After the SEC held the College Football Playoff trophy for four straight years, the Big Ten has now had back-to-back National Champions in the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes. Will someone from the conference claim that title this year as well? Or does the SEC get back to being the pinnacle of College Football? This is our official Big Ten Preview for the 2025 NCAA Football season, full of picks, predictions, and betting odds for the entire conference.
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Let’s start by looking at the recent history of the conference and the betting odds related to the Big Ten.
Jeremiah Smith is the best wide receiver in the country
Past 10 Big Ten Champions
- 2024: Oregon Ducks
- 2023: Michigan Wolverines
- 2022: Michigan Wolverines
- 2021: Michigan Wolverines
- 2020: Ohio State Buckeyes
- 2019: Ohio State Buckeyes
- 2018: Ohio State Buckeyes
- 2017: Ohio State Buckeyes
- 2016: Penn State Nittany Lions
- 2015: Michigan State Spartans
In their first year in the extended conference, the Oregon Ducks captured the Big Ten Conference Championship. They had the benefit of playing Ohio State in Eugene, beating them during the regular season and then taking down Penn State in the conference championship. The Buckeyes got the last laugh, beating Oregon in the CFP Quarterfinal Rose Bowl, and eventually winning the entire thing.
But did the Buckeyes reload? And what do the sportsbooks think about the rest of the league?
2025 Big Ten Football Betting Odds
Dante Moore takes over for the Oregon Ducks this season
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Odds to Win the CFP (Big Ten Schools)
- Ohio State Buckeyes +650
- Penn State Nittany Lions +700
- Oregon Ducks +1100
- Michigan Wolverines +3300
- USC Trojans +6600
After those five, the drop-off is significant. The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Indiana Hoosiers are both 125-1, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Illinois Fighting Illini are both 150-1, and then the Washington Huskies are 200-1. In reality, no one else is worth mentioning, but what about these teams’ odds to simply make the 12-team playoff?
Odds to Make College Football Playoff (Big Ten Schools)
- Ohio State -400
- Penn State -275
- Oregon -260
- Michigan +210
- USC +475
- Indiana +550
- Illinois +550
Three teams seem like “locks” to get in, as those three should run the conference this season. Michigan may make some noise, but it all depends on how true freshman QB Bryce Underwood performs. If he doesn’t live up to the hype, grad transfer Mikey Keene from Fresno State is ready to roll.
Nebraska, Iowa, and Washington all have odds shorter than 10-1 to make the College Football Playoff as well, but I don’t think that’s where my money would go.
Could Jayden Maiava and USC make some noise in the Big Ten?
Odds to Win Big Ten Championship
- Ohio State +200
- Penn State +240
- Oregon +275
- Michigan +750
- USC +1600
- Indiana +2800
- Iowa +3300
- Nebraska +3300
- Illinois +3300
- Washington +6000
After that we’ve got crazy odds. Minnesota is 100-1, Michigan State is 125-1, Wisconsin, UCLA, and Rutgers are all 150-1, while Maryland, Purdue, and Northwestern will pay 300-1 if they miraculously win this conference.
Like I said, it seems like a three-horse race. But let’s get to know all these squads.
2025 Big Ten Football Team Breakdown
To be honest, there are plenty of teams in this conference that aren’t worth mentioning, so I won’t waste your time. Just know the bottom barrel of the Big Ten is way down there. So, let’s chat about the potential top-10 teams in this conference.
No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes
The mundane offense of the Iowa Hawkeyes doubled their scoring numbers last season, but can it be enough in a stacked conference? Mark Gronowski takes a step up from the FCS level all the way to the Big Ten. He certainly has an arm to bring at least a little excitement to the offensive side of the ball.
The Hawkeyes have to play the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames in Week 2, but they have the benefit of hosting their two toughest conference games, Penn State and Oregon. However they still have to go to Wisconsin, USC, and Nebraska making me pause on their win total at 7.5. Lucky for them, they get to avoid Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois all together.
Demond Williams Jr. is a huge dual threat QB for the Huskies
No. 9 Washington Huskies
Demond Williams is back and ready to lead the Huskies alongside upperclassmen RB Jonah Coleman and WR Denzel Boston. Washington added another wideout, senior transfer Omari Evans who had 415 yards and 5 TDs with Penn State last season.
Their schedule is tough but favorable. While they do have to face Ohio State, Oregon and Illinois, they host all of them, forcing a couple eastern teams to travel a few time zones. However they’ve got to go to the Big House to face Michigan. The Huskies could be sneaky, and I think they certainly go bowling.
I’ll hold off their 7.5 win total with this in mind. If the Huskies lose their four toughest matchups, the ones listed above, but handle business elsewhere, they sit at 8-4. I certainly don’t want to bet on hoping they pull off one of those wins, or for them to be absolutely perfect throughout the rest of their schedule.
No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers
I’ll be the first to say it, I liked what I saw out of Dylan Raiola last season. The Huskers added a couple of pass catchers starting with WR Dane Key of Kentucky, who led the Wildcats in receiving yards the past two seasons. He caught 40+ passes his past two years, going for at least 600 yards and snagging 14 TDs in three seasons with Kentucky. Now he has a very capable QB.
True freshman Nyziah Hunter caught 40 passes for 578 yards and five TDs last season for the Golden Bears of Cal. Two weapons for Raiola could be lethal, especially returning most of a defense that was top 20 in points allowed last season.
