BIG 10 FOOTBALL 2025
The Big 10 has churned out the last two national champions in bitter rivals Ohio State and Michigan. Both juggernauts will again be in contention for the conference and national titles but have numerous questions heading into 2025. Penn State does not. The Nittany Lions appear to be geared up for a title run behind a bevy of returning veterans.
Below is the Magic Ball Sports 2025 Big 10 Preview capsule; complete head-to-toe with evaluations for each position group on every team, players to watch and record predictions for the SEC’s 16 squads.
OFFENSE
QB: Drew Allar’s play on the backend of Penn State’s schedule last year was highly scrutinized and his costly interception against Notre Dame led to the go-ahead field goal for the Irish. Ironing out those mistakes will be paramount for arguably the nation’s most talented quarterback.
WEAPONS: Nick Singleton (1,099-12) and Kayton Allen (1,108-6) are both back in Happy Valley, giving the Nittany Lions a pair of All-American backs to run the offense through. This should be the best RB room in America.
Penn State’s lack of wide receiver production cost the Nittany Lions at the end of last season. Franklin used the portal to beef up the room, bringing in Syracuse transfer Trebor Pena and USC’s Kyron Hudson to start. The room should be way better than 2024.
OL: PSU’s offensive line projects to be a Joe Moore Award contender behind the return of four starters and three NFL-caliber players. Oli Ioane is a first-round type guard and leads the group.
DEFENSE
DL: Replacing Adbul Carter’s production is impossible, but the return of Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant gives the Lions two pass rushing threats along the defensive line. This unit will be down a notch but still elite.
LB: Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas both return after combining for 98 tackles last season. Replacing Kobe King will be crucial, and the Lions have the firepower to do so with top-tier recruitment.
S: Cornerback AJ Harris is an all-conference candidate on the boundary – a good building block for the Nittany Lions. Zion Tracy and Zakee Wheatley round out the group in the slot and at safety, making this group one of the best in the conference.
STRENGTH: Arguably the nation’s most talented roster, laden with future first round picks and motivated, returning upperclassmen.
WEAKNESS: Can Penn State — and James Franklin — put the “big game” rumors to bed? If there was ever a time, it would be now.
OFFENSE
QB: Highly touted recruit Julian Sayin will replace Will Howard at quarterback for the Buckeyes, marking the fourth signal caller in as many seasons in Columbus. Sayin’s recruiting pedigree has mounted a lofty set of expectations for him to perform immediately. The jury is still out on Sayin, but he has the talent to be elite.
WEAPONS: The two-headed monster of Judkins/Henderson is gone, leaving sophomore James Peoples and WVU transfer CJ Donaldson the lion’s share of carries. Replacing the yard-for-yard production of last year’s group will be tough, but OSU has the talent to again be great.
The receiver room of Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Mylan Graham is the best in the nation, with Smith being the nation’s best player – as a sophomore. Max Klare is another reliable option at tight end.
OL: Three starters left this off season, including first round pick Josh Simmons, but Ryan Day did well in the portal to rebuild the unit. Rice transfer Ethan Oniwana was a top transfer and will lock down the blindside. This unit needs to assert itself in the trenches.
DEFENSE
DL: Last year’s unit was top-notch and laden with NFL talent. It’s all gone now, and ushered in to replace that production were guys like Beau Atkinson from North Carolina. The interior starters are both in-house recruits, which bodes well for the Buckeyes continuity wise.
LB: Leader Sonny Styles is back in the middle – a huge break for the Buckeye defense – but nobody else from last year’s championship team that played the bulk of snaps is. Arvell Reese is in line for a major step up and is a breakout candidate.
S: The nation’s best defensive player, Caleb Downs, will patrol the back end for a second year in Columbus after his second unanimous All-American season in 2024. Davison Igbinosun is a true No. 1 corner if he can limit penalties.
STRENGTH: Ohio State yet again has one of the nation’s most talented rosters, with crown jewel Jeremiah Smith considered the best player in America.
WEAKNESS: There is a ton of production lost from last season’s national championship team. How does Day respond?
