2025 Big Ten Football Power Rankings: August 22nd

Jul 22, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images Each week Hoosier Huddle will release a Power Rankings of the Big Ten’s football teams. It’s not the standings of the conference or based on record, but a reflection of performance. Yes, it’s subjective. (If having trouble with content, hit the logout button on the top right of the page (two lines on upper right on mobile) Subscriber Content Preseason Power Rankings (updated 8/22) Conference Favorites 1. Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0, 0-0) Penn State is coming off a run to the College Football Playoff semi-finals and brings back the core of their offense. They add some big play receivers to the mix as well. However, there are notable losses in do-everything tight end Tyler Warren and defensive end Abdul Carter. Everything is lined up for Penn State to win the Big Ten, but can they over the hurdle that has been Ohio State? Next Game: August 30th vs. Nevada (0-0) 2. Ohio State Buckeyes (0-0, 0-0) The Buckeyes are the defending national champions and have two of the best players in the sport in Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs. However, they do open the season breaking in a new quarterback with Julian Sayin. He gets thrown right into the fire playing Texas in the opener. Next Game: August 30th vs. #1 Texas (0-0) 3. Oregon Ducks (0-0, 0-0) There is a clear drop off between the top two and the rest of the contenders (for now). The Ducks are not only replacing their quarterback, leading rusher and leading tackler from 2024, they have been hit by the injury bug early. Wide receiver Evan Stewart is likely going to miss the year. What puts the Ducks at three is their potential dominance upfront. Next Game: August 30th vs.Montana State (0-0) Sep 28, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (3) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images Playoff Contenders 4. Indiana Hoosiers (0-0, 0-0) The Hoosiers check in at four here. They have an improved offensive line and Fernando Mendoza has the talent to replicate or improve what Kurtis Rourke did last season. The non-conference schedule should be enough runway to get things rolling before the Sept. 20th game against Illinois. Next Game: August 30th vs. Old Dominion (0-0) 5. Illinois Fighting Illini (0-0, 0-0) Illinois is the hot pick to be the team to jump into the College Football Playoff. Luke Altmeyer is back, but Illinois loses Pay Bryant and Zakhari Franklin from the receiving room. The defense should be very good as well. Can they cash in the momentum they built with a bowl win over South Carolina? Next Game: August 29th vs. Western Illinois (0-0) 6. USC Trojans (0-0, 0-0) This is probably a make or break year for Lincoln Riley at USC as his number of wins have declined each year in L.A.. The offense is never really a question with Riley coached teams, but the defense could build off a better year in 2024. They miss Ohio State and Penn State as well. Next Game: August 30th vs. Missouri State 7. Michigan Wolverines (0-0) After two years of build up the Connor Stallions penalties came out and resulted in basically a heavy fine. The Wolverines will be without head coach Sherrone Moore for games three and four of the season. Michigan showed how good they could be last year and that was with dreadful QB play. Bryce Underwood has one game to get his feet wet before a trip to Oklahoma. Next Game: August 30th vs. New Mexico (0-0) On Solid Footing 8. Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-0, 0-0) Minnesota may be the sleeper team to watch in the Big Ten. They have a very good defense and while the offense is breaking in a new quarterback they can lean on the running game and a good offensive line. Next Game: August 28th vs. Buffalo (0-0) 9. Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-0,0-0) Nebraska is an interesting team that can be anywhere in the middle mosh of the Big Ten. Dylan Raiola should be better as a sophomore and the Huskers ended their bowl drought last year. They do lose plenty of production on both sides of the ball, but their schedule should help them out. We should know a little bit more about Nebraska after a week one matchup with Cincinnati. Next Game: August 28th vs. Cincinnati (0-0) in Kansas City 10. Washington Huskies (0-0,0-0) Washington is coming off a disappointing 6-7 season in Jedd Fisch’s first year. They are better in 2025 with Demond Williams at quarterback, Jonah Coleman at running back and Denzel Boston out wide. The offense should take a big step forward. The defense may be a work in progress. Next Game: August 30th vs. Colorado State (0-0) 11. Iowa Hawkeyes (0-0, 0-0) Can Iowa’s offense take a step forward with a new quarterback? Maybe, but there is a lot to prove on that side of the ball. Fortunately the offensive line is one of the top units in the conference and the defense will still be stout. Next Game: August 30th vs. Albany (0-0) 12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0,0-0) Rutgers is coming off back-to-back 7-6 seasons. They started 2024 4-0, but hit a slide in the middle of the year. Athan Kaliakmais is back at quarterback and the defense should be tough again. Rutgers does have Penn State and Oregon at home, but road trips to Minnesota, Washington, Illinois and Ohio State. This may be a case of a better team with a worse record. Next Game: August 28th vs. Ohio (0-0,0-0) Can They Take a Step Forward? 13. Michigan State Spartans (0-0,0-0) The combination of Aiden Chiles and Nick Mark is tantalizing. However, Michigan State needs to get much better in the trenches and on defense. Can they get back to their roots? They miss Ohio State and Oregon while getting Michigan and Penn State at home. An early home date with Boston College may make or break 2025. Next Game: August 29th vs. Western Michigan (0-0) 14. UCLA Bruins (0-0, 0-0) UCLA had a rough entry into Big Ten life, but they landed Nico Iamaleava in the transfer portal and other players to reinforce the roster. We’ll learn a lot about the Bruins in the opener against Utah. Next Game: August 30th vs. Utah (0-0) 15. Wisconsin Badgers (0-0, 0-0) Are the Badgers better on paper heading into 2025? Yes, but how much better is what people will be looking for. Luke Fickell has been a disappointment at best and the schedule does him no favors early. Next Game: August 28th vs. Miami (OH) (0-0) The Basement 16. Northwestern Wildcats (0-0, 0-0) Northwestern thought they caught lightning in a bottle with David Braun after he won eight games in 2023. However, the Wildcats fell back to earth at 4-8 in 2024. This season will determine whether or not Northwestern made a mistake. They do upgrade with Preston Stone at quarterback, but a tough road trip to Tulane could be a bad omen early. Next Game: August 30th at Tulane (0-0) 17. Maryland Terrapins (0-0, 0-0) Maryland loses a lot of production and talent off a team that under performed last year. Mike Lockely could be on the hot seat with another down season. He has not had a winning record in the Big Ten despite three winning seasons (21-23). Next Game: August 30th vs. FAU 18. Purdue Boilermakers (0-0, 0-0) It does not get much worse than what Purdue went through last season. 1-11, an 11-game losing streak and a 66-0 drubbing from the rival Hoosiers. Barry Odom turned UNLV into a G5 contender, can he turn Purdue around? It’ll be a difficult ask with the players they lost to the portal. Next Game: August 30th vs. Ball State Subscribe to get access Read more of this content when you subscribe today. Log in

2025 Big Ten Football Power Rankings: August 22nd

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2025 Big Ten Football Power Rankings: August 22nd

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