2024 Record: 4-8 (2-7)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 17

Biggest Offseason Addition: QB Preston Stone
Biggest Offseason Loss: CB Theran Johnson

Analysis: Northwestern was a great story in 2023 with Ryan Braun as an interim head coach, but they took a step back in 2024 and struggled once again. We will see if SMU quarterback Preston Stone can come in and make a difference, but I don’t expect much from the Wildcats in 2025.

2024 Record: 1-11 (0-9)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 18

Biggest Offseason Addition: QB Malachi Singleton
Biggest Offseason Loss: S Dillon Thieneman

Analysis: Purdue made a big change by firing Ryan Walters as their head coach and made a splash hire with former UNLV coach Barry Odom. We will see if he can turn things around in just one year, but Odom has done a great job in his previous stops, so there should be some relative excitement for the Boilermakers.

2024 Record: 4-8 (1-8)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 16

Biggest Offseason Addition: 4-star QB Malik Washington
Biggest Offseason Loss: WR Kaden Prather

Analysis: Mike Locksley held onto his job once again in Maryland despite another sub-.500 season, which is pretty remarkable at this point. The Terrapins bring in an intriguing quarterback with 4-star Malik Washington, but I think we’re facing another year of Maryland being in the bottom half of the conference, fighting for bowl eligibility.

2024 Record: 5-7 (3-6)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 14

Biggest Offseason Addition: OL Eugene Brooks
Biggest Offseason Loss: WR J.Michael Sturdivant

Analysis: It was a tough first year for Dashaun Foster in Los Angeles, and they have lost some good players to the transfer portal this year. However, it’s not always fair to judge a coach by his first year, so I want to see what UCLA looks like in 2025 before damning the coach. However, I don’t expect a major step forward to be taken just yet based on the level of talent in Pasadena.

For more UCLA news, check out UCLA Wire!

2024 Record: 5-7 (3-6)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 15

Biggest Offseason Addition: OT Connor Moore
Biggest Offseason Loss: TE Jack Velling

Analysis: With another year of Jonathan Smith establishing his culture in East Lansing, and another year of growth for sophomore QB Aidan Chiles, there is a chance that Michigan State will take a big step forward next year. I’m not sure we see them at the top of the conference any time soon, but they definitely could be an interesting team in 2025.

For more Michigan State news, check out Spartans Wire!

2024 Record: 7-6 (4-5)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 11

Biggest Offseason Addition: 5-star QB Husan Longstreet
Biggest Offseason Loss: WR Zachariah Branch

Analysis: It’s been a tough offseason for Lincoln Riley and the Trojans, as we’ve seen a ton of high-level players leave in the transfer portal, such as Zachariah Branch, Bear Alexander, and Duce Robinson. Still, USC will bring in 5-star QB Husan Longstreet and try to turn things around after an incredibly disappointing season in 2024.

For more USC news, check out Trojans Wire!

2024 Record: 7-6 (4-5)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 12

Biggest Offseason Addition: WR DT Sheffield
Biggest Offseason Loss: WR Dymere Miller

Analysis: Greg Schiano continues to get it done at a solid level with Rutgers, and while they lose a talented receiver in Dymere Miller, they brought in DT Sheffield from North Texas and should be decent once again in 2025, though I don’t expect them to compete for the Big Ten title any time soon.

2024 Record: 8-5 (5-4)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 8

Biggest Offseason Addition: WR Malachi Coleman
Biggest Offseason Loss: LT Aireontae Ersery

Analysis: Minnesota impressed in 2024 by exceeding expectations and going 8-5 with a bowl game win, and head coach PJ Fleck earned some respect, in my opinion. With Max Brosmer expected to head to the 2025 NFL Draft, there will be questions under center, but Minnesota should be a decent team next year.

2024 Record: 8-5 (6-3)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 7

Biggest Offseason Addition: 5-star EDGE Iose Epenesa
Biggest Offseason Loss: RB Kaleb Johnson

Analysis: Just like the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL, it feels like Iowa should be consistently solid once again in 2025 — good enough to beat the bad teams, but not good enough to contend for any championships. With another year under Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes will once again be near the middle of the pack in the Big Ten.

For more Iowa news, check out Hawkeyes Wire!

2024 Record: 5-7 (3-6)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 13

Biggest Offseason Addition: WR Mark Hamper
Biggest Offseason Loss: QB Tyler Van Dyke

Analysis: Do you trust in Luke Fickell? If so, then you should hopefully feel good about Wisconsin’s chances in 2025. There are some major questions at the QB position after Tyler Van Dyke left in the transfer portal, but Fickell is a really solid coach, so he should be able to lead this gritty team to success once again.