OFFENSE
QB: The Ducks have been quarterbacked by the two most experienced signal callers in college football history for the last three seasons. That isn’t the case this season. Redshirt sophomore Dante Moore, a former UCLA starter, will be piloting the offense in what should be another scoreboard friendly year in Eugene.
WEAPONS: The mid-summer loss of assumed No. 1 option Evan Stewart stings, but the Ducks have the firepower and recruiting stockpile to replace his production. True freshman Dakorien Moore is in line for the No. 1 spot, with Gary Bryant Jr. supplementing as the No. 2.
The Duck running game has been spectacular each year under Lanning and 2025 should be no different. Noah Whittington returns after a 520-yard 2024 and will share the backfield with highly coveted Tulane transfer Makai Hughes.
OL: Oregon returns one starter from last year and lost two tackles to the NFL (both in the first two rounds). Center Iapani Laloulu will be the leader of the group as the lone returner, but tackle Isaiah World and guard Emmanuel Pregnon are also NFL caliber. The Ducks will be elite again if they can gel quickly.
DEFENSE
DL: Matayo Uiagalelei was half a sack away from 10 last season and returns as the Ducks’ top edge threat. Well-travelled Bear Alexander will man the middle, but the Ducks will need to develop depth to have a chance against the smashmouth styles of PSU and OSU.
LB: Standout linebacker Bryce Boettcher is back to lead the defense, but stalwart Jeffrey Bassa is gone, replaced by Devon Jackson full-time. Oregon’s linebackers were elite last season and will need to be better with all the new faces up front.
S: This unit will be completely new in 2025, losing all four starters from last season. Purdue transfer and NFL-caliber safety Dillon Thieneman will lead the group with Ole Miss transfer Jadon Canady and Northwestern transfer Theran Johnson projected to be the starters on the boundary.
STRENGTH: Lanning reloaded this team in the transfer portal, shoring up offensive tackle and secondary concerns with top level transfers.
WEAKNESS: There is a ton of turnover from last season’s 13-1 team, and there won’t be a sixth year quarterback under center.
OFFENSE
QB: Luke Altmyer threw for a gaudy 22 touchdowns and six interceptions during his redshirt junior campaign last season, and he returns as one of the top signal callers in America. Altmyer should feel more comfortable in the pocket with a brick wall offensive line.
WEAPONS: The Illini rushing game will be spearheaded by the duo of Aidan Laughery and Kaden Feagin, who both return after totaling just shy of 1,000 collective yards last season. The Illini lost top-rusher Josh McCray to Georgia but No. 2 to No. 5 all return.
Illinois’ weakest – or most unknown – position group is its pass catchers, which lose two receivers to the NFL that went for over 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. West Virginia transfer Hudson Clement was brought in to be the new No. 1 option for Altmyer, but the unit remains a question mark with little experience in the room.
OL: NFL caliber tackles JC Davis and Melvin Priestly bookend what could be a Joe Moore contender unit in Champaign. The Illini return all five starters from last season and head coach Brett Bielema is an offensive line guru.
DEFENSE
DL: Bielema poached a pair of starting defensive tackles from Wisconsin to pair with All-American edge rusher Gabe Jacas, forming a wiry defensive front for the Illini. Jacas got better in each game he played last year and could be the nation’s sack leader in 2025.
LB: Both Dylan Rosiek and James Kreutz are back after starting in spurts last season. Rosiek (No. 3 tackler) and Kreutz (No. 4) combined for nearly 130 tackles last season and should sink their teeth in more with a full year of starting experience under their belts.
S: The Illini secondary returns completely intact from last season, meaning All-Big 10 safety and leading tackler Matthew Bailey as well as standout corner Xavier Scott return to oversee the backend. This unit will be elite in 2025.
STRENGTH: Illinois is third in the country in returning production, including the entire offensive line and quarterback Luke Altmyer.
WEAKNESS: The defensive front is talented but has not played together yet. Will a true No. 1 receiver emerge from a crowded room?
OFFENSE
QB: Bryce Underwood’s commitment was the story of the off season in Ann Arbor, as the Wolverines look for improved quarterback play after a dismal 2024. Underwood is a top-tier athlete with a cannon arm and undefinable intangibles. If he lives up to his pedigree, he could be the best in program history.
