College Football is nearly here. Whether you’re more of a College Gameday fan or a Big Noon Kickoff kinda guy, the action on the field is all the same and we want to make sure you’re ready for it. There is plenty to be pumped for this season and after an exciting and successful first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff, fans from all over are excited to root on their teams and hope they can cash their ticket to the postseason. Of course, some fans are just hoping their team will be bowl eligible. Here’s our 2025 Big Ten football preview.
Last Year
The 2024 Big Ten football season was all about expansion and fresh challenges. With Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC joining, the league ballooned to 18 teams and dropped division play. Oregon quickly set the pace, going 9-0 in conference and beating Penn State 45-37 for the Big Ten title. Yet, in the end, it was Ohio State winning the CFP Championship game over Notre Dame. Parity showed across the standings, with traditional powers like Michigan securing 8 wins and a bowl victory against Alabama. There were six head coaching changes, including Sherrone Moore taking the helm at Michigan. There are certainly new rivalries and new power players in the Big 10.
What to Watch
While all eyes will be on the three big schools of Oregon, Penn State, and Ohio State, I am more concerned about the secondary power players. Illinois is a team that really intrigues me because they put together their first 10-win team in over two decades and a lot of starters are coming back for another year. There is a very real possibility that the Fighting ‘Illini could be a CFP team in 2025.
USC finished ninth in the Big Ten in 2024 and dare I say that Lincoln Riley is on the hot seat as they enter the 2025 season? He ran from Oklahoma as news came that they were going to the SEC but now he is in the second-best football conference and things didn’t go well in year one. They are having some of their best players poached by other schools. They are paying Riley a lot of money to turn in some very average results.
Bryce Underwood is going to have a lot of eyes on him at Michigan. He is the best freshman in the country, and he signed a massive NIL deal to make the Wolverines his team. He may not start to begin the year, but Michigan will turn to him if they stumble.
Heisman Candidate
Drew Allar put together an excellent year for Penn State a season ago and had he been eligible to come out for the draft, he likely would have been the first overall pick. Allar had Penn State in the semifinal and there is no reason to believe they won’t be right back there again.
Jeremiah Smith is the most likely skill position player to be in Heisman talks. The talented Ohio State wide receiver turned heads last year when he made insane catches and game-winning plays at the age of 18.
Prediction
My bet is that Penn State wins the conference. Ohio State and Oregon have question marks at quarterback and Michigan isn’t the same as their championship team of a couple of years ago. I believe the conference will have a ton of parity, but the Nittany Lions have the most complete team.