2025 Big Ten Season Preview
The college football season kicks off in earnest for the holiday weekend. Which teams will vie for the Big Ten crown in 2025? There were several playoff teams from the deepest conference in America, and several more were on the fringe. Ohio State made a tremendous run to the national title, which it so richly deserved, and Oregon won the conference in its debut season. Indiana was America’s darling after making a surprising run to the playoffs. Are there any darkhorses that could upset the apple cart? The 2025 Big Ten season preview is here!
You can find the previous iterations of the 2025 conference previews below:
Illinois (7-5, 5-4)
Bret Bielema’s Illini are receiving significant amounts of hype as a dark horse contender in 2025, and with good reason. They possess a talented team that could secure a berth in Indianapolis with the proper breaks. Quarterback Luke Altmeyer returns for another season. The offensive line returns every starter and is full of experience. Receiver Pat Bryant must be replaced, however. Illinois’ defense is where the bread is buttered under Bielema. Returning talent includes linebacker Gabe Jacas. The secondary features safeties Matthew Bailey and Miles Scott, plus cornerback Xavier Scott. The schedule is relatively manageable, but September is loaded with challenging games against USC, Duke, and Indiana. Ohio State and Washington loom in October. November is poised for a winning month, with a trip to Madison as the lone challenge. Can the Illini deliver on the promise?
Indiana (7-5, 4-5)
The Hoosiers made a shocking run to the College Football Playoff in year one of Curt Cignetti’s tenure in Bloomington. What can they do for an encore? Indiana lost standout quarterback Kurtis Rourke, so they brought in Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza. He’ll have receiver Elijah Sarratt to throw to, alongside transfer receiver Jonathan Brady (Cal). Two new starters on the offensive line include Ohio State transfer Zen Michalski. The defense returns star EDGE Mikail Kamara, along with several starters like cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. Kent State transfer Stephen Daley is expected to contribute as well.
Indiana won’t sneak up on anyone on their schedule in 2025, so they’ll have to be even better. The nonconference schedule is ridiculously easy, but the stretch against Illinois, Iowa, and Oregon awaits. If they can win two of the three, 2025 could be fun again. While Indiana won’t reach the heights of 2024, eight wins should be the ceiling.
Iowa (8-4, 5-4)
Death, taxes, and a competitive Iowa team that will get you to seven or eight wins every season. The Hawkeyes will have to replace a vast amount of talent, like Kaleb Johnson, Jay Higgins, Sebastian Castro, and Luke Lachey. They brought in successful FCS star quarterback Mark Gronowski (South Dakota State) to further improve the offense. Iowa’s offense improved from nuclear tire fire to mediocre in 2024. The defense should be stout once again under Phil Parker’s tutelage. There’s a runway to eight wins to begin the season, but the second half is daunting with Penn State and Oregon coming to Iowa City, along with a road trip to USC. Expect the usual competitive eight-win season from the Hawkeyes in 2025.
Maryland (5-7, 2-7)
The Terrapins under Mike Locksley are struggling to maintain any consistency, and 2025 promises to be another year of fighting for bowl eligibility. Freshman quarterback Malik Washington received the reins after Billy Edwards, Jr, transferred to Wisconsin. Maryland replaces NFL-ready receivers Kaden Prather and Tai Felton with Tennessee transfer Kaleb Webb and Oklahoma transfer Jalil Farroq. Defensively, most of the defense returns but needs to replace safety Dante Trader, DT Jordan Phillips, and LB Rueben Hyppolite. Linebacker Daniel Wingate is next in line to replace Hyppolite’s production, while Lavian Scruggs is the heir to Trader’s spot.
Maryland avoids the big boys of the conference, so bowl eligibility is a possibility and necessary for Locksley to receive another season. November promises to be a challenging one, so they need to stack wins early in the season.
Michigan (9-3, 7-2)
Sherrone Moore leads the Wolverines as a potential Big Ten contender, despite the NCAA hammering them with sanctions for past misdeeds. Michigan will need to replace a massive amount of talent headed to the NFL, namely its star defensive linemen, Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham. Five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood has won the starting job over several upperclassmen. Star tight end Colston Loveland is off to the Bears, so his replacement needs to be found. The defense is young but full of potential, featuring players such as linebacker TJ Guy, cornerback Jyaire Hill, linebacker Ernest Hausmann, and cornerback Zeke Berry. Alabama running back Justice Haynes joins the Wolverines’ rushing attack to help the freshman passer.