WEAPONS: Jordan Marshall is the team’s leading returning rusher (120) and will pair with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes to form a rock-solid one-two punch for the Wolverines. H-Back Max Bredeson is a versatile weapon that can also carry the ball.
Michigan returns its No. 3 to No. 6 receivers from last season, but those four combined for under 550 yards and 50 receptions. Indiana’s Donovan McCulley jumped ship to Ann Arbor to be the team’s new No. 1. Tight end Marlin Klein will have to replace Colston Loveland.
OL: Three starters are back, including standout guard Giovanni El-Hadi, with the other two both being in-house, multi-year players recruited by Michigan. This unit should return to its grizzly 2021-2023 form and owns the smashmouth mentality needed to succeed in the Big 10.
DEFENSE
DL: Michigan had the country’s top defensive interior last season and produced two first round picks from it. Rayshaun Benny and Damon Payne were brought in to replenish the talent. Edge rushers Derrick Moore and TJ Guy are outstanding and will wreak havoc on passing downs.
LB: Both starters are back from last season in Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Haussman, making this unit one of the best in the nation. Haussman has NFL potential and is the unquestioned leader of the front seven.
S: Three projected starters have played meaningful snaps in Ann Arbor, with returning safety Rod Moore the top option on the backend. Cornerbacks Zeke Barry and Jyaire Hill are both all-conference candidates as the Wolverine secondary projects to be elite.
STRENGTH: The front seven will be one of the nation’s best units. The offense should play with significantly more energy.
WEAKNESS: There are holes in the depth of the Wolverine roster, particularly at linebacker and in the secondary.
OFFENSE
QB: The Hoosiers replaced Kurtis Rourke swiftly, landing California transfer Fernando Mendoza from the transfer portal. Mendoza has a flamethrower for an arm and can make any throw on the field, which should be taken advantage of in a dynamic Hoosier offense.
WEAPONS: The top two receivers from last year are back – but no one else is. Elijah Sarrat and Omar Cooper offer experience and over 1,500 yards for Mendoza, but the rest of the unit will be made up of transfers that includes Tennessee’s Holden Staes and App. State Makai Jackson.
It was a group effort for the Hoosiers last season in the rushing game. Four of the top five depart, leaving Kaelon Black (252) and Maryland transfer Roman Hemby the bulk of the carries. This group could be much better with the addition of Hemby.
OL: Tackle Carter Smith has started 25 games the past two seasons and returns for 2025 to hold down the blindside. Indiana’s group was spectacular to start last season but flamed out on the backend, something that needs to be fixed with the return of three starters.
DEFENSE
DL: Superstar edge Mikail Kamara is back to man the front, but the rest of the unit was erased over the off season. Indiana went portaling to piece together the front, landing highly coveted G5 transfers such as Hosea Wheeler and Stephen Daly. This group could be down a notch but is chock-full of talent and athleticism.
LB: Top tackler Aiden Fisher is back and is an All-American candidate in the middle. Behind him, Indiana returns a few depth pieces such as Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy but lacks a true No. 2 with experience. Finding one – between those two – will be crucial.
S: Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds burst onto the scene after transferring from James Madison last season to lead the Hoosier defense with nine PBUs and three interceptions. Ponds is back and an all-conference candidate. Pitt’s Ryland Gandy and safety Amare Farrell make this a top-notch unit.
STRENGTH: The roster was reloaded using the transfer portal, pairing a slew of returning stars with highly-coveted transfers
WEAKNESS: How much continuity can a team not have and succeed in the Big 10? That remains to be seen.
OFFENSE
QB: The Golden Gophers go from the highly experienced Ryan Brosmer to newbie Drake Lindsey, marking a notable change for the Gophers after a slew of veteran quarterbacks saw the starting roles from 2019-2024. Lindsey has immense upside as an athlete and has a rocket arm – scary if utilized right by the Gopher staff.
WEAPONS: Workhorse back Darius Taylor returns for his junior season after an injury riddled 2024 cost him all but four games. Taylor could be the best runningback in the Big 10 if the offensive line develops at its usual rate.
