Jul 23, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon head coach Dan Lanning speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
The Big Ten is one of the two best conferences in college football. That doesn't mean, though, that all 18 members live up to that standard. It's important to recognize where programs sit in the hierarchy as they begin to chase championships, chances and avoid the chopping block. Here's my look into how the Big Ten will shake out in 2025:
The Nittany Lions return some of the most valuable production in the nation, including quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. For head coach James Franklin, this is another chance to prove what he hasn't yet in his decade-plus in State College: that Penn State can cement a slot at the top of college football.
The reigning champions don't return their quarterback -- Will Howard departed for the NFL -- but do welcome back arguably the nation's two best players in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes also lost both coordinators from their national championship run, but have the means to build another strong year.
Oregon doesn't have the returning production to cement itself as a preseason title favorite -- the Ducks lost more than half their starters after going undefeated and winning the Big Ten Championship last season. What buoys them, though, is potentially elite trenches and skill positions (RB Makhi Hughes, TE Kenyon Sadiq and WR Dakorien Moore) that could see breakout years across the board.
Tier 2: Can this quarterback stack successful years?
Illinois and Indiana
In Champaign, Luke Altmyer threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024 after transferring from the University of Mississippi in 2023. If he can boost a revamped receiving core, the Fighting Illini, who went 10-3 and finished No. 16 in the AP poll last year, could find themselves contending late.
Meanwhile former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza takes over the helm from last season's Cinderella in Bloomington. In 2024, Kurtis Rourke took the Hoosiers all the way to 11 wins and the CFP before heading to the NFL. Head coach Curt Cignetti replaced him with Mendoza, who threw for 3,004 yards as a sophomore in Berkeley last year.
Tier 3: At least one side of the ball has real potential
Michigan, Washington and Nebraska
Bryce Underwood, the nation's top quarterback recruit, is the one to watch in Ann Arbor. Whether or not he starts the season, the Wolverines' offensive upside lies with his dual-threat ability. Demond Williams Jr. has that too -- plus an elite running back-wide receiver duo in Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston. Dylan Raiola showed flashes under Matt Rhule in Lincoln, but ended the season with a 13-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio and needs to improve in year two.
The Hawkeyes have some big games on their schedule -- Indiana, Oregon and Penn State -- but host all three. Iowa loses star running back Kaleb Johnson and adds former FCS star Mark Gronowski at quarterback, but needs to show that a new-ish front seven can live up to the defensive standard that they've set. USC puts all its eggs in the Jayden Maiava basket while trying to improve defensively, and Darius Taylor will have to carry Minnesota's offense for the Gophers to succeed.
The first three of these four face serious questions around the quarterback position -- Nico Iamaleava enters in Los Angeles, while Aiden Chiles continues to try to find his place as a Spartan. Rutgers, meanwhile, has the chance to play spoiler when facing Ohio State and Penn State to end the season -- but will need to cement a relatively unproven secondary (three projected transfer starters, two sophomores) in order to do so.