Michigan’s schedule has enough meat on the bone to get to eight or nine wins, but they have to travel to Norman, Los Angeles, and East Lansing. Defending champion Ohio State will have to come to Ann Arbor, though. Hilariously, they host Central Michigan, with whom Conor Stalions associated himself in the sign-stealing scandal. The Wolverines should compete for a Big Ten title once more in 2025.
Michigan State (5-7, 6-6)
Year two of the Jonathan Smith administration begins with a brighter outlook, given his track record at prior stops. Quarterback Aiden Chiles returns as the unquestioned starter. Three of the five offensive line spots are projected to come from the portal, including the entire right side. Receiver Nick Marsh returns, and he brought along help with him, like MTSU transfer Omari Kelly and Chrishon McCray (Kent State). The defense needs retooling, however, with younger players needing to step up into bigger roles. Sparty’s schedule isn’t too challenging, but the first half contains trips to USC and Nebraska. Consecutive games against Penn State and Iowa await in December, so bowl eligibility should be the expectation for the Spartans.
Minnesota (6-6, 4-5)
Can coach P.J. Fleck repeat another eight-win season in 2025? He’ll have to do it without Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer. Drake Lindsey steps into the hot seat at quarterback, and he’ll be flanked by one of the best running backs in the country, Darius Taylor. Transfer receiver Javon Tracy (Miami OH) is expected to play a critical role alongside UCLA transfer Logan Loya. Left tackle Nathan Roy will have to replace standout Aireontae Ersery, who is off to the Houston Texans. EDGE Anthony Smith projects to lead the defensive line, while safety Kerry Brown anchors the secondary. Minnesota’s defense is a work in progress, but it has the potential to be great. October will be a critical month as they face Ohio State, Nebraska, and Iowa before a manageable November. Expect the Golden Gophers to take a step back in 2025.
Nebraska (8-4, 5-4)
Can Matt Rhule get the Huskers back into the national picture? They’ll be relevant well into December if things break right. Quarterback Dylan Raiola has the talent to lead the offense to bigger things after a year of seasoning. The receiver room was upgraded with transfers Nyziah Hunter (Cal) and Dane Key (Kentucky). Defensively, they return significant production in the secondary, with Deshon Singleton and Malcolm Hertzog, Jr leading the way. The schedule isn’t too demanding, but Nebraska needs a strong finish with Penn State, Iowa, and USC in November. Eight wins will be the minimum expectation in Lincoln for the 2025 season.
Northwestern (3-9, 1-8)
Will the Wildcats ever get back to fighting for bowl eligibility? 2025 promises to be a long and dreary season in Evanston once again. Former SMU quarterback Preston Stone transfers in to helm the offense. There are three new faces on the offensive line, including both left tackle and left guard. The most notable defensive transfer is Yanni Karlaftis, the younger brother of Chiefs standout George Karlaftis. Northwestern’s schedule is demanding, particularly in November, with games against USC, Michigan, and Illinois. Oregon and Penn State are also on the schedule. Five wins are the maximum to expect.
Ohio State (11-1, 8-1)
The Buckeyes feature two of the best players in the entire sport with safety Caleb Downs and receiver Jeremiah Smith. Ohio State lost a significant amount of talent to the draft, namely Emeka Egbuka, Josh Simmons, Donovan Jackson, and TreyVeon Henderson. Julian Sayin steps in for Will Howard at quarterback for the reigning national champions. Jack Sawyer and JTT leave immense holes on the defensive line, so untested players must step up. Carnell Tate is the next guy up in the Ohio State receiver factory. The rich get richer as Purdue transfer tight end Max Klare and WVU transfer RB CJ Donaldson join up, too. Ryan Day is arguably the best coach in the game and finally got the national title to bolster his resume.
However, the schedule is dangerous from the start, with top-ranked Texas coming to Columbus. Potential land mines await, with Washington and Illinois looming. The annual showdown with Penn State is also on the calendar. Ohio State tends to drop a game when it’s not looking, so it’s unlikely they’ll go undefeated. Of course, Day will have to rectify a four-game losing streak to Michigan at the end of November.
