The Big Ten is likely to look back on this season as a bit of a let-down for the conference. It is a near certainty that the league, which is the second-best in the entire country, is going to get three bids into the College Football Playoff. However, each of those three teams is a true contender to win the whole thing. So time will tell as to how we look back at the 2025 season in the Big Ten.
1. Ohio State
Another week, another win for the Buckeyes. I’m starting to get a little tired of this team. Their schedule has been so easy that they don’t really need to play their starters for most of the games, and they play at a snail’s pace. It’s load management in action, and they have been very cagey about the availability of their players, which is very annoying.
2. Indiana
Nov 8, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
No coach has done more to improve the national reputation of their program in the last two seasons than Curt Cignetti. Indiana football has gone from bottom-dweller laughing stock to a legitimate national championship contender. I’m so looking forward to seeing this team match up with Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship.
3. Oregon
The Ducks are starting to pile up good wins now, after beating USC and Iowa in the last month. The advanced analytics love this team because of their margins of victory over bad teams, but now they’re starting to back up those numbers by beating quality opponents. And even more impressively so, they’ve done it without star WR Dakorien Moore.
4. USC
The Trojans did not come through with the breakthrough victory over Oregon, but they did not fall on their face either. The duo of Lemon and Lane is probably the 2nd-best WR tandem in the country behind only Ohio State’s. They’re not there yet, but USC is much closer to competing in the Big Ten than they have been in the previous two seasons.
5. Michigan
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) reacts after throwing an interception against Purdue during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
If you’re a Michigan fan, you have to look back at this season as a success, regardless of what happens this week against Ohio State. After all of the losses from last year’s team, and breaking in new starting QB Bryce Underwood, they sit at 9-2 with a chance to make the College Football Playoff by beating Ohio State for the 5th straight year. I think any Michigan fan would have taken this position at the start of the season.
6. Iowa
This Iowa season has been a good one, but it’s been just a few snaps away from being a great one. The addition of Mark Gronowski gave Iowa a legitimately good quarterback and has completely revived the offense from its 10-year dormant state.
7. Washington
The Huskies had an honestly hilarious win over UCLA, with the Bruins giving up some comedic turnovers in the process. Washington was able to do so while missing multiple starting offensive skill players, which made no difference to Demond Williams. A rivalry game against Oregon awaits in Week 14.
8. Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) throws the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
The Illini had a supremely disappointing loss to Wisconsin in Week 13, ending their bid at back-to-back 10-win seasons. Which would have also required a win this week and a win in their bowl game. Regardless, they still have a chance to send Luke Altmyer out in style as one of the best QBs in the last 50 years of the program.
9. Penn State
Credit to the interim coaching staff – this team is still coming out and playing very hard, as evidenced by their thrashing of Nebraska. Also, Kaytron Allen set the program record for career rushing yards last week. Which is a crazy accomplishment from a guy who has spent his whole career splitting carries! It just goes to show the effectiveness of Singleton and Allen in their four seasons.
10. Nebraska
This team is simply not the same without Dylan Raiola. RB Emmett Johnson did his best to singlehandedly carry the offense, but it was not enough against a tough Penn State defense. It’s a big “what if?” to ask how this season could have played out had Raiola not gotten hurt.
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