Big 10 Football Preview: 2025 Season Predictions, Records, and Rankings
- Owen Pannell
- Jul 26
- 10 min read
By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports
The 2025 Big Ten football season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and unpredictable in recent memory. With 18 teams in the mix and a wide range of expectations, we’ve taken a closer look at each program’s schedule, projected record, and playoff chances. From Ohio State’s dominance to Illinois’ quiet push toward the top, this article breaks down what to expect from every Big Ten team this fall — and who might be making a serious run at the College Football Playoff.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Game 1 vs. Western Illinois – Win
Game 2 at Duke – Loss
Game 3 vs. Western Michigan – Win
Game 4 at Indiana – Win
Game 5 vs. USC – Win
Game 6 at Purdue – Win
Game 7 vs. Ohio State – Loss
Game 8 at Washington – Loss
Game 9 vs. Rutgers – Win
Game 10 vs. Maryland – Win
Game 11 at Wisconsin – Win
Game 12 vs. Northwestern – Win
9-3 (7-2)
Coming off a successful 9-3 season, Illinois is returning 16 starters and looks to get the program’s first CFP berth. 9-3 doesn’t get that done, however. I’ve got them losing tough road games against Duke and Washington, but 11-1 is possible for this team.
Indiana Hoosiers
Game 1 vs. Old Dominion – Win
Game 2 vs. Kennesaw State – Win
Game 3 vs. Indiana State – Win
Game 4 vs. Illinois – Loss
Game 5 at Iowa – Loss
Game 6 at Oregon – Loss
Game 7 vs. Michigan State – Win
Game 8 vs. UCLA – Win
Game 9 at Maryland – Win
Game 10 at Penn State – Loss
Game 11 vs. Wisconsin – Win
Game 12 at Purdue – Loss
7-5 (4-5)
Following a playoff berth, this would be a disappointment for the Hoosiers. They have no Ohio State on the schedule, but other than that, they have a very tough one. I do not foresee another Hoosier CFP appearance, even with this atrocious non-conference schedule.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Game 1 vs. Albany – Win
Game 2 at Iowa State – Loss
Game 3 vs. UMass – Win
Game 4 at Rutgers – Win
Game 5 vs. Indiana – Win
Game 6 at Wisconsin – Win
Game 7 vs. Penn State – Loss
Game 8 vs. Minnesota – Win
Game 9 vs. Oregon – Loss
Game 10 at USC – Win
Game 11 vs. Michigan State – Win
Game 12 at Nebraska – Loss
8-4 (6-3)
This would be the exact record as last year for the Hawkeyes. I’ve got them losing a tough one on the road vs. rival Iowa State, and some tough Big Ten games. They have a solid roster, returning a lot of talent, but not good enough to be a playoff team.
Maryland Terrapins
Game 1 vs. FAU – Win
Game 2 vs. NIU – Win
Game 3 vs. Towson – Win
Game 4 at Wisconsin – Loss
Game 5 vs. Washington – Loss
Game 6 vs. Nebraska – Loss
Game 7 at UCLA – Loss
Game 8 vs. Indiana – Loss
Game 9 at Rutgers – Loss
Game 10 at Illinois – Loss
Game 11 vs. Michigan – Loss
Game 12 vs. Michigan State – Loss
3-9 (0-9)
This will not be a good season for the Terps, I’m afraid. It’s hard for me to see a world where Coach Mike Locksley remains the HC after this year. It’s time they go in a new direction. They have one of the top recruits in the 2026 cycle, so that’s something to look forward to.
Michigan State Spartans
Game 1 vs. Western Michigan – Win
Game 2 vs. Boston College – Win
Game 3 vs. Youngstown State – Win
Game 4 at USC – Win
Game 5 at Nebraska – Loss
Game 6 vs. UCLA – Win
Game 7 at Indiana – Loss
Game 8 vs. Michigan – Loss
Game 9 at Minnesota – Win
Game 10 vs. Penn State – Loss
Game 11 at Iowa – Loss
Game 12 vs. Maryland – Win
7-5 (4-5)
7-5 is not terrible for the Spartans. It would be an improvement from last year, and they have a very difficult schedule this year. I actually really like this team, and a ceiling of 9-3 is not impossible.
