There are many questions surrounding the Big Ten as the upcoming College Football season rapidly approaches. Among them: Will Ohio State claim the Big Ten title in 2025? Will Penn State finally break through in 2025? The college football season is less than a month away, and it looks like these two powerhouses in the Big Ten will have the best chance not only to win the conference but also to make the College Football Playoff. However, they won’t be without stiff competition from Oregon, which won the conference last season.

In addition to the Big Ten playoff race, all eyes will also be on UCLA and Nico Iamaleava following his exit from Tennessee.

We’ll catch you up on the Big Ten by covering the conference’s College Football Playoff outlook, rankings for each team, much-anticipated matchups, top freshmen to watch, and much more.

College Football Playoff Outlook in the Big Ten

Teams That Should Be In:

The teams that should make the College Football Playoff from the Big Ten include Penn State, Ohio State, and Oregon. Defending national champion Ohio State will almost always be penciled into the College Football Playoff field, even after losing 14 draft picks—tied for the most in team history. The Buckeyes have wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, considered the nation’s best player, as well as safety Caleb Downs, the top defender. However, it’s Penn State—not Ohio State—that enters the fall as possibly the strongest national contender. The Nittany Lions replace fewer players than the other three teams that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. They return quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and several standout defenders. On the other hand, Oregon is somewhat overlooked despite winning the Big Ten in its debut season and finishing the regular season 13-0. The Ducks lost 10 NFL draft picks but return a talented defensive front seven and have added several top transfers and recruits.

In the Running:

The teams in the running for the College Football Playoff from the Big Ten include Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. Illinois returns the core players from its first 10-win team since 2001, and it could be this year’s version of Indiana, especially with a more explosive offense and solid line play. If the Illini can navigate September road tests against Duke and Indiana, they’ll be a force. Michigan hopes to rejoin the College Football Playoff race after a strong finish last season, relying on a talented defensive front and possibly incoming freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 recruit. Indiana is largely counted out but shouldn’t be, as the team retained several All-Big Ten players from the historic College Football Playoff team and added quarterback Fernando Mendoza and several notable offensive linemen from the portal.

Long Shots:

The teams considered long shots for the College Football Playoff from the Big Ten include Nebraska, USC, Minnesota, and Washington. Nebraska has struggled to make bowl appearances in the Big Ten but could be primed for a jump in wins, especially with quarterback Dylan Raiola returning. The Huskers benefit from a favorable schedule that doesn’t include Oregon or Ohio State and has no true road games until October 11th. USC is still seeking its first College Football Playoff appearance under Lincoln Riley and could enter the mix if it plays better away from home, where it dropped four games by seven points or fewer last season. Minnesota hopes to improve its performance in one-score games this season. Washington is only two years removed from a national title game appearance and brings back a team with upside, particularly dynamic young quarterback Demond Williams Jr.

Must-See Games:

Here are 10 must-see games in the Big Ten, with eight in-conference matchups and two non-conference but major matchups to watch.

• Texas at Ohio State (August 30) and Michigan at Oklahoma (September 6): The biggest games of Week 1 and 2 are Big Ten vs. SEC matchups, though they will feel like different flavors for fans. Texas-Ohio State is a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinals, where Jack Sawyer’s late scoop-and-score ended the Longhorns’ comeback attempt. Both teams will almost certainly start in the Associated Press top five. Meanwhile, Michigan and Oklahoma are looking to re-enter the top ten, bringing remodeled offenses to the table.
• Illinois at Indiana (September 20): If things play out as forecasted, Illinois and Indiana will be battling for position in a wild race for a playoff spot. This will be the biggest Illinois-Indiana matchup of all time. The loser will have to be perfect to reach 10-2 and secure a potential playoff bid.
• Oregon at Penn State (September 27): Week 5 will be overloaded with big games, but this will likely be the biggest. The Ducks and Nittany Lions will almost certainly be a combined 7-0 by this point, having avoided top-50 teams thus far.
• USC at Illinois (September 27) and Indiana at Iowa (September 27): Both games occur during the same week as Penn State vs. Oregon, making it a stacked weekend that could make or break standings in the Big Ten.
• Michigan at USC (October 11): By this point, Michigan will have already played Oklahoma and Nebraska, possibly being 5-0 or 3-2. USC will have just visited Illinois and could also be 5-0 or struggling. This game will be huge for both teams.
• Penn State at Ohio State (November 1): This is arguably the biggest game of the year for both teams, potentially affecting both teams’ positions in the College Football Playoff race. If Penn State wins, it could silence doubts about their ability to win big matchups. Both teams could be in the top five by the time this game rolls around.
• Indiana at Penn State (November 8): Whether Penn State comes off a win or loss in Columbus, the Nittany Lions will need to move on and avoid back-to-back losses. This game could have playoff implications for both teams.
• Ohio State at Michigan (November 29): Even in the 12-team College Football Playoff era, a rivalry loss can send Ohio State into a spiral, as seen last season when Michigan shocked the Buckeyes. This matchup will always be crucial.