Minnesota’s top returning pass catcher is Taylor (54-350-2) – an evident problem. Fleck went to the portal to poach All-MAC wideout Javon Tracy (Miami-Ohio) to bolster the room’s depth. Losing stalwart Daniel Jackson is a detriment to Lindsey’s development, especially considering there still isn’t a No. 1 that has emerged.
OL: The usual Gopher grit along the offensive front will again be present in 2025 with the return of two starters. This is a huge group (average 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds) that has a few road graders who look to make Taylor’s life easier.
DEFENSE
DL: Minnesota has had a defensive linemen selected in the first or second round in six consecutive drafts. Anthony Smith is next in line for the Gophers after totaling six sacks and 5.5 TFLs last season. The rest of the front is laden with veterans.
LB: The Gophers lose top tackler and program-great Cody Lindenberg but return three of the top five, including Maverick Baranowski in the middle. Baranowksi fills out the stat sheet and is a clear all-conference candidate. Depth is a question behind the starters.
S: Budding superstar Koi Perich returns to anchor the defense after a phenomenal freshman season in Minneapolis. Perich is an uber-dynamic, ball-hawking middle of the field safety that could become the nation’s best by the end of the year. The rest of the room is in question with little to no experience across the unit.
STRENGTH: Koi Perich and Anthony Smith are both all-conference candidates and lead the defense. The offense should be more consistent.
WEAKNESS: The lack of a top receiver to this point is concerning. The top tackler from last season is gone.
OFFENSE
QB: The Demond Williams Jr. era is in full effect for the Huskies. The highly touted dual threat quarterback steps into the starting role after starting two games last season and throwing 944-8-1. Williams could be one of the Big 10’s best quarterbacks.
WEAPONS: Brusing tailback Jonah Coleman returns to Seattle after rumbling for 1,087 yards last season and is one of the conference’s best. Williams was the team’s No. 2 rusher in 2024, forcing Fisch to address the depth with RFR Jordan Washington expected to take on the No. 2 role.
Washington’s group of pass catchers last season nowhere rivaled the prolific 2023 corps, but returning from that room is Denzel Boston (834-9) and TE Decker DeGraaf (236-3). Fisch convinced Penn State wideout Omari Evans to come over and play second fiddle, making this group much more formidable than last year’s.
OL: There are pieces along the offensive line that give the Huskies hope for a jump in numbers. The return of tackle Drew Azzopardi and center Geriean Hatchett was a good place to start, then Fisch convinced hulking tackle Carver Willis to come over from Kansas State. This group has the talent to be better than last year’s mediocre group.
DEFENSE
DL: It’ll be three seniors and a junior along the defensive front for Washington, which sought to upgrade the size and depth up front after injuries derailed last season. Isaiah Ward is a breakout candidate at edge and will lead the group.
LB: This unit is completely new following the loss of three starters this off season. Luckily for the ‘Dawgs, Arizona transfer Jacob Manu chose Washington to spend his senior year. This group will be down a few notches compared to the last two seasons.
S: The addition of Arizona cornerback Tacario Davis boosts the ceiling of this group significantly. Returning cornerback Ephesians Prysock was one of the best in the Big 10 last season and is an all-conference candidate. It’ll be on the safeties to determine how good this group is in 2025.
STRENGTH: Williams is one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, and the Huskies return two top-tier weapons for him to utilize.
WEAKNESS: The offensive line cannot start slow again. The linebackers are all brand new, which is a casuse for concern.
OFFENSE
QB: Dylan Raiola’s freshman season was quintessentially freshman – inconsistencies with flashes of dominance in a building year for the program. The former No. 1 overall recruit is back and will be in the second year of the offense under DC Holgorson. Raiola could become a top QB in the conference.
WEAPONS: Raiola’s weapons last season reached an evident ceiling midway through the season and plateaued as the Huskers nearly missed a bowl game. Jacory Barney is back for his sophomore season and should be better when paired along with Kentucky speedster Dane Key.
Runningback Emmett Johnson returns for his third season and adds another layer to the Husker offense as a pass catching threat. Johnson is a dynamic, elusive threat teeming with big play potential.
OL: Nebraska returns three starters from last year’s average unit and fortified it with the additions of hulking Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett and Notre Dame starter Rocco Spindler. This group could be one of the best in the Big 10.