Michigan Wolverines
Game 1 vs. New Mexico – Win
Game 2 at Oklahoma – Loss
Game 3 vs. Central Michigan – Win
Game 4 at Nebraska – Win
Game 5 vs. Wisconsin – Win
Game 6 at USC – Win
Game 7 vs. Washington – Loss
Game 8 at Michigan State – Win
Game 9 vs. Purdue – Win
Game 10 at Northwestern – Win
Game 11 at Maryland – Win
Game 12 vs. Ohio State – Loss
9-3 (7-2)
I think this Michigan team is actually really good. I don’t think they are better than Oklahoma or Ohio State, but the rest of their schedule is relatively easy. However, I’ve got them dropping the Washington game, which is sandwiched between two difficult road games against USC and Michigan State. If they avoid losing that, and win one of either OU or OSU, this is a playoff team.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Game 1 vs. Buffalo – Win
Game 2 vs. Northwestern State – Win
Game 3 at California – Win
Game 4 vs. Rutgers – Win
Game 5 at Ohio State – Loss
Game 6 vs. Purdue – Win
Game 7 vs. Nebraska – Loss
Game 8 vs. Iowa – Loss
Game 9 vs. Michigan State – Loss
Game 10 at Oregon – Loss
Game 11 at Northwestern – Loss
Game 12 vs. Wisconsin – Win
6-6 (3-6)
If Minnesota had a good QB on the roster, this would be a different story. However, their QB play is a huge question mark going into the season. Running backs Darius Taylor and AJ Turner are studs, so they should be able to carry them to some wins. I’ve got them barely being bowl eligible, but not the worst season ever.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Game 1 vs. Cincinnati – Win
Game 2 vs. Akron – Win
Game 3 vs. Houston Christian – Win
Game 4 vs. Michigan – Loss
Game 5 vs. Michigan State – Win
Game 6 at Maryland – Win
Game 7 at Minnesota – Win
Game 8 vs. Northwestern – Win
Game 9 vs. USC – Win
Game 10 at UCLA – Loss
Game 11 at Penn State – Loss
Game 12 vs. Iowa – Win
9-3 (6-3)
This is a good Cornhusker team. Paired with their easy schedule, I think they can rattle off some wins. Dylan Raiola seems primed for a big year 2, and they have decent weapons around him with a solid defense. I’ve got them losing to UCLA in a look-ahead game, but I can see them going anywhere from 5-7 to 10-2.
Northwestern Wildcats
Game 1 at Tulane – Loss
Game 2 vs. Western Illinois – Win
Game 3 vs. Oregon – Loss
Game 4 vs. UCLA – Win
Game 5 vs. UL Monroe – Win
Game 6 at Penn State – Loss
Game 7 vs. Purdue – Win
Game 8 at Nebraska – Loss
Game 9 at USC – Loss
Game 10 vs. Michigan – Loss
Game 11 vs. Minnesota – Win
Game 12 at Illinois – Loss
5-7 (3-6)
The Wildcats added talented SMU QB Preston Stone in the portal, and I expect him to make their offense better. However, this team is not a bowl team to me, so I’ve got them at 5-7, which isn’t bad for this difficult schedule.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Game 1 vs. Texas – Win
Game 2 vs. Grambling – Win
Game 3 vs. Ohio – Win
Game 4 at Washington – Win
Game 5 vs. Minnesota – Win
Game 6 at Illinois – Win
Game 7 at Wisconsin – Win
Game 8 vs. Penn State – Win
Game 9 at Purdue – Win
Game 10 vs. UCLA – Win
Game 11 vs. Rutgers – Win
Game 12 at Michigan – Win
12-0 (9-0)
Coming off a national title, the confidence in Columbus is very high. They have one of the most talented rosters in the country. If they can get good QB play, they could be in perfect position for a 2-peat. They have 3 losable games — vs. Texas, vs. Penn State, and at Michigan. I’ve got them winning all 3 though. This is gonna be a scary team once again.
Oregon Ducks
Game 1 vs. Montana State – Win
Game 2 vs. Oklahoma State – Win
Game 3 at Northwestern – Win
Game 4 vs. Oregon State – Win
Game 5 at Penn State – Loss
Game 6 vs. Indiana – Win
Game 7 at Rutgers – Win
Game 8 vs. Wisconsin – Win
Game 9 at Iowa – Win
Game 10 vs. Minnesota – Win
Game 11 vs. USC – Win
Game 12 at Washington – Win
11-1 (8-1)
Oregon lost a lot of talent from last season, but they also gained a bunch. RB Makhi Hughes was one of the top in the portal, and true freshman wide receiver Dakorian Moore was the top WR in the class. QB Dante Moore seems primed for a breakout season, and the Ducks should once again be able to make a playoff appearance.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Game 1 vs. Nevada – Win
Game 2 vs. FIU – Win
Game 3 vs. Villanova – Win
Game 4 vs. Oregon – Win
Game 5 at UCLA – Win
Game 6 vs. Northwestern – Win
Game 7 at Iowa – Win
Game 8 at Ohio State – Loss
Game 9 vs. Indiana – Win
Game 10 at Michigan State – Win
Game 11 vs. Nebraska – Win
Game 12 at Rutgers – Win
11-1 (8-1)
This is the best Penn State team we’ve seen in years. Drew Allar is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and the RB duo of Singleton and Allen will be lethal. I think they lose in Columbus to the Buckeyes, but other than that go undefeated with a CFP berth.