Oregon (11-1, 9-1)
Oregon took the Big Ten by storm last season, winning the conference title, but they got routed by the eventual national champion. Coach Lanning’s men are smarting from the loss and will look to prove to the world that they can win when it matters most. Quarterback Dante Moore takes over for Dillon Gabriel. However, there are capable athletes like five-star freshman Dakorien Moore and veterans like Gary Bryant, Jr, in the fold to offset the loss of Evan Stewart. The tight end unit is also strong, with Kenyon Sadiq poised to break out following the departure of Terrance Ferguson to the league. Oregon did excellent work in the portal for the offensive line, securing transfers like Isaiah World (Nevada) and Emmanuel Pregon (USC).
The defense received a makeover with the immense losses of Derrick Harmon, Jordan Burch, Jamaree Caldwell, and Nikko Reed. Oregon returns a potential first-round EDGE prospect in Matayo Uiagleielei. There’s a lot of unproven talent across all three levels of the defense. Transfer safety Dillon Thieneman (Purdue) is one of the best in the sport. Linebacker Bryce Boettcher returns for another season. Teitum Tuoti is one of the country’s most unheralded EDGE prospects and is poised to make his name known in 2025. Oregon visits Happy Valley, Seattle, and Iowa City in 2025. The schedule is manageable, but the game against Penn State will determine a lot during the season. USC before Washington is a tricky double to manage as well.
Penn State (10-2, 7-2)
This is James Franklin’s big chance to get Penn State to the mountaintop of the Big Ten and the college football world. He has all the tools to get the job done, including a superstar quarterback, Drew Allar. The run game is well supported by standouts Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. PSU’s receivers lose Tyler Warren but gain three talented receiver transfers. Trebor Pena (Syracuse), Devonte Ross (Troy), and Kyron Hudson (USC) are all uber-talented WR1 types. The offensive line returns several starters intact. Defensively, yes, they lose supremo Abdul Carter but retain EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton as the next great pass rusher. Transfer linebacker Amare Campbell joins up from North Carolina. In the secondary, the name to watch for is A.J. Harris.
Penn State’s schedule primes the Nittany Lions for a monster run in 2025. Oregon has to visit Happy Valley in a white-out game. The season will come down to the consecutive away games against title contenders Iowa and Ohio State in October. PSU should be heavily favored in all the other contests in this Big Ten season preview.
Purdue (2-10, 0-9)
Barry Odom takes over a Purdue program that is habitually in transition or rebuilding. The Boilermakers aren’t without talent, but 2025 will be a long season in West Lafayette. QB Ryan Browne initially transferred out of the program but returned in the summer. The offensive line could have four new starters and have to replace draft pick Marcus Mbow. Purdue’s receiver room passes for the all-name team with guys like Nitro Tuggle (Georgia), Chauncey Magwood (UCF), and returnee De’Nylon Morrissette. Defensively, the name game continues with transfers like Mani Powell (UNLV), Crew Wakely (BYU), Hershey McLaurin (Houston), and Tony Grimes (UNLV).
The 2025 schedule is brutally demanding, with games against USC and Notre Dame in September. November is even worse with Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana lined up. There’s potential for the Boilermakers to win possibly two conference games if luck breaks their way. It’s far more likely that they endure a winless season in conference.
Rutgers (4-8, 1-8)
The Scarlet Knights will be fighting for bowl eligibility in 2025 with returning quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and a hard-nosed head coach. FSU transfer running back CJ Campbell receives the first shot at replacing the legendary Kyle Monangai. Former UNT receiver DT Sheffield transferred in to complement Ian Strong in the receiver room. Greg Schiano did most of his portal work on defense with seven new projected starters. Rutgers rebuilt their starting defensive line through the portal with standouts like Eric O’Neill (JMU) and Bradley Weaver (Ohio). The secondary got a facelift, trying to replace Robert Longerbeam by importing Cam Miller (Penn State) and Jacobie Henderson (Marshall).
Rutgers will need to secure wins against its non-conference opponents early, as the schedule becomes tougher in October. November is a tough road with dates against Ohio State, Penn State, and a niche contender, Illinois, on the docket. Bowl eligibility is the ceiling for the Scarlet Knights in 2025.
UCLA (6-6, 4-5)
UCLA is the guinea pig in one of the most fascinating transfer sagas the sport has ever seen, as Nico Iamaleavea and Joey Aguilar essentially were traded for each other. Otherwise, the Bruins have a ton of talent to replace, particularly on the defensive side. Linebacker is a glaring need with Carson Schwesinger, Femi Oladejo, and Kain Medrano off to the NFL. Coach Deshaun Foster brought in running back Javian Thomas from Cal to help incumbent Jalen Berger. The offensive line was revamped with transfers like tackle Courtland Ford (Kentucky) and Julian Armella (Florida State).