For more Wisconsin news, check out Badgers Wire!

2024 Record: 10-3 (6-3)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 5

Biggest Offseason Addition: DL James Thompson Jr.
Biggest Offseason Loss: WR Zakhari Franklin

Analysis: Illinois surprised a lot of people last year under Bret Bielema, and with QB Luke Altmeyer coming back for another year, they should be really solid once again. They are losing so nice offensive pieces to the NFL this year, but there should be an expectation that the Fighting Illini at least hold their own next year.

2024 Record: 6-7 (4-5)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 10

Biggest Offseason Addition: CB Tacario Davis
Biggest Offseason Loss: QB Will Rogers

Analysis: Washington had a frustrating 2024, but they seem to be in a pretty good spot going forward with Demond Williams Jr. at quarterback and some talent around him. Jedd Fisch has done a good job in the transfer portal this offseason, and the Huskies don’t appear to be losing too much talent, but rather bringing high-level guys in like Tacario Davis and Johntay Cook. I don’t expect Washington to compete for a Big Ten title next year, but they should at least be an 8 or 9-win team.

For more Washington news, check out Huskies Wire!

2024 Record: 7-6 (3-6)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 9

Biggest Offseason Addition: EDGE Princewill Umanmielen
Biggest Offseason Loss: RB Dante Dowdell

Analysis: When you have what appears to be a generational quarterback at the helm like Dylan Raiola, then your ceiling is going to be high each and every year. In his sophomore year, we will see how big of a jump Raiola is able to take, but with the coaching and the talent around him, expectations should be pretty high for the Cornhuskers in 2025.

For more Nebraska news, check out Cornhuskers Wire!

2024 Record: 11-2 (8-1)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 4

Biggest Offseason Addition: QB Fernando Mendoza
Biggest Offseason Loss: QB Kurtis Rourke

Analysis: Curt Cignetti really impressed in his first year with the Hoosiers, and it will be interesting to see what he can do with his second at in Bloomington. While Indiana is bringing in a new quarterback, the Hoosiers proved that they can be good with whatever talent is on the field this past year, and Cignetti might just be a really high-level coach. They should be in the mix once again next year.

2024 Record: 13-3 (8-1)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 2

Biggest Offseason Addition: WR Kyron Hudson
Biggest Offseason Loss: TE Tyler Warren

Analysis: Penn State had a deep run into the College Football Playoff this year, but they are also losing some key pieces, like tight end Tyler Warren. James Franklin is a solid coach, but his shortcomings in big-time games continue. However, if you are looking for a team to be really good in the regular season and be near the hoop at the end, Penn State is your school.

For more Penn State news, check out Nittany Lions Wire!

2024 Record: 8-5 (5-4)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 6

Biggest Offseason Addition: 5-star QB Bryce Underwood
Biggest Offseason Loss: DT Mason Graham

Analysis: Michigan had a down year in 2024 after winning the 2023 national championship, but with an apparent commitment to their NIL budget this offseason, the Wolverines are poised to have a huge run going forward, landing elite recruits and big-time transfer portal players. If Sherrone Moore can keep it up and continue to bring in top-level talent, then Michigan will remain near the top of the conference and be in the playoff conversation every year going forward.

For more Michigan news, check out Wolverines Wire!

2024 Record: 13-1 (9-0)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 3

Biggest Offseason Addition: S Dillon Thieneman/5-star WR Dakorien Moore
Biggest Offseason Loss: QB Dillon Gabriel

Analysis: It feels safe to put the Ducks in the same category as Ohio State heading into the new season. While Oregon is losing a lot of key players to the draft like Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, and Jordan Burch, among many others, they are still stocked with young talent on the roster and have already utilized the transfer portal to their advantage this offseason. Assuming that Dante Moore is the real deal at QB, which is the expectation, then Oregon should be competing for a second straight Big Ten Championship in 2025.

For more Oregon news, check out Ducks Wire!

2024 Record: 13-2 (7-2)
Final 2024 Big Ten Power Ranking: No. 1

Biggest Offseason Addition: 5-star QB Tavien St. Clair
Biggest Offseason Loss: QB Will Howard

Analysis: Ohio State has an incredibly experienced roster that will compete for a national championship this season, and while they are going to lose a ton of players to the draft this year, the Buckeyes recruit and use the transfer portal to such a high level that they should be completely fine in 2025, and set to compete for a championship once again assuming that their QB play can uphold the standard in Columbus.

For more Ohio State news, check out Buckeyes Wire!