Big 10 Preview Roundup: My Favorite teams, Questions, and Betting Ideas for 2025

Big 10 Roundup

Tying the bow: We can all collectively take off our Brodie helmets as we emerge from the trenches of BIG 10 deep dives. What fascinates me about this 2025 iteration of the conference is that it genuinely feels like there are 6 or 7 teams that are a couple of breaks away from a title game appearance. Ohio State has won 10-plus games every year but once (non-COVID) since 2005. Does that hold up with the losses to the NFL? Oregon and Michigan will rely on first-year starting quarterbacks. Making Penn State the closest thing to a safe bet in the conference. This conference had ten members from 1950 to 1990, so let's honor its true heritage and give out some top 10s to tie a bow on this behemoth of a conference.

Ten tiers of the BIG 10

1) Ohio State, Penn State- Tier 1: the no-doubt contenders. Ohio State returns the best player on offense in the country, Jeremiah Smith, and on defense, Caleb Downs. Penn State will have a ferocious run game, behind a Joe Moore Award-contending offensive line. One of these teams will very likely be in Indy. https://www.firstandgol.com/penn-state-nittany-lions-2025-football/ https://www.firstandgol.com/ohio-state-buckeyes-2025-football/

2) Oregon—Tier 2: The talent is oozing for this Ducks roster, but it's unproven. Even Stewart's injury in the spring sucks, but more on that later. I love the Ducks' transfer class, and Dante Moore has been getting glowing praise. Let's see if he lives up to the 5-star billing. Based on some quotes coming out of Detroit, he and his family are pretty confident! https://www.firstandgol.com/oregon-ducks-2025-football-preview/

3)Michigan-Tier 3: Michigan will be trotting out five-star sensation Quarterback Bryce Underwood. Who will his pass catchers be? How good will the offensive line play be? Will the defense hold up, losing an all-time combination at D-tackle? These are all questions that have them just a smidge below the rest, but if Underwood can lift the passing game to serviceable, I wouldn't be shocked to see this team in the Big 10 title game. https://www.firstandgol.com/michigan-wolverines-2025-college/

4) Indiana, Illinois, Iowa-Tier 4: Solid personified. These teams can give anybody a run for their money on their day. Illinois has the most continuity, but Indiana and Iowa return dudes on defense (Kamara-Indiana, Graves-Iowa) and exciting transfer Quarterbacks for each. All three of these teams have a shot at 10 wins, and won't be an easy out for anybody. https://www.firstandgol.com/indiana-hoosiers-2025-football-preview/, https://www.firstandgol.com/illinois-fighting-illini-college/, https://www.firstandgol.com/iowa-hawkeyes-2025-football-preview/

5) USC-Tier 5: The Trojans have boom or bust potential. Electrifying WR room, coupled with everyone's seeming belief that Riley sees something in Maiava, his track record should be trusted. Throw in a second year under Defensive Coordinator Lynn, and I can see the upside. Still, the defense lost a lot, and the Running Back Joyner's transfer to Texas Tech was a disappointment. You could tell me this team finds a way to Indy, putting up monster numbers through the air. Or that Husan Longstreet, the 5-star freshman Quarterback, is starting in November, so Riley can save some face. I wouldn't be surprised by either. https://www.firstandgol.com/usc-trojans-2025-football-preview/

6) Nebraska, Michigan State, Minnesota, Washington- Tier 6: The "which Quarterback takes the step" tier. Do you fancy a Dylan Raiola with an offseason with Holgorsen? How about Aiden Chiles, you gotta like how Michigan State brought over his old Quarterback whisperer from Corvallis? Drake Lindsey is getting glowing reports every time you take a look. Or fancy a Demond Williams, who put up monster numbers vs. Louisville in the bowl? These teams will likely only go so far as the Quarterback takes them. https://www.firstandgol.com/nebraska-cornhuskers-2025-football/, https://www.firstandgol.com/michigan-state-spartans-2025-football/, https://www.firstandgol.com/minnesota-golden-gophers-2025-football/, https://www.firstandgol.com/washington-huskies-2025-football/

7) UCLA, Wisconsin- Tier 7: Nico will have his chance to shine in Los Angeles and silence the collective doubters from the off-season. Billy Edwards