Three Freshmen to Watch:

• Malik Washington, Quarterback, Maryland: Washington enters Maryland with huge expectations. He impressed during the spring game, going 12-of-18 for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Though he faces competition for the starting job from UCLA transfer Justyn Martin, Washington’s dual-threat abilities make him a player to watch this season.
• Bryce Underwood, Quarterback, Michigan: No freshman faces more scrutiny than Underwood, who arrives as the highest-ranked player in his class. He signed a multi-million-dollar NIL deal after a lengthy recruitment by Michigan. His spring was solid but not exceptional (12-of-26 for 187 yards), and he’s battling for the starting job with other quarterbacks. If Underwood can unlock Michigan’s passing game, the Wolverines could be back in the College Football Playoff mix.
• Dakorien Moore, Wide Receiver, Oregon: Moore is one of the highest-ranked receivers in the country. He won the 2025 Under Armour All-American MVP and totaled over 4,000 receiving yards in high school. His speed and route-running will be perfect for Oregon’s offense, and he could become a key target for quarterback Dante Moore, especially with Evan Stewart set to miss a portion of the season due to injury.

Rankings in the Big Ten:

Here’s how the rankings for each team in the Big Ten stack up:

1. Penn State Nittany Lions: Penn State has the pieces to win the Big Ten this year, including three-year starter Drew Allar, a dominant run game with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and a defense led by veteran coordinator Jim Knowles.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes: The defending national champions lost 14 draft picks, but they have one of the best wide receivers (Jeremiah Smith) and safeties (Caleb Downs) in the country. The Buckeyes may be rebuilding, but they’re still a threat.

3. Oregon Ducks: Oregon is looking to defend its Big Ten title. While it lost star quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the Ducks still have a talented defense and a strong supporting cast to contend for another championship.

4. Illinois Fighting Illini: After a ten-win season, Illinois is eyeing its first College Football Playoff appearance. With quarterback Luke Altmyer and linebacker Gabe Jacas leading the charge, the Illini will be a tough opponent.

5. Michigan Wolverines: Michigan’s offense, led by freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, has huge potential. If he can add a passing dimension to their game, the Wolverines will be back in the playoff conversation.

6. Indiana Hoosiers: After a historic season, Indiana aims to build on its success. With key players returning and new talent added, the Hoosiers could surprise, but better line play will be crucial.

7. Iowa Hawkeyes: Iowa is hoping that transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski can revitalize its struggling offense. The defense is elite, but the offense must improve to make noise in the Big Ten.

8. Nebraska Cornhuskers: Nebraska has a favorable schedule and could make a jump under coach Matt Rhule, especially with quarterback Dylan Raiola leading the way.

9. USC Trojans: USC has work to do, particularly in its defense. However, if it can improve, the Trojans could contend for a playoff spot.

10. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Could Minnesota be a wild-card College Football Playoff contender? If they improve on last season’s performance, their outlook could be much brighter. Minnesota has a solid defense, along with a potential two-way star in Koi Perich. They will also rely on first-year starting quarterback Drake Lindsey to provide some magic for the Gophers this season.

11. Washington Huskies
The Huskies are excited about the potential of sophomore quarterback Desmond Williams Jr., who passed for 374 yards and totaled five touchdowns in Washington’s bowl loss to Louisville. If Williams builds on that performance, the Huskies could surprise offensively, especially with 1,000-yard rusher Jonah Coleman in the backfield. This combination could help the Huskies have a strong season.

12. Michigan State Spartans
After a tough year and a relatively quiet offseason, Michigan State could surprise some teams in coach Jonathan Smith’s second year. The Spartans made key moves in the transfer portal, bolstering the offensive line and wide receiver positions to support second-year starting quarterback Aidan Chiles. Areas for improvement include takeaways and better play on the road. Michigan State was 1-4 on the road last season, which is concerning if they want to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Athan Kaliakmanis is back after becoming the first Rutgers quarterback since 2015 to pass for more than 2,000 yards in a season. Defensively, the pass rush could be a strength with the arrival of transfers Eric O’Neal and Bradley Weaver, both of whom were all-conference performers. Rutgers ranked just 84th nationally with only 22 total sacks last season, so improvement here is crucial.

14. UCLA Bruins
The Bruins have gone all-in on quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the Tennessee transfer. His return home could signal a shift in how UCLA operates this season. If Iamaleava meets expectations and a defense filled with many new players and coaches performs well, UCLA could rise in the rankings after a season in which they secured wins against Iowa and Nebraska.

15. Wisconsin Badgers
Injuries derailed any chance Wisconsin had of fielding a viable offense in 2024, as the Badgers ranked 102nd in passing and lost their final five games. Hopefully, a healthier season will lead to a better outcome for the Badgers this year.

16. Northwestern Wildcats
After a tough 2024 season on offense, Northwestern had its most successful winter transfer portal haul, which included quarterback Preston Stone from SMU, wide receiver Griffin Wilde from South Dakota, and several linemen. The Wildcats face a huge opener against Tulane and several tricky Big Ten road games, but bowl eligibility should be within reach this season.

17. Maryland Terrapins
Last season, the Terrapins stumbled to a 1-8 Big Ten record. Maryland doesn’t have much returning offensively, though keeping quarterback Malik Washington in the state of Maryland could be helpful. Washington also faces competition for the job from UCLA transfer Justyn Martin and redshirt freshman Khristian Martin. The choice of starting quarterback will be crucial, as selecting the wrong one could lead to another disastrous season, making it a potentially make-or-break decision for Maryland.

18. Purdue Boilermakers
Barry Odom is back in the power five after an impressive stint at UNLV. He takes over a Purdue team with almost an entirely new roster and a challenging schedule that includes Notre Dame and Ohio State. Moderate improvement is the goal for Odom, whose track record on defense and the addition of better personnel could lead to brighter days ahead for Purdue.

There you have it: an inside look into one of the most intriguing conferences in college football this upcoming season, with many eyes on both the regular season and the playoffs. We’ll see how it all plays out for each team in the Big Ten Conference, starting on August 30th.