College Football Rankings: CBS Sports ranks every Big Ten team for 2025

The Big Ten is shaping up to be one of the more interesting conference in all of college football once again in 2025. Ahead of another exciting season, Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports ranked each program as they all reach for the stars.

There’s a fascinating mix of expectations throughout the conference. A couple of national title contenders, some ascending teams, a couple overrated programs and of course, a couple of underrated ones, as well. 

With that in mind, Fornelli tried to make sense of it all. Check out his rankings, from No. 1-18, below. There’s no other option but to start with the reigning champions of the college football world. 

1) Ohio State

Ryan Day finally got the monkey off his back and led Ohio State to a national title in 2024. Some key members of his program left, how will his reinforcements fare? That’s the question all of Columbus is wondering as they look to go back to back in 2025.

Fornelli: “I know there are plenty of questions surrounding the team with the number of losses it took, but the Buckeyes are the defending national champions. … They might not win the league, and they probably won’t win another natty. But they’re the reigning national champions until knocked off the mountain.”

2) Penn State

Ryan Day won his first national title as a head coach, can James Franklin be the next Big Ten coach to enter the upper echelon of leaders in college football? Penn State certainly has the team to do it. With Drew Allar at the helm, expectations are sky high for a good reason.

Fornelli: “They’re an extremely popular pick in the Big Ten this season because they’re following a similar blueprint to the ones Michigan and Ohio State used that led to a national title. Plenty of players who could’ve gone pro returned, so it’s a talented and experienced team. … Even if I’m taking a cautious approach on how good this team will be, I can’t justify ranking them lower than second right now.”

3) Oregon

Oregon had a landmark first campaign in the Big Ten. However, their top moment was winning the conference’s title, as they were beat down by Ohio State in the College Football Playoff. Due to their disappointment, they might be a bit underrated heading into 2025, which is wild to think after seeing the way Dan Lanning’s team has played under his tutelage. 

Fornelli: “I did tinker with the idea of putting the Ducks second. I don’t know if you remember, but this team did go undefeated during the regular season last year and won the Big Ten in its first year as a league member. The ending sucked, but even with all the changes to the roster this offseason, the Ducks will once again be in the hunt.”

4) Michigan

Sherrone Moore saved Michigan’s 2024 season by pulling a monstrous upset over Ryan Day and Ohio State during the final week of the regular season. Unfortunately, 2025 is already off to a rough start, as he’ll be suspended to start the season. We’ll see if the Wolverines can survive, and thrive this time around.

Fornelli: “Think of how horrible things went for the Wolverines last season. Yet, despite all of it, the Wolverines won eight games, including wins over Ohio State and Alabama. Yes, the team loses some studs on defense, but if the offense improves and the defense retools successfully, how far away is this team from winning 10 or more games?”

5) Illinois

Fornelli alluded to the idea that Illinois could be this season’s iteration of Indiana, which seems to be a popular sentiment heading into the 2025 season. With a host of veterans returning, count the Fighting Illini out at your own risk. A fruitful season seems to be on the horizon.

Fornelli: “Everybody is searching for ‘this year’s Indiana,’ and they’re all pointing at Illinois. … While Illinois can’t be Indiana because people will see it coming if they reach the College Football Playoff, that doesn’t mean Illinois can’t make a playoff push.”

6) Indiana

What does Indiana have for an encore? The spotlight with be on Curt Cignetti and company after their run to the College Football Playoff in 2025. Their team will look different, but if the Hoosiers can avoid a letdown, perhaps they can prove they’re on their way towards becoming a contender year-in and year-out.

Fornelli: “I couldn’t justify putting the Hoosiers lower than this, even if I’m skeptical they’ll have the same kind of lightning-in-a-bottle season they had last year. Even if the Hoosiers don’t hit a home run on every transfer this year, they have returning talent and should hit enough singles and doubles to stick around that eight-win mark.”

7) Iowa

Iowa has an offense, as of 2024. Will that continue in 2025? It’s anyone’s guess, but Kirk Ferentz does always seem to get the most out of his teams. At the worst, they’ll be a tough matchup for each of their opponents once again inside the Big Ten.

Fornelli: “Iowa’s offense didn’t stink last year. There was so much crazy stuff going on in the Big Ten that it feels to me like that got lost in the shuffle. …They scored 27.7 points per game! That was a giant improvement. Now, they’re hoping the addition of Mark Gronowski at QB will bring better balance to the offense since Kaleb Johnson and his explosive runs are gone.”

8) USC

Oregon has stolen USC’s hype as the big addition from the PAC-12. What can Lincoln Riley and the Trojans do to regain it? They have to start playing like the world expected them to when the former Oklahoma coach arrived. That’s easier said than done though, as we’ve learned over the past couple of seasons. 

Fornelli: “There were some positive steps forward last year on the defensive side of the ball, and there are more steps being taken behind the scenes, which are all good things. At the same time, it’s freaking USC, man. It shouldn’t take this long to turn things around.”

9) Nebraska

Matt Rhule seems to be building Nebraska back up, but it’s not happening over night. The Cornhuskers were more competitive in 2024, but it’s time for them to start notching some big time, conference wins in 2025. If they don’t take a leap forward this coming year, it’ll be disappointing. 

