Big Ten Preview 2025
From top to bottom, the Big Ten is a gauntlet every year. Every Saturday has playoff implications, and the last two national champions have come from its ranks. This isn’t just one of the best conferences in college football it’s the proving ground where contenders are battle tested, and pretenders are exposed.
From the Cheap Seats
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From the Cheap Seats 〰️
2024 Recap
1.) Ohio State Buckeyes
2025 Projection: 11-1 (9-0)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 10.5 +108
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +185
Major Losses: Texas
Even with the departure of 14 players to the NFL, I believe the defending national champions have what it takes to come out on top as Big Ten champions. Ohio State doesn’t need perfection just stability at quarterback. If they get it, they’ll be the Big Ten front runners. Circle November 1st against Penn State at the Horseshoe. That could be the title game before the title game.
2.) Penn State Nittany Lions
2025 Projection: 11-1 (8-1)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 10.5 +100
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +230
Major Losses: Ohio State
Penn State checks nearly every box this year experience, depth, and a two-headed backfield monster in Singleton and Allen. But the spotlight is squarely on James Franklin. Can he finally get it done and bring home the Big Ten title for the first time in nearly a decade?
3.) Oregon Ducks
2025 Projection: 11-1 (8-1)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 10.5 +132
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +360
Major Losses: Penn State
After a dominant 12–0 Big Ten debut and a conference title, Oregon returns in 2025 with one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes headlines the backfield and is expected to be a game-changer after a 1,400-yard season. In the passing game, former five-star UCLA transfer Dante Moore takes over at quarterback, and his top target could be fellow five-star freshman phenom Dakorien Moore, who brings elite speed and playmaking ability to the Ducks' receiving corps.
4.) Michigan Wolverines
2025 Projection: 9-3 (7-2)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 9.5 +140
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +1000
Major Losses: Ohio State, Michigan State & Oklahoma
Expectations are always sky-high in Ann Arbor, especially after the Wolverines landed standout quarterback Bryce Underwood with a record $10.5 million NIL deal to flip his commitment from LSU. The Wolverines look to not only beat Ohio State but land a spot in the Big Ten title game.
5.) Illinois Fighting Illini
2025 Projection: 10-2 (6-3)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 8.5 +152
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +4100
Major Losses: Wisconsin, Ohio State
Our favorite Big Ten team, the Fighting Illini, are back after securing their first 10-win season since 2001. With Luke Altmyer returning for his third year at quarterback, Illinois looks like a dark horse contender ready to make a serious run at the Big Ten title.
6.) Indiana Hoosiers
2025 Projection: 9-3 (6-3)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 8.5 +110
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +4300
Major Losses: Penn State, Oregon & Iowa
7.) Iowa Hawkeyes
2025 Projection: 8-4 (6-3)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 7.5 +132
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +3400
Major Losses: USC, Oregon & Penn State
Perhaps the most underrated team in the conference, Iowa has struggled offensively in recent years. But this season, with South Dakota transfer Mark Gronowski under center, they may have the most talented quarterback the Hawkeyes have seen in the past decade.
8.) USC Trojans
2025 Projection: 8-4 (6-3)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 7.5 -160
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +2000
Major Losses: Illinois, Oregon, Michigan, & Norte Dame
9.) Michigan State Spartans
2025 Projection: 6-6 (4-5)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 5.5 -138
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +11000
Major Losses: Iowa, Penn State, Indiana & Boston College
10.) Nebraska Cornhuskers
2025 Projection: 7-5 (4-5)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 7.5 -142
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +3600
Major Losses: Iowa, Penn State, & Michigan
11.) Wisconsin Badgers
2025 Projection: 6-6 (4-5)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 5.5 +138
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +13000
Major Losses: Alabama, Oregon, Michigan & Ohio State
12.) Minnesota Golden Gophers
2025 Projection: 7-5 (4-5)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 6.5 -190
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +12000
Major Losses: Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin & Ohio State
13.) Washington Huskies
2025 Projection: 7-5 (4-5)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 7.5 +100
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +5000
Major Losses: UCLA, Wisconsin, Michigan & Ohio State
14.) UCLA Bruins
2025 Projection: 6-6 (3-6)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 5.5 +130
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +17000
Major Losses: UNLV, USC, Michigan State & Ohio State
15.) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2025 Projection: 5-7 (2-7)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 5.5 -142
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): N/A
Major Losses: Washington, Iowa, Illinois & Minnesota
16.) Purdue Boilermakers
2025 Projection: 3-9 (1-8)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 3.5 +198
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +30000
Major Losses: Norte Dame, Minnesota, USC & Washington
17.) Maryland Terrapins
2025 Projection: 3-9 (0-9)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 4.5 +106
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +30000
Major Losses: Rutgers, UCLA, Michigan State & Washington
18.) Northwestern Wildcats
2025 Projection: 2-10 (0-9)
Over & Under Wins (via FanDuel): Over 3.5 -196
Big Ten Title Odds (via FanDuel): +30000
Major Losses: Tulane, Purdue, USC & Illinois
Not much to say here…good luck Wildcat fans it can only get better from here.
