonder why we did that. Longtime South Dakota State starter Mark Gronowski is expected to be the starting quarterback in Iowa. While he has had success at the FCS level, it remains to be seen what he will bring to second-year offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s system.
As is the story with Ferentz-led teams, this Iowa team’s strength is again their defense. They return a lot of experience, starting with Max Llewellyn, Aaron Graves, and Ethan Hurkett along the defensive line. Xavier Nwankpa and Koen Entringer form a solid safety duo, and cornerback Deshaun Lee is back after an up-and-down 2024 campaign.
The removal of divisions certainly hurt Iowa, which went 8-5 in the first year of the new-look Big Ten. This year’s schedule is not easy, but no team wants to see the pesky Hawkeyes on the other sideline.
Key Games: Sep 6 at Iowa State, Sep 27 vs. Indiana, Nov 28 at Nebraska
8 - Nebraska Cornhuskers
Is Nebraska really back? Before last season, the Cornhuskers had not been to a bowl game since 2016. Matt Rhule has reset the cycle and has been hailed as the savior of the program after leading the Huskers to a 7-6 season with a Pinstripe Bowl win.
The expectations are now through the roof from the fanbase, which is itching for relevancy that they have not had since the 1990s. Quarterback Dylan Raiola is expected to take a step forward after showing flashes as a true freshman. His group of receivers is revamped with Kentucky transfer Dane Key expected to be the top target, and the offensive line is stronger with the additions of Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett and Notre Dame transfer Rocco Spindler.
Rhule’s identity is his defense, and this group should be tough under defensive coordinator John Butler. The schedule looks to be manageable, and Rhule knows that he has to do more than make a bowl game this year to keep the fan base happy.
Key Games: Sep 20 vs. Michigan, Nov 22 at Penn State, Nov 28 vs. Iowa
7 - Michigan Wolverines
Michigan’s disappointing 8-5 season ended on a high note, as they knocked off Ohio State and Alabama in back-to-back games. Uncertainty continues to surround the program, as Sherrone Moore plans to serve a self-imposed suspension during Week 3 and Week 4 as a fallout from the sign-stealing scandal. The rest of the NCAA’s punishment on that still awaits, but in the meantime, the Wolverines are focused on the upcoming season.
Michigan QB1👀
Former Five-Star Plus+ Quarterback Bryce Underwood was HIM in H.S.🔥https://t.co/aZsCFGCXf2 pic.twitter.com/ngyJsskoa0
— Rivals High School (@Rivals_HS) July 7, 2025
True freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is expected to be the starter from Day 1, and while he offers an immediate upgrade in terms of talent, starting a true freshman at quarterback in the Big Ten is a bold move. The receiver room also leaves a lot to be desired. The Wolverines figure to be run-heavy, as they boast a scary two-headed backfield in Alabama transfer Justice Haynes and sophomore Jordan Marshall.
The defense is revamped as well after losing studs Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham within the top thirteen picks of the NFL Draft. Most of the championship-winning defense from 2023 is gone, but safety Rod Moore is back and will be a leader of this younger unit.
The 2025 Wolverines are certainly a wild card, but one thing is for sure, and that is that they will give their all on November 29 when Ohio State comes to town.
Key Games: Sep 6 at Oklahoma, Sep 20 at Nebraska, Nov 29 vs. Ohio State
6 - Washington Huskies
Jedd Fisch’s team struggled at times in year one in the Big 10, but this season’s Huskies look to be much improved. With true freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. set to take the reins of the offense, the ceiling seems to be raised. Junior receiver Denzel Boston will be looking to build on his 834-yard, nine-touchdown season and has a new running mate in Penn State transfer Omari Evans.
Running back Jonah Coleman has improved his numbers in each season of his career and will look to be a focal point of the offense.
Fisch added some more Arizona transfers who played with him two seasons ago, notably star cornerback Tacario Davis and edge rusher Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, to help shore up the defense. The Huskies barely made a bowl game a season ago. This year, their sights are on a playoff berth.
Key Games: Sep 27 vs. Ohio State, Oct 18 at Michigan, Nov 29 vs. Oregon
5 - Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois is a popular pick as a Big Ten sleeper team this season, and for good reason. Bret Bielema returns a good amount of talent, starting with quarterback Luke Altmyer.
Luke Altmyer is one of the MOST DISRESPECTED QBs in the Big Ten heading into 2025.
After a great 2024 season, this Illinois senior is getting ZERO love from analysts and so-called experts.
In 2024, Altmyer was a straight-up game-changer for the Illini, leading them to a 10-3… pic.twitter.com/wlKjRQ6TVV
— The Big Ten Huddle 🎙️ (@TheBigTenHuddle) May 16, 2025
This Illini team went 10-3, finishing the season with a win over a hyped-up South Carolina team in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
The heart of Bielema’s team is his defense, and he returns longtime Illini studs in edge rusher Gabe Jacas and safeties Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey. Behind a great decision-making quarterback in Altmyer, a strong run game, and a tough defense, Bielema’s roster is tailored to his style of play. Throw in a manageable schedule, and this team is a legit playoff contender.
