The national champion hailed from the Big Ten for a second straight season in 2024, and there\u2019s the potential for the conference to have yet another team finish at the top come January.<\/p>\n
Whether or not it has another national champion or not, the Big Ten once again has 18 teams competing after the conference expanded last season. Here\u2019s where they rank heading into the summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tier 1: Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon<\/p>\n
The top three teams in the Big Ten this season are clear-cut. Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon appear far above the rest of the field, just as they were in 2024.<\/p>\n
While the Nittany Lions have most of their roster from last season returning, both the Ducks and Buckeyes have a new face lining up under center. Julian Sayin seems to be the frontrunner to lead the defending national champions, while Dante Moore is set to start for Dan Lanning and Co.<\/p>\n
Oregon is coming off a dominant 13-1 inaugural season in the Big Ten in which it won the conference championship over Penn State. The Ducks may be losing some key talent, but Lanning\u2019s recruiting and transfer portal acquisitions still make them a top 25 team in the nation.<\/p>\n
Phenom wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs lead the way for Ohio State, which is looking to win back-to-back national championships for the first time in program history.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, there was plenty of turnover for the Buckeyes, too. They lost their defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to the Nittany Lions and key defensive talent to the NFL, but still project as a top-10 team regardless.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The first down chain stands on the field during the Big Ten championship football game between Penn State and Oregon in Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Ducks beat the Nittany Lions 45-37.<\/p>\n
Kate Hildebrand<\/p>\n
Penn State is arguably the best team in the Big Ten on paper, but has both Ohio State and Oregon on its regular season schedule which could complicate its path to a second straight Big Ten championship appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tier 2: Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Nebraska\u00a0<\/p>\n
Indiana and Illinois exceeded expectations in 2024, with the Hoosiers earning a College Football Playoff bid and the Illini finishing No. 16 in the AP Poll.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both are set for a slight drop off this season, with Curt Cignetti\u2019s squad losing starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke among others. Illinois, meanwhile, has Luke Altmeyer under center for another season, but the real question is who\u2019s left for him at wide receiver after the Illini lost Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin to the NFL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Michigan is expected to bounce back after a less-than-ideal 2024. It now has some stability at quarterback in true freshman and former 247Sports composite No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood, so the Wolverines\u2019 offense should see an uptick in production.<\/p>\n
The Cornhuskers seem to be trending in the right direction \u2014 starting quarterback Dylan Raiola impressed as a true freshman last season, breaking program records along the way to a 7-6 finish, and will likely take a step forward in his second year as Nebraska\u2019s starter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tier 3: Iowa, USC, Washington\u00a0<\/p>\n
Iowa\u2019s offense has always been the problem in Iowa City, but South Dakota State transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski could be the answer for the Hawkeyes. Kirk Ferentz\u2019s defense projects to be as good as usual, leaving Iowa among the middle of the pack in the conference with the potential for more.<\/p>\n
Washington is more of a sleeper to have a solid season. With Jedd Fisch entering Year 2, he is putting his trust in sophomore Demond Williams Jr. at quarterback, who caught the nation\u2019s eye with a breakout performance in the Huskies\u2019 Sun Bowl loss to Louisville. Running back Jonah Coleman and wide receiver Denzel Boston are both returning for Washington as well, giving them a solid base for an offense.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen interviews on the Big Ten Network before the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Orange Bowl in Le Meridien on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.<\/p>\n
Kate Hildebrand<\/p>\n
The Trojans retained defensive coordinator D\u2019Anton Lynn despite lucrative openings across the country, which was huge for their chances of bouncing back in 2025 after an up-and-down campaign last season.<\/p>\n
Lincoln Riley is betting on Jayden Maiava as the answer at quarterback, who threw for 1,201 yards a year ago despite just four starts. If the sophomore develops and lives up to expectations, USC could exceed its projection.<\/p>\n
Tier 4: UCLA, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Minnesota\u00a0<\/p>\n
UCLA had the splash of the spring portal \u2014 it brought in Nico Iamaleava from Tennessee, who left the Volunteers in hope of more money. He might not have found it in Los Angeles, but the Bruins did find an answer at quarterback from the move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Iamaleava can only boost UCLA\u2019s roster so much, however, and the Bruins will likely be near the bottom of the Big Ten.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minnesota currently has an ongoing quarterback battle, while Wisconsin is hoping Maryland transfer Billy Edwards pans out. Regardless, both teams are expected to have a bit of a fall off next season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Scarlet Knights, meanwhile, are hoping Athan Kaliakmanis has a solid Year 2 as starting quarterback after becoming the first player with over 2,000 passing yards in a season for Rutgers since 2015.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tier 5: Purdue, Northwestern, Maryland, Michigan State<\/p>\n
Purdue, Northwestern, Maryland and Michigan State simply don\u2019t have the talent to stack up with the rest of the Big Ten. All four had abysmal seasons in 2024, and don\u2019t appear set to take a step forward this season.<\/p>\n
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