DEFENSE
DL: Last season’s defensive interior was the strength of the team, laden with veteran talent and experienced team leaders. Everything is gone this season, which raises extreme concern about the unit’s ability to step up and stop the run in the Big 10.
LB: Georgia Southern standout Marques Watson-Trent transferred in to pair alongside Vincent Shavers in the middle, giving the Huskers an uber-athletic duo in the middle. How productive the line is will go a long way in helping this backer room develop.
S: A combination of a weaker front seven and the loss of top starter Tommi Hill does not bode well for Nebraska. All four starters will come from within the program but the group is inexperienced and will need to step up right away to lead the defense.
STRENGTH: Raiola has infinite upside with an upgraded offense and a second season in the system. The linebackers are athletic.
WEAKNESS: The defensive front has been a strength for the last two seasons, but it completely new in 2025.
OFFENSE
QB: Former UNLV starter Jayden Maiava will take over full time with the departure of Miller Moss to Louisville. Maiava was a gunslinger for the Rebels, tossing 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his lone year starting – a perfect fit for a Lincoln Riley offense.
WEAPONS: The receiver duo of Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane projects to be one of the top in the conference. Depth behind them is a major question with a lot of unproven or young prospects filling out the depth chart.
Eli Sanders brings nearly 2,000 career yards to Los Angeles from Iowa and NMSU in an attempt to replace the Marks/Joyner duo from last season. The group could be down a few pegs but will still be reliable enough for Riley.
OL: Leader Jonah Mohiem left for the NFL along with two other starters to the portal, leaving the Trojans without their interior from last season. Replacing that will be tough, but the unit has 75 career starts and an overflow of blue-chip prospects.
DEFENSE
DL: USC’s defensive front struggled in its maiden Big 10 voyage and Riley made it a priority to upgrade the unit this off season. Georgia transfer Jamaal Jarrett is brimming with potential in the middle and could be a force against the run.
LB: Returner Eric Gentry is back for his senior season after an injury derailed his 2024. The group is more talented but vastly less experienced, which could present problems in the early going for the Trojans.
S: Safety Kamari Ramsey is an all-conference candidate on the backend and should be a high selection in the 2026 draft. The rest of the unit is new, put together using the transfer portal. It’ll be a trial by error process for USC.
STRENGTH: This is the best roster Riely has had over the course of his tenure in Los Angeles, complete with a pair of NFL receivers.
WEAKNESS: The trenches on both sides of the ball are unproven, especially on offense, which may hurt a run game that lost its leaders from 2024.
OFFENSE
QB: FCS standout Mark Gronowski will look to re-write the narrative surrounding Iowa quarterbacks after transferring in from powerhouse South Dakota State. Gronowski brings experience and proven production to an otherwise barren Iowa quarterback room.
WEAPONS: Replacing Kaleb Johnson (NFL) will be impossible from a production standpoint in 2025. Kamari Moulton averaged north of 5.5 yards per carry last season and will look to take over lead back duties.
Top pass catcher Luke Lachey is gone, which leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the Iowa offense. A fistful of returners look to improve on lackluster production last year, including receiver Reece Vander Zee, Jacob Gill and Kaden Wetjen. This group will be down a notch or two.
OL: The Hawkeye front should again be elite and will be led by a pair of potential All-Americans in Gennings Dunker and Logan Jones. Iowa thrives in its wheelhouse of smashmouth football and things should remain the same in 2025.
DEFENSE
DL: Iowa forms its identity year after year in the trenches and this year should be no different with six of the top eight back and the addition of FCS All-American Bryce Hawthorne. This group serves as the bedrock to build the defense off of.
LB: The loss of stalwart Jay Higgins in the middle will sting, but Ferentz is notorious for developing linebackers at a frightening rate. It’ll be a pair of seniors starting, including Karson Sharar.
S: Standout safety Xavier Nwankpa returns to pilot the defense alongside Deshaun Lee at cornerback. Developing the other two starters will be paramount for an above average secondary to become and elite one.
STRENGTH: Gronowski is a stable, veteran presence for an offense that is in desperate need of a remodel. The defensive line is again elite.