Key Games: Sep 20 at Indiana, Oct 11 vs. Ohio State, Oct 25 at Washington
4 - Oregon Ducks
Some may feel that four is too low for Dan Lanning’s Oregon team, considering the season they had in 2024, where they went a perfect 13-0 before being dismantled by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon has experienced significant turnover from last season’s team, but has done well in the transfer portal to retool for 2025.
That being said, my most significant question mark with them is at the game’s most crucial position.
Dante Moore struggled in 2023 when starting at UCLA and was eventually benched. He was a true freshman in a tough spot, but Oregon's aggressive pursuit of keeping Quinn Ewers in school this offseason speaks volumes about their confidence in Moore as the starter for 2025. Transfer quarterbacks have succeeded in Lanning’s scheme in the past, but these have been savvy veterans in Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, who had played a ton of college football before coming to Oregon.
While quarterback is a massive question mark, many parts of the Ducks’ roster are not up for question. With Lanning at the helm, Oregon will again be a force in 2025. Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes could lead the nation in rushing. Transfer tackles Isaiah World and Alex Harkey will anchor the line. Junior edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei and junior safety Dillon Thieneman offer a blend of old and new faces to anchor the defense.
Going undefeated and winning a conference title is not a likely outcome this year, but Oregon should be a favorite to make the playoff again.
Key Games: Sep 27 at Penn State, Oct 11 vs. Indiana, Nov 29 at Washington
3 - Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana’s first season under Curt Cignetti could not have gone much better. The Hoosiers had their best season in program history, finishing 11-1 before losing to Notre Dame in the playoffs.
Call me crazy, but this season’s team is even better on paper than last year’s team. Fernando Mendoza transfers in from California as the default starting quarterback. Mendoza is receiving attention as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Top receiver Elijah Sarratt is back after recording 957 yards and eight touchdowns a season ago.
The offensive line is revamped with Pat Coogan (Notre Dame) and Zen Michalski (Ohio State) transferring in.
Most of the star power from last season’s defense returns as well. Edge rusher Mikail Kamara, linebacker Aiden Fisher, and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds give the Hoosiers a stud on every level of the defense.
This team is talented and feisty, and should compete with the conference’s best yet again.
Key Games: Sep 20 vs. Illinois, Oct 11 at Oregon, Nov 8 at Penn State
2 - Penn State Nittany Lions
The other team that has the case for the number one spot in these preseason rankings is Penn State. The Nittany Lions return a ton of talent from their 2024 team that made the semifinals. Quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, and cornerback A.J. Harris form a core of players as strong as any across the nation.
I couldn't bring myself to rank them above the defending national champs, as they haven’t beaten Ohio State since 2016, despite playing them every season.
James Franklin and Allar are both constantly slandered for their big game meltdowns, and rightfully so. With the team they have this season, it is now or never for both the head coach and the quarterback. Allar’s wide receiver room is significantly more talented than it was a season ago, adding Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross, and Kyron Hudson in the transfer portal.
Key Games: Sep 27 vs. Oregon, Nov 1 at Ohio State, Nov 8 vs. Indiana
1 - Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State has not been to a Big Ten Championship since 2020, which was a strange year itself, but it is hard to keep the defending national champions from the top of this list.
While they did lose 14 players to the NFL Draft along with additional undrafted seniors, Ryan Day’s Buckeyes are reloaded for another successful season. There are undoubtedly questions on both sides of the ball, but Day has the nation’s best offensive player in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and the nation’s best defensive player in junior safety Caleb Downs.
As with many teams after losing a starting quarterback, the biggest question is under center. Sophomore Julian Sayin looks poised to be the Day 1 starter, although Day has stated that it is an ongoing competition between Sayin and longtime backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz. Sayin is a former five-star prospect and should slot right into Day’s offense.
Julian Sayin going through throwing drills as Ohio State kicks off Fall Camp #Gobucks pic.twitter.com/ACRbLZDpeQ
— Ron James🌰 (@2_Tees) July 31, 2025
The receiver group is one of the best in the nation, with Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss set to be the top targets. Purdue transfer tight end Max Klare, who had 685 yards and four touchdowns a season ago, should fill a big role on the offense.
Defensively, this team has a whole lot more question marks than they had a season ago. Senior cornerback Davison Igbinosun is back, joined by junior Jermaine Mathews Jr., who should take a bigger role. Linebacker/safety Sonny Styles’ return was huge as well, adding more experience than the Buckeyes expected to have heading into 2025.
The defensive line will feature many new faces in full-time roles, including Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry, North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson, Eddrick Houston, and Kayden McDonald. Despite losing key players and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia should have this unit ready to roll.
Key Games: Aug 30 vs. Texas, Nov 1 vs. Penn State, Nov 29 at Michigan
