The 2025 college football season is just around the corner, and we’re excited to share our preseason power rankings for the Big Ten conference. Each week, we’ll rank the teams based on how they’re performing at that time, rather than their past performances or current poll standings.
With every team undefeated heading into the new season, it’s difficult to predict who will emerge as the top contenders. Here are our top 5 picks:
1. Penn State – The Nittany Lions return a strong core from last year’s playoff run and have upgraded at wide receiver, making them a top contender for the national championship.
2. Ohio State – Despite losing some senior leaders, the Buckeyes will still be a force to be reckoned with under coach Ryan Day. They’re capable of dominating games and competing for the Big Ten title.
3. Oregon – The Ducks are looking to rebuild after last year’s playoff exit but have the talent and coaching to make another deep run in the postseason.
4. Illinois – With a solid core returning, the Illini could surprise many by making it to the playoffs and competing for the conference title.
5. Michigan – While not expected to be a major threat this season, Michigan has made significant recruiting strides and could sneak into the playoffs with a strong finish.
The rest of the Big Ten teams fall into three tiers: Tier 2 (Tier 4’s lower tier) teams that are capable but lack national championship ingredients, Tier 3 teams with good production returning but not much noise in the postseason, and Tier 5, which includes teams that are unlikely to make a deep run.
Stay tuned for our weekly updates as we continue to rank the Big Ten teams based on their performance.
Source: https://www.blackshoediaries.com/penn-state-football/77736/big-ten-power-rankings-preseason