2025 BIG 10 Conference Preview

Jake Wimberly

Ross Gaskin Contributing:

The 2024 season was HUGE for the Big 10. In the first ever 12 team playoff, the Big 10’s very own Ohio State emerged victorious, winning the National Championship. It will be tough for the Big 10 to have a better season than 2024, but 2025 is still going to be another great season.

There will be a legit Natty contender out of the Big 10, but it probably is not who you think. Before we get into that, let's talk about these Big 10 QBs heading into the 2025 season.

There is so much talent in the Big 10 this year, and almost every team has a legitimate shot at winning the conference title. Also with all of that talent, the Big 10 expects to bring home the Natty for the second year in a row.

The conference this year based on the numbers will have the #3 best returning QB production in the Power 4.

Cumulative Conference Quarterback Metrics:

ACC- 17.18
Big 12- 15.44
Big 10- 15.38
SEC- 14.77

The Big 10 might not have the best cumulative conference number, but there are still some very talented gunslingers around the conference. There is so much talent in the Big 10 that the QBs might not be a huge factor in conference success.

2025 BIG 10 Quarterback Rankings:

Penn State: Drew Allar- 21.5
Illinois: Luke Altmyer- 17.7
UCLA: Nico Lamaleava- 17.6
Oregon: Dante Moore- 14.7
Rutgers: Athan Kaliakmanis- 14.6
Indiana: Fernando Mendoza- 13.8
Northwestern: Preston Stone- 13.7
Ohio State: Julian Sayin- 13
Michigan: Bryce Underwood- 12
Washington: Demond Williams - 11.1
Iowa: Mark Gronowski- 10.4
Wisconsin: Billy Edwards Jr.- 9.8
Nebraska: Dylan Raiola- 9.5
Purdue: Malachi Singleton- 9.5
USC: Sam Huard- 9.5
Minnesota: Zach Pryon- 8.5
Michigan State: Aidan Chiles- 7.5
Maryland: Justyn Martin- 7.5

These rankings are purely based on returning production. Every spot on the list is subject to change as some guys either did not play, got hurt, or split reps with another QB last season. Expect guys like Bryce Underwood, Julian Sayin, and Dante Moore to fly up the list as the season goes on.

The King of the QBs in the Big 10 this year is Drew Allar who is returning to Penn State after a great 2024 campaign. He threw for 3,327 yards and 24 TDs while leading Penn State to 2 playoff victories. Drew Allar is expected to lead Penn State to even more in 2025.

The most exciting part of these Big 10 QBs is the up and coming freshman and sophomores. Nebraska’s QB, Dylan Raiola, will be coming into 2025 with a lot of hype as his 2024 freshman season showed great potential. Michigan’s most likely starter, Bryce Underwood, will be entering into 2025 as the #1 overall freshman recruit in the country. Get ready for these QBs to torture defenses for the next 3-4 years.

2025 BIG 10 Head Coach Rankings:

Ohio State: Ryan Day- 25
Penn State: James Franklin- 20
Oregon: Dan Lanning- 16
USC: Lincoln Riley- 15
Wisconsin: Luke Fickell- 13
Iowa: Kirk Ferentz- 11
Indiana: Curt Cignetti- 10
Michigan State: Jonathan Smith- 9
Washington: Jedd Fish- 8
UCLA: DeShaun Foster- 7
Minnesota: P.J. Fleck- 7
Illinois: Brett Bielema-7
Michigan: Sheronne Moore- 7
Rutgers: Greg Schiano- 6
Maryland: Mike Locksley- 5
Nebraska: Matt Rhule- 5
Purdue: Bary Odom- 5
Northwestern: David Braun- 3

Obviously, the National Champion head coach is the #1 ranked head coach in the Big 10. Ryan Day has done a phenomenal job at keeping Ohio State rolling in the post Urban Meyer era of Buckeye football. Ryan Day and his Buckeyes expect nothing less than perfection, so it is Natty or bust.

The coaches who are right on Ryan Day’s tail are Penn State’s James Franklin and Oregon’s Dan Lanning. Both coaches have elevated their individual team’s performance, dominance, and culture year after year. Of these two, the one to keep an eye is Dan Lanning as he is building something truly special in Eugene, and I feel his Ducks are due for an insane run.

Another coach to keep an eye on is Nebraska’s Matt Rhule. Coach Rhule has seemingly changed the culture in Nebraska entirely in just 2 seasons. Now he has the QB and supporting pieces to push the ‘Huskers into Big 10 dominance and superiority.

2025 Power Four Coaching Index:

Big 10- 12.78
Big 12- 12.55
SEC- 12.43
ACC- 9.46

Strength of Schedule Numbers:

Wisconsin: 1153.31
Iowa: 1130.72
Ohio State: 1126
UCLA: 1113.73
Purdue: 1112.33
Rutgers: 1081.87
Northwestern: 1075.96
Washington: 1072.61
Oregon: 1068.36
Michigan: 1060.82
USC: 1058.4
Illinois: 1048.44
Penn State: 1041.41
Indiana: 1036.39
Minnesota: 1015.41
Maryland: 1014.72
Michigan State: 968.85
Nebraska: 948.52

By our numbers, Wisconsin has the toughest schedule in the Big 10 which is really devastating for the Badgers. Wisconsin has been a middle of the pack, and at times right on the verge of being elite, in the Big 10 for a few years now. Wisconsin has been so close to getting back to the top of the Big 10, but this 2025 schedule is going to make that a grueling process.

On the flip side, Nebraska has the easiest schedule in the Big 10 which will be so beneficial to the Cornhuskers. Nebraska has been dying to break into that elite group of Big 10 teams, and their 2025 schedule can help them get there. Their easy schedule will bring a lot of wins, and it will also bring new transfers and recruits who will be eager to be a part of what Coach Rhule is building.

The Big 10 will always be one of the most fun and competitive conferences in college football, and that will continue in the 2025 season. However, it is the non-conference games that get me the most excited. There are a bunch of good non-conference matchups, but specifically the week 1 Texas at Ohio State game will be the best one. It is the rematch of last season's Cotton Bowl that was one of the most exciting playoff games this year.

The Oregon Ducks also have a great schedule advantage as they head into a redemption year after that embarrassing playoff loss. They also will have a new QB at the helm, so that middle of the pack strength of schedule number will help in his development and confidence. Expect a huge win total for Dan Lanning and his Oregon Ducks.

The Conference race as a whole:

The Big 10 Conference race has potential to be one of the closest and competitive races in college football. The Big 10 title feels like it is up for grabs for 7 teams in the conference with Penn State and Oregon being the two front runners. The teams that will play in the conference championship could literally be decided by one or two games.

The other main teams who have a legit shot at the title are Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio State. The Buckeyes are not the immediate favorites due to the fact that they lost their QB, 2 RBs, one of their best WRs, and pieces all across the defense. Michigan and Illinois are expected to have a bounce back year, and are expected to be towards the top of the Big 10.

My Big 10 dark horse for 2025 is the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Coach Rhule has been building a new culture in Lincoln, and now that they have a stud QB, plus an easy schedule to build up wins and confidence. Nebraska has potential to be a Big 10 elite, and a legit shot at the conference title.

When the season comes to a close, It will be the Oregon Ducks who will come out on top in the Big 10 as they will beat Penn State in the Big 10 Championship game.

Once conference championship week is over, we believe that the Big 10 will receive 4 playoff slots with the teams being the Oregon Ducks, Penn State, Michigan, and Illinois. There is potential for the Big 10 to not receive 4 spots, so if that is the case, Illinois will not be in the playoffs. Expect for both Oregon and Penn State to have a very competitive playoff run.