The depth and talent in the conference point towards an exciting championship race. Here’s an early glimpse of the Big Ten power rankings for 2025:
Ohio State Buckeyes
Fresh off a national championship win, the Buckeyes are going to be the team to beat. Jeremiah Smith comes back as an outstanding receiver, while Caleb Downs comes back as a safety. Another transition to quarterback Julian Sayin is expected to keep the Buckeyes’ high-octane offense humming.
Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions have been gaining ground on Ohio State with strong recruiting classes and growth from a few key players. A solid 2024 season makes Allar the ideal candidate to lead the offensive revitalization at Penn State.
Moving to the Big Ten hasn’t made the Oregon Ducks any less dominant. After trashing Illinois 38-9 last year, they made their prowess known. Their defense remains steady while their offense is still dynamic.
Indiana produced both an 8-0 start last season and steady play to become one of the conference’s more formidable competitors. Their disciplined defense and sound offense make them a tough draw for anyone.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Even with a dent against Oregon, Illinois was candid with its buoyancy the entire season. The team appears composed and was well coached to remain competitive in the upper echelon of the conference.
Michigan Wolverines
Looking for a bounce-back season after a mixed bag in 2024, the Wolverines welcome back a solid cast of returning starters as a means of rebuilding the defense and rejoining the race.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
There were flashes of promise from Nebraska with an almost U-PSET against the state of Ohio. The scaling up and experience of their youthful roster could have the potential to produce a much steadier 2021 season.
Wisconsin Badgers
There were nice moments for the Badgers but still inconsistency prevailed. Wisconsin is looking to be a dark horse in this conference race with improved focus on offense and by continuing on with defense well renowned.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota closed out the season on a high note by winning three races in a row. They look to parlay this energy into surprise contention heading into 2025.
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes are a team with a reputation on the defensive side, but improvement on offense will need to be their focus in order to compete with the conference’s top teams. They will have a telltale sign of whether they are within legitimate shooting range when they face Wisconsin.
The expansion of the Big Ten and emerging talents promise an exciting 2025 season. Fans can look forward to heated rivalries and bitter battles as teams hit the field for the glory of one of the most elite conferences in college football.