The Huskers get to avoid teams named Ohio State, Oregon, Illinois, and Indiana, facing only Michigan, USC, and Penn State at Beaver Stadium as their only matchups against top Big Ten foes. They’ll be tested right away facing the Cincinnati Bearcats in Week 1 who are set to make some noise in the Big 12.
Dylan Raiola returns for the Cornhuskers for his sophomore season
No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers
After last season’s Cinderella run, I think the Hoosiers come back down to Earth. Fernando Mendoza, who threw passes to now Nebraska receiver, Nyziah Hunter last year at Cal, is set to take over for Indiana.
The Hoosiers have a very experienced defense which should help them along the way, as well as a favorable schedule.
Indiana avoids Ohio State, Michigan and USC. Now they have to play Oregon and Penn State on the road, which will be rough, but they’ll host Illinois and have five other “easier” matchups to round out conference play.
No. 6 Michigan Wolverines
Bryce Underwood is set to lead the Wolverines as a true freshman this fall. He’ll be tested early in Week 2 as they go to Norman to face a tough Oklahoma Sooners team of the SEC, one who is very hungry for a solid season from their football team. The Wolverines open up Big Ten play going to Lincoln to face the Huskers, and have to go to USC later in the season.
But that’s about it… you know, other than closing out the season hosting Ohio State.
Their win total of 9.5 is heavily juiced to the under, priced at -175 at BetOnline, and for good reason. Just looking at their schedule, they could easily go at least 5-1, at home. On the road, I see wins over Sparty, Northwestern and Maryland for sure, bringing our total up to a conservative eight wins.
They’ll need to win two out of four against Oklahoma, Nebraska and USC on the road, and Ohio State at home, which is where things get tricky if Underwood doesn’t pan out.
No. 5 USC Trojans
Jayden Maiava is ready to lead the Trojans after taking over for Miller Moss following a 4-5 start. Maiava won three of four games he started, only losing to eventual National Runner Up Notre Dame where he still put up 35 points.
He has a talented receiver corps that adds the No. 1 JUCO running back in Waymond Jones of Hutchinson Community College. However it won’t matter if the offensive line doesn’t play better. Some help on defense would go a long way as well.
The Trojans have to go to South Bend this season in mid October while also traveling to Nebraska, Oregon and Illinois. They’ll also host Michigan, but if they can give Maiava enough time, the Trojans could certainly be sneaky. While I do have them listed as No. 5 in the conference, at 16-1 I think they are worth some fun money to come out on top of this conference.
Luke Altmyer and Illini could surprise some people this College Football season
No. 4 Illinois Fighting Illini
Luke Altmyer is back for the Illini, and before we get into the rest of their personnel, let’s look at their schedule.
They have three fairly easy non conference games, possibly having a small test at Duke. But as far as Big Ten play goes, they avoid Oregon, Michigan and Nebraska, while getting to host both Ohio State and USC, their two toughest games.
Going to Washington could be tough, but Bret Bielema and company will be coming off a bye week and well prepared. They return most of their offensive production, and add WR Hudson Clement who led West Virginia with nine TDs the past two years, going for 51 catches and 741 yards last season.
If Illinois can live up to the task, and win games they are supposed to, this team could sneak it’s way into the College Football Playoff like Indiana did last year. I love their win total over 8.5 at +150, as I see worst case we end with nine.
No. 3 Oregon Ducks
After winning the Big Ten in their first year, it will be tough for the Ducks to compete. Dante Moore gets ready to be the QB for Oregon, and they brought in a very good transfer in running back Makhi Hughes. In two season with Tulane, Moore went for 1,378 and 1,401 rushing yards, along with 24 total TDs in two seasons. He added 176 receiving yards on 19 catches last year as an every-down back.
The Ducks have a very favorable schedule, avoiding Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, and Nebraska, plus they have the benefit of hosting USC. One game they’ll have circled is October 27 when they head to University Park and take on Penn State, a week after a rivalry game against Oregon State, but the Beavers shouldn’t be too much trouble.
The Ducks have a much easier conference schedule, and could easily end up on top of the conference if they get past the Nittany Lions.
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes have a lot of pieces to replace, both on and off the field. But they still have a rock solid secondary and possibly the best wide receiver room in the country. Julian Sayin steps up to throw to Brandon Inniss, Carnell Tate, and of course, Jeremiah Smith, who is No. 4 on the Heisman board at +1100, and the top non-quarterback.
They get things going right off the bat, hosting the Texas Longhorns and Arch Manning in Week 1. While they get to host Penn State, the Buckeyes have to go to Washington, Illinois, and Michigan for road Big Ten games. If their young QB keeps his composure away from Columbus, Ohio State will be a tough team to beat, retaining an incredible defense to help keep this team on top.
Nicholas Singleton returns as a 1,000 yard rusher for Penn State
No. 1 Penn State Nittany Lions
Last but not least, Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions. Penn State returns Allar at QB, along with senior RBs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. They have a rock solid and experienced offensive line, but a brand new wide receiver corps.
Kyron Hudson had 38 catches for 462 yards and three TDs last season for USC. Devonte Ross had 76 catches for 11 TDs and 1,043 yards for Troy last year, accounting for 35.5% of the teams receptions, 40.8% of their yards, and 52.4% of their touchdowns. Lastly, Trebor Pena was one of Kyle McCord’s favorite targets at Syracuse last year, catching 84 passes for 941 yards and leading the team with nine TDs.
If the wide receiver play improves, which it only should, Penn State should top the Big Ten. They host Oregon and Nebraska while going to Ohio State, but avoid the other “good” teams in the conference. If they show the Ducks and Buckeyes who is boss, Penn State could lift their first conference championship since 2016.
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