Purdue Boilermakers
Game 1 vs. Ball State – Win
Game 2 vs. Southern Illinois – Win
Game 3 vs. USC – Loss
Game 4 at Notre Dame – Loss
Game 5 vs. Illinois – Loss
Game 6 at Minnesota – Loss
Game 7 at Northwestern – Loss
Game 8 vs. Rutgers – Loss
Game 9 at Michigan – Loss
Game 10 vs. Ohio State – Loss
Game 11 at Washington – Loss
Game 12 vs. Indiana – Loss
2-10 (0-9)
Purdue is frankly just terrible. They have a very hard schedule, and with a very poor roster, I’ve got them winning only 2 games. They have a couple of exciting pieces here and there, but I predict this will be a long season for the folks in West Lafayette.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Game 1 vs. Ohio – Win
Game 2 vs. Miami (OH) – Win
Game 3 vs. Norfolk State – Win
Game 4 vs. Iowa – Loss
Game 5 at Minnesota – Loss
Game 6 at Washington – Loss
Game 7 vs. Oregon – Loss
Game 8 at Purdue – Win
Game 9 at Illinois – Loss
Game 10 vs. Maryland – Win
Game 11 at Ohio State – Loss
Game 12 vs. Penn State – Loss
5-7 (2-7)
This would come as a disappointment for Rutgers fans, following a successful 7-5 season. It’s not that they have a bad team — their schedule is just very difficult. There is definitely a path to bowl eligibility, though.
UCLA Bruins
Game 1 vs. Utah – Loss
Game 2 at UNLV – Win
Game 3 vs. New Mexico – Win
Game 4 at Northwestern – Loss
Game 5 vs. Penn State – Loss
Game 6 at Michigan State – Loss
Game 7 vs. Maryland – Win
Game 8 at Indiana – Loss
Game 9 vs. Nebraska – Win
Game 10 at Ohio State – Loss
Game 11 vs. Washington – Loss
Game 12 at USC – Win
5-7 (3-6)
Not being bowl eligible after landing QB Nico Iamaleava would be painful for the Bruins, but the team around him just isn’t good enough. Plus, I’m not sure the culture is there right now — they have some work to do. I do have them getting a win over rival USC, so that’s a bright side.
USC Trojans
Game 1 vs. Missouri State – Win
Game 2 vs. Georgia Southern – Win
Game 3 at Purdue – Win
Game 4 vs. Michigan State – Loss
Game 5 at Illinois – Loss
Game 6 vs. Michigan – Loss
Game 7 at Notre Dame – Loss
Game 8 at Nebraska – Loss
Game 9 vs. Northwestern – Win
Game 10 vs. Iowa – Loss
Game 11 at Oregon – Loss
Game 12 vs. UCLA – Loss
4-8 (2-7)
Disaster strikes the Trojans — Lincoln Riley is fired after an atrocious 4-8 season. USC plays a difficult schedule with a poor roster, which is not a recipe for success. I predict this will be the last year of the Lincoln Riley era, and they will hit the reset button for the future.
Washington Huskies
Game 1 vs. Colorado State – Win
Game 2 vs. UC Davis – Win
Game 3 at Washington State – Win
Game 4 vs. Ohio State – Loss
Game 5 at Maryland – Win
Game 6 vs. Rutgers – Win
Game 7 at Michigan – Win
Game 8 vs. Illinois – Win
Game 9 at Wisconsin – Win
Game 10 vs. Purdue – Win
Game 11 at UCLA – Win
Game 12 vs. Oregon – Loss
10-2 (7-2)
I LOVE this Washington team next year. I’ve got them going 10-2, with a solid shot at a playoff berth. Demond Williams Jr. is going to have an outstanding year, and with a good offense around him, I think things come together for the Huskies in year 2 of the Jedd Fisch era.
Wisconsin Badgers
Game 1 vs. Miami (OH) – Win
Game 2 vs. Middle Tennessee State – Win
Game 3 at Alabama – Loss
Game 4 vs. Maryland – Win
Game 5 at Michigan – Loss
Game 6 vs. Iowa – Loss
Game 7 vs. Ohio State – Loss
Game 8 at Oregon – Loss
Game 9 vs. Washington – Loss
Game 10 at Indiana – Loss
Game 11 vs. Illinois – Loss
Game 12 at Minnesota – Loss
3-9 (1-8)
Man, this schedule is BRUTAL. This might end Luke Fickell’s time in Madison. The roster isn’t on the same level as the teams they play. From week 3 on, there are really no easy games, and it will definitely take a toll — physically and mentally — which I believe will lead to a very poor season for the Badgers.
Standings:
Ohio State – 9-0 (12-0)
Penn State – 8-1 (11-1)
Oregon – 8-1 (11-1)
Washington – 7-2 (10-2)
Illinois – 7-2 (9-3)
Michigan – 7-2 (9-3)
Nebraska – 6-3 (9-3)
Iowa – 6-3 (8-4)
Indiana – 4-5 (7-5)
Michigan State – 4-5 (7-5)
Northwestern – 3-6 (5-7)
Minnesota – 3-6 (6-6)
UCLA – 3-6 (5-7)
Rutgers – 2-7 (5-7)
USC – 2-7 (4-8)
Wisconsin – 1-8 (3-9)
Purdue – 0-9 (2-10)
Maryland – 0-9 (3-9)
Playoff Chances
Locks:
Ohio State
Penn State
Likely:
Oregon
50-50:
Washington
Long shot:
Illinois
Michigan
Nebraska
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