Athlon Sports predicts Big Ten football order of finish in 2025

Athlon Sports predicted the Big Ten football order of finish ahead of the 2025 college football season. There are familiar teams at the top, but expect a new champion this fall.

The Big Ten is top heavy again this season, the middle tier teams might have something to say this time around. We’re now just two months away from the season.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the Big Ten predictions from Athlon. We start with some national title contenders.

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1. Penn State

Penn State is the projected first place finisher in the Big Ten this season. The common theme is that the Nittany Lions are running it back like Ohio State did last season.

If that’s the case, then State College better get ready for a national championship parade. Drew Allar and others are back in key positions to make this one of the best teams in the country.

2. Ohio State

Ohio State goes into the 2025 season as the defending national champions. Can they repeat? There’s surely a possibility.

Caleb Downs stars on defense and Jeremiah Smith on offense. The Buckeyes have no shortage of talent and experience to win the Big Ten and more.

3. Oregon

Oregon just won the Big Ten last season so is there a chance for a repeat? Like Ohio State, sure thing. There’s always a chance!

Dante Moore steps in at quarterback for Dillon Gabriel but will be without WR Evan Stewart. The defense should be stout though and Dillon Thieneman will star in the secondary.

4. Michigan 

Sherrone Moore goes into Year 2 as head coach, albeit with an impending two-game suspension, with what could be a better Wolverines’ team. Michigan was middle of the pack, on the surface anyway, last season.

But, there’s potential there. Now that Bryce Underwood is at QB, whether he starts this year or next, Michigan should have the most important position figured out to compete for a Big Ten title.

5. Indiana

Indiana might come back down to Earth this season after nearly stealing the Big Ten last year. Sure, they ran up against Ohio State, but still made the College Football Playoff. But winning 10 regular season games last year wasn’t even enough!

What does Curt Cignetti have for a follow-up campaign? It might not be totally surprising to see this team finish 9-3, or something in that ballpark, but winning the Big Ten is a big ask, especially when playing on last year’s level.

6. Illinois

Bret Bielema had quite a squad last season and Athlon Sports is pretty confident in a top half finish. Luke Altmyer is back at QB, so Illinois could have it better than most.

Are they in the upper tier of the Big Ten? Some seem to think so but winning the  conference is a long shot compared to some of the other heavy hitters. Never say never.

7. Iowa

Iowa always has a shot right? Kirk Ferentz will have this team in contention from a competitive standpoint all season.

It’s just a matter if the quarterback play will be up to snuff to equate to the current elite Big Ten teams. The Hawkeyes will certainly be a thorn in everyone’s side.

8. Nebraska

The Huskers are hovering above the middle of the Big Ten standings per Athlon Sports. Dylan Raiola will go into his second year as the starting quarterback and there’s expectations for him to take a leap forward.

That’ll be key as Matt Rhule’s tenure rolls on. Postseason play and perhaps some signature wins can signal Nebraska’s return to the national spotlight in 2025.

9. USC

Lincoln Riley is under the gun this time around. The Trojans have to get something going in the Big Ten after Riley’s teams have dipped in win total year to year since he took over.

He’s a quarterback whisperer, so that portion of the team is of little worry. It’s just a matter if he can finally get it going on defense.

10. Washington

Washington gutted out six wins last year to get to a bowl game. Now going into Year 2 under Jedd Fisch, also Year 2 in the Big Ten, Washington has bigger expectations.

Games against Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oregon look like the toughest ones. Not to mention going to Washington State in September. And if the Huskies aren’t at least a 10-win team, we can forget about them winning the conference.

11. Minnesota

PJ Fleck has been pretty consistent as the Minnesota head coach since 2017. But a Big Ten title still eludes him and the Gophers. 

They were close to Indy in 2019, going 10-2 and getting a share of the then-west division. But since then, Fleck and Minnesota haven’t won more than nine games in a season. You’ll likely get more of the same in 2025.

12. Rutgers

Rutgers has made a bowl game two years in a row, but they’re still ways away from competing for a Big Ten title. Greg Schiano has to make sure to get his defense back on the right track but the offense seems to have figured it out.

Athan Kaliakmanis is the QB, his second year in the system, and Rutgers has plenty of young playmakers. This could be a competitive team in 2025, but not for a conference crown.

13. Wisconsin

Luke Fickell and the Badgers seemingly have potential to get back to the top of the Big Ten. However, it all has to come together.

Billy Edwards Jr. is an intriguing quarterback after he transferred in from Maryland. The defensive line transfers are going to be key too.

14. Michigan State

Jonathan Smith has a rebuilding job to do and perhaps making the postseason first should be the smaller goal. It’s been awhile since the Spartans competed for a Big Ten title and it’ll take a little while longer.

The Spartans could make their way to the middle of the conference. If so, perhaps this is a bowl team by the time winter rolls around.

15. UCLA

DeShaun Foster has a new quarterback in Nico Iamaleava after a much-talked about transfer saga. Is he the key to giving UCLA a lot of success in 2025? Maybe it’ll help!

But as far as winning the Big Ten, the other west coast schools have a much better chance to do that. Maybe in the future.

16. Northwestern

What David Braun did in his first year can’t be understated. They went 8-5 and won the Las Vegas Bowl. Last year? 4-8 and the challenges are evident.

Braun will have to figure something out as Athlon Sports puts them in the lower tier of the Big Ten. They’ll need a big climb to get to the middle of the pack.

17. Maryland

Maryland is in a bit of a rebuild, so winning the Big Ten won’t quite be on the docket in 2025. There are transfers across the board on offense, so it’ll be interesting to see how they mesh.

Following a 4-8 season, there might be pressure on Locksley to get it going this fall after three straight bowl wins. The Terps don’t want to get into a lull.

18. Purdue

Barry Odom takes over after a successful tenure at UNLV. It was disastrous last season and there’s not much positivity in 2025. But, Odom could get something going.

But for right now, Purdue is slated to finish at the bottom of the Big Ten this year. Good luck to coach Odom as he tries to resurrect the Boilermakers.