WEAKNESS: Replacing linchpin Kaleb Johnson will be near impossible for the Hawkeyes from a production standpoint.
OFFENSE
QB: It was a tale of two seasons for former blue-chip prospect Aidan Chiles, who threw for 2,415-13-11 in his first year starting. Once Chiles settled down in the new system he was highly efficient, but inconsistency plagued the young QB that will need to be ironed out for the Spartan offense to take the next step under Jonathan Smith.
WEAPONS: Smith went all-in on receiver in the portal, poaching All-CUSA Omari Kelly from MTSU and the explosive Chrishon McCray from Kent State to compliment returners Nick Marsh and Jack Velling – both of whom could be all-conference caliber in 2025.
The Sparty run game remains the biggest question on the team. The top two rushers from last season are gone, but MSU floundered at the LOS last season and will be desperate for more production from its backfield. Sac. State transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver will be the RB1.
OL: The offensive line will be patched together by a handful of in-house players returning from injuries and transfers who have starting experience. This unit was not a strength last season and remains a question mark with a bit more upside than last season.
DEFENSE
DL: Smith brought in nine transfers (!) to replace the two starters lost over the off season. Last season’s historically bad pass rush should be rejuvenated, and the line should remain salty against the run under DC Rossi. This unit will be deeper than last season.
LB: Team leaders Cal Halladay and Jordan Turner both departed, leaving first year starter Jordan Hall and well-traveled Wayne Matthews to hold down the middle. Rossi should expect the same amount of production from this room despite the lack of experience due to the defensive front’s upgrade.
S: Former Oklahoma and Texas corner Joshua Eaton will be the anchor on the backend for Sparty, which lost two starters from last season. It’s a tough group to project but expecting a plateau is reasonable.
STRENGTH: Chiles enters year two season in the system and has a trio of explosive pass catchers and a reliable tight end.
WEAKNESS: The run game and offensive line are still in question. Linebacker was stripped clean by graduation.
OFFENSE
QB: The Scarlet Knights return analytics darling Athan Kaliakmanis to command the offense. The former Minnesota starter threw for 2,696-18-7 in his first year as a starter in New Brunswick and will look to evolve past a game manager in 2025.
WEAPONS: Program great Kyle Monangai was selected in the NFL Draft, stripping the Scarlet Knights of their top offensive weapon. Antwan Raymond projects to be the starter after a 457-yard freshman season. Depth behind him is inexperienced.
The duo of returner Ian Strong and UNT transfer DT Sheffield brings explosive potential to the Rutgers passing game. Strong has a chance to emerge as one of the conference’s top wideouts if schemed right with Kaliakmanis’ skillset.
OL: The bulk of last season’s unit remains intact despite the loss of tackle Hollin Pierce. Rutgers returns four starters and added a litany of transfers up front to stack depth. This unit could turn into one of the conference’s best with its rare level of continuity.
DEFENSE
DL: This unit will be strung together by veteran mid-major transfers looking to make an impact in their final year of eligibility. JMU transfer Eric O’Neil is an all-conference candidate off the edge and Ohio transfer Bradley Weaver is an excellent No. 2. The front should be stiffer than it was in 2024.
LB: The Scarlet Knights effectively swapped out Mohamed Toure (Miami/injured 2024) with breakout junior Dariel Djabome last season. Djabome totaled 105 tackles and 3.5 TFLs last season and will lead the defense from the mike spot.
S: The secondary lost its top player in Robert Longerbeam this off season along with three additional starters, meaning this unit is starting completely from scratch. Sixth year UNLV transfer safety Jett Elad is the most experienced and will lead the group, which may be down a few notches.
STRENGTH: Seven starters return from last year’s offense, including four starters up front. The defensive front was upgraded in the portal.
WEAKNESS: The jury is still out on Kaliakmanis. The defense lost most of its leaders from last season and Monangai is off to the NFL.
OFFENSE
QB: The much maligned Nico Iamaleava made his late spring transition to Westwood after a falling out with the Vols caused the first ever college football trade. Iamaleava has immense upside but has yet to put the pieces together as a consistent passer. UCLA’s offense will allow for a more traditional style of passing compared to Tennessee’s.