Fornelli: “Speaking of programs that are taking forever to turn things around, Nebraska finally got to a bowl last year and is one of those teams in the middle of the pack that could rise once the season begins. Dylan Raiola had all the freshman bumps and bruises, but if he makes the sophomore leap, the ceiling of this program will rise drastically.”

10) Washington

Washington was bound to take a step back last season after losing Kalen DeBoer and making it to the national title game in 2023. Playing the role of Michael Penix Jr. is Demond Williams. The Huskies are flying a bit under the radar, but they’ll be a gritty team once again this year. 

Fornelli: “No, the Huskies didn’t reach the title game again, but they did manage to get to a bowl game, and Demond Williams got valuable experience at QB. The kind of experience that makes you excited when thinking about what could happen now that he’s the full-time starter.”

11) Minnesota

There’s no easy wins for anyone playing P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota team. While Fornelli won’t pick them to win the league, he recognizes it’s tough to fight against the Golden Gophers. They’re bound to shock a team or two in 2025.

Fornelli: “This is one of the more disrespected programs in the Big Ten. Even I feel I’m disrespecting the Gophers by having them this low. … You’ll never pick them to win the league, but you can’t look at Minnesota on your team’s schedule and chalk it up as an easy W, either.”

12) UCLA

UCLA took center stage in the spring by adding Nico Iamaleava to the fold. If he plays to his potential, the Bruins could be in for a wild ride in 2025. Actually, they’re in for a wild ride regardless, due to the immense pressure that’ll be on their quarterback. 

Fornelli: “I was already encouraged by UCLA for the way its 2024 season ended, and hindsight being what it is, you can look at the rough start as a byproduct of a first-time head coach and a tough schedule. The team finished well and then went and added Nico Iamaleava, who arguably has the talent and skill to be the best QB in the conference. Whether Iamaleava meets that potential will determine how good the Bruins will be this season.”

13) Rutgers

Rutgers was a major surprise in the Big Ten last season. That was just to the people who haven’t been paying attention to Greg Schiano’s team though. They could take a step forward in 2025 due to some adding continuity, but their schedule isn’t a favorable one, like last year. 

Fornelli: “I repeat this every chance I get because I want to make sure people are aware of it: Rutgers finished sixth in the Big Ten in points per game last season. It’s a team that was one wild, last-second Illinois touchdown away from going 5-4 in conference and finishing 8-5 overall, which feels a lot better than 7-6. The schedule this year is not friendly, but the Knights are firmly in that middle tier of the Big Ten.”

14) Wisconsin

It might take a bit longer for Luke Fickell to bring Wisconsin back to the top of the Big Ten. While many expected it to be instantaneous, the Badgers have disappointed. Where they go from here will be fascinating to keep an eye on.

Fornelli: “The vibe just seems off. There were sweeping changes made to the coaching staff and roster, which is the kind of thing that happens when the coach who was supposed to lead you to greatness is off to a 12-13 start after two seasons. The problem the Badgers face in 2025 is that while I expect the football team to be better, they face a schedule that could lead to a similar 5-7 record in 2025, or perhaps one that’s even worse.”

15) Michigan State

Jonathan Smith showed some potential during his first season with Michigan State. His players love to suit up for him, but it’s going to take more than that to bring the Spartans to the forefront of the Big Ten. Fornelli believes it’ll hinge on their quarterback in 2025.

Fornelli: “For Michigan State, [their breakthrough] player is quarterback Aidan Chiles. The Spartans will go as far as he’s capable of taking them.”

16) Northwestern

The surprise team of 2023 was a major disappointment in 2024. Northwestern couldn’t reach their heightened expectations, and now the real work begins for David Braun. 4-8 isn’t a record he wants to repeat for the Wildcats. He’d like that 8-5 mark to return, for sure.

Fornelli: “Northwestern followed up its surprising 8-5 mark in David Braun’s first season with a 4-8 performance last year. … I like the addition of Preston Stone at quarterback. He gives the offense a solid floor that should lead to improvement in 2025. Whether it’s enough to get out of the league’s basement remains to be seen.”

17) Maryland

Maryland seemed like they were on their way to becoming a mid-tier Big Ten team who could punch above their weight class. Something went awry last season though. The Terrapins will be looking to bounce back, but if they don’t win some games in 2025, change could be on the horizon. 

Fornelli: “There is no Ohio State, Penn State or Oregon on the schedule, but the teams that are on the slate, the ones you look at and think, ‘Maryland can win that game,’ all seem to have surpassed the Terps in the last couple of seasons. Maryland could bounce back and get to a bowl in 2025, or things could get worse.”

18) Purdue

It can’t really get worse for Purdue, right? The past few seasons since Jeff Brohm’s departure haven’t exactly been a breeze. A program that was once a sleeper team in the Big Ten has been knocked out, but Barry Odom has been tasked with bringing them back to life. We’ll see if he can do it.

Fornelli: “Last season was awful. I feel bad even reminding Purdue fans of how things went, so I won’t. All anybody needs to focus on now is there’s a new coaching staff in charge, and a new coaching staff always brings optimism because anything is possible But there probably isn’t much possible in 2025 other than a lot of losing.”