The schedule is a tough slog from the jump, with games against Utah and UNLV, and followed by a tough October that features multiple bowl teams. Halloween could be spooky for the Bruins as they host Penn State, travel to Michigan State, and travel to Indiana. If they can survive that gauntlet, November is a Murderer’s Row, which features several playoff contenders, such as Ohio State and USC. Washington and Nebraska aren’t slouches either, so it could be a winless month as predicted in the Big Ten season preview.
USC (8-4, 6-3)
The Trojans are a high-octane offense, but it will come down to a vastly improved defense once again for Lincoln Riley’s team. Quarterback Jayden Maiava returns to action after fending off Miller Moss (Louisville) in 2024. However, the receiver room looks different now that Duce Robinson, Zachariah Branch, and Kyron Hudson departed in the portal. Returning receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon will have to carry the load. The offensive line has also lost a couple of key pieces, so starters will need to be identified there. D’Anton Lynn’s defense lost key contributors, but returns linebacker Eric Gentry and safety Kamari Ramsey. Kentucky nose tackle Keeshawn Silver and SJSU corner DJ Harvey are the names to watch from the portal.
2025’s schedule primes USC for a deep run to a potential Big Ten title berth with both Michigan and Oregon coming to Los Angeles. They avoid Ohio State but have to travel to South Bend in what could be the last game in the storied rivalry for a while. Fellow conference contender Iowa will also make its way to LA. Riley will be in a scorching hot seat if he can’t make an appearance in Indianapolis with a manageable schedule.
Washington (7-5, 4-5)
Coach Jedd Fisch enters his second season in Seattle, looking to bounce back after a middling debut campaign in 2024. Washington returns emerging star quarterback Demond Williams, who took over during the 2024 season. Williams has former Arizona transfer Jonah Coleman to take some of the load off him in the run game. Receiver Denzel Boston returns as the primary receiver. Penn State transfer Omari Evans joins Boston to further fortify the receiver room. The offensive line brought in Kansas State’s Carver Willis to man the left tackle position.
Washington’s defense underwent the most transition as several notable transfers left the program, like Thaddeus Dixon (UNC), Peyton Waters (UNC), and linebacker Khmori House (UNC). DC Steve Belichick left for the Tar Heels to coach under his father. Fisch landed a pair of impact transfers from his Arizona years with cornerback Tacario Davis and EDGE Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei to compensate. Linebacker Taariq Al-Uqdah crosses the Apple Cup divide. The schedule is forgiving, and the Huskies should get to seven or eight wins in the season preview.
Wisconsin (8-4, 6-3)
The Badgers are returning to what made them a stalwart program after wandering the hinterlands of installing a completely diametrically opposite offense. Head coach Luke Fickell is returning to a more run-heavy approach after the Air Raid proved to be culturally ineffective. They will have to do it with a rebuilt offensive line that has to replace two NFL linemen. Davis Heinzen comes in from Central Michigan to take over the left tackle spot while the others are stable. Quarterback Billy Edwards, Jr (Maryland) takes over for the departed Tyler Van Dyke, who left for SMU. He was a competent passer for a bad Terrapins program and has a chance to revitalize the Badgers’ pass offense.
Defensively, Wisconsin brought in numerous new faces, but none more critical than EDGE Corey Walker (Western Michigan). The biggest loss from the stop unit is Xavier Lucas, who embroiled Miami in a legal brouhaha due to the nature of his transfer. The October schedule is brutal, with dates against Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, and Oregon. November slackens in brutality, but it is no cakewalk either. A trip to Tuscaloosa awaits as well, so seven wins might be the ceiling for Fickell’s men in the Big Ten season preview.
Conference Championship: Ohio State vs. Oregon
Champion: Ohio State
Joseph is a veteran writer of many publications past and present. He is a long-time Tennessee Titans fan and draft scout/analyst, along with writing about the league is a passion project. Mr. Yun has been credentialed to the Senior Bowl multiple times. Readers will find he brings the juice with a scout’s eye and analytical mind. Follow me on Twitter @2Yoon2ZeroBlitz for more good stuff!