WEAPONS: Runningback Jalen Berger will be the focal point of the offense as Iamaleava and the line gets used to the system. Berger totaled 178 yards last season and will take over as the lead back with Javian Thomas behind him.
The receiving room was stripped of its top talent from last season but replenished using the portal with the addition of Cal’s Mikey Matthews and App. State’s Kaedin Robinson. The Bruins should be on par with last season’s group.
OL: This unit was an undeniable weakness last season (14th in Big 10 pass blocking according to PFF) and returns zero starters. Coach Foster brought in 91 career starts from the transfer portal in an attempt to upgrade the unit but the focus will be on returning in-house talent Sam Yoon.
DEFENSE
DL: The interior will be made up of new starters as the Bruins look to upgrade its pass rush from a year ago. A quartet of transfers were brought in to supplement that including hulking edge Anthony Jones and Arkansas senior Nico Davillier.
LB: UCLA lost its best player from a year ago to the draft in Carson Schweinger and will look to rebuild the linebacker corps around Isaiah Chisom and sixth year senior JonJon Vaughns. This group will be down a few notches.
S: It’ll be a mixed bag for the Bruins on the backend, with starters ranging from second to fifth year. UCLA’s secondary was solid but not great last season and will need to be more consistent with the downgrade along the front seven.
STRENGTH: A nice infusion of talent on offense should help the Bruins improve the numbers from last year.
WEAKNESS: The defense has almost zero continuity from last season and will be starting fresh.
OFFENSE
QB: Former Maryland starter Billy Edwards Jr. will start for the Badgers in 2025, marking the third straight season Wisconsin has dove into the portal to find their starting QB. Edwards is a high floor, low ceiling type game manager who will thrive with the right weapons.
WEAPONS: Receiver Vinnie Anthony II leads the offense as the top playmaker. He’ll be in all-conference talks as the No. 1 but the Badgers have yet to find a reliable No. 2 – perhaps Ohio State transfer Jayden Ballard?
The run game will be helped by a stout offensive line, but the Badgers do not have a feature back like year’s past and will rely on a committee led by Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree.
OL: This group is the usual Wisconsin tough, led by a trio of NFL caliber players in Riley Mahlman, Joe Brunner and Jake Renfro. This group should be elite with 111 career starts.
DEFENSE
DL: This group was completely revamped over the off season with the addition of five transfers and infusion of youth along the bench. The starters will all be fifth year players, led by edge rusher Darryl Peterson.
LB: Christian Alliergo and Tackett Curtis are proven starters but the depth behind them will be a major question for Fickell’s defense. Upgrading this room from last season will go a long way in making the Badger defense better.
S: Standout cornerback Ricardo Hallman is back for his fifth season in Madison and will be an NFL Draft choice. The Badgers also got Nyzier Fourqurean back and look to have one of the top corner duos in the Big 10.
STRENGTH: The offensive line and secondary are both elite. The Badgers could have three offensive linemen selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WEAKNESS: Billy Edwards Jr. has made a name for himself as a floor raiser — not someone who will take a team to its ceiling.
OFFENSE
QB: SMU transfer veteran Preston Stone will take over in Evanston after he was shown the bench in Dallas for Kevin Jennings. Stone has a sterling 35/8 TD/INT ratio and will be NU’s top quarterback in years behind a sturdy offensive line.
WEAPONS: The top four rushers from last season are all back for the Cats, which bodes well for the offense’s scheme. Senior Cam Porter leads the group with Joe Himon the second option off the bench.
The pass catchers took the biggest hit this off season with graduation and the portal stripping NU of almost everything. South Dakota State lead man Griffin Wilde will head the group on the boundary, with Northwestern expected to run the ball a majority of the time.
OL: Anchored by potential All-American Caleb Tiernan, the Wildcat offensive line will maul in the run game and be much upgraded in pass protection. Guard Evan Beernsten also has NFL potential and holds down the right side. This group will be much improved in 2025.
DEFENSE
DL: Edge Anto Saka is a potential draft choice and leads the Wildcat defensive front. The front four also includes Aidan Hubbard and nose tackle Carmine Bastone, making this group one of the toughest in the conference.
LB: It’ll be a veteran group in the middle for NU, topped with a fifth, sixth and two fourth year players. A leader has yet to emerge out of the fray, but the Wildcats are notorious for developing LBs at an excellent rate.
S: NU’s secondary was the defense’s sore spot last season, ranking 11th in the conference in pass coverage according to PFF. The group will be young – three sophomores and one senior – which may hurt the Wildcats in the early going.
STRENGTH: The Cats’ best players are all veterans with multiple years of starting experience. The defensive line is stout.
WEAKNESS: Wide receiver is a glaring question mark. It remains to be seen if a No. 1 weapon will emerge from the room.
OFFENSE
QB: True freshman Malik Washington is line to be the starter for the Terps after just one spring in the system. Perhaps a bold move by a coach desperate to keep his job, or a sign of brilliance from a blue-chip recruit? Washington is an extreme athlete.
WEAPONS: Uber-productive Roman Hemby is gone to Indiana, meaning backup Nolan Ray is next to assume lead back duties. Ray averaged 5.9 yards per carry last season and has the potential to be a reliable RB1 in the conference.
The Terps lost Tai Felton to the NFL after a fantastic 2024, replacing him with fifth year senior Jalil Farooq (Oklahoma) and Sun Belt tight end Dorian Fleming (Georgia State). Washington will have weapons to throw to if he has the time read the field.
OL: Two full time starters are gone – both on the interior – meaning the Terps keep the tackles from last year’s unit together. The group will still be subpar, however, and Washington will have to buy time to see the downfield pass game.
DEFENSE
DL: Zero starters are back along the defensive line and four transfers were added to combat that this off season. This unit was below average last season and will be younger but more talented, led by Ohio transfer nose tackle Cam Rice.
LB: There will be zero transfers starting at linebacker for the Terps, who, despite losing their No. 1 from last season, retained the bulk of its tackling from 2024. Daniel Wingate will lead the unit at the mike and the Terps could go up to four deep.
S: The secondary should be the strength of the Terrapin defense, led by all-conference candidate Jalen Huskey and Wake Forest transfer corner Dontay Joyner. The group is overall the most talented on the team and should be ranked in the top half of the conference.
STRENGTH: There is a nice mix of veteran and youth talent that could make this team a wildcard. The secondary is rock-solid.
WEAKNESS: Most of last season’s weapons were replaced, and a true freshman starting quarterback will inevitably have his growing pains.
OFFENSE
QB: Ryan Browne emerged post-spring as the likely starter for the Boilermakers after coming back to West Lafayette from the transfer portal. Browne has thrown for 636-4-4 across two seasons and will enter his redshirt sophomore season in 2025.
WEAPONS: Team captain and leader Devin Mockobee returns to lead the offense out of the backfield. Mockobee has scampered for 2,466 career yards across three seasons and is homing in on the all-time Boilermaker rushing mark. Depth behind him is a question.
The top five pass catchers from last season are all gone. Replacing them are a bevy of transfers including Georgia’s Nitro Tuggle and USC/SJSU’s Charles Ross. There isn’t a ton of proven production, and a true No. 1 has not emerged yet.
OL: The offensive line will be patched together by a slew of high-major transfers looking for starting roles -- eleven of them, to be exact. This unit was putrid last season and can only improve despite the historically high turnover rate.
DEFENSE
DL: Three of the four projected starters have been in West Lafayette for at least one season, which bodes well for the Boilermakers’ chemistry along the front. CJ Madden could be in line for a breakout season on the edge while the rest of the unit develops into starting roles.
LB: All-MAC standout CJ Nunnally will head the rotation for Odom’s defense, which also features UNLV starter Mani Powell. It’ll be a deeper group of backers but the talent level still is not where it needs to be.
S: This will be a veteran group – three seniors and one junior – on the backend for Odom. BYU transfer Crew Wakley is Purdue’s only all-conference candidate and could be a team leader. The unit has experience but will need to gel quickly.
STRENGTH: Devin Mockobee is a program legend and returns for his final season. Barry Odom brings a winning culture to West Lafayette.
WEAKNESS: The overall roster talent is among the worst not only in the Power Four but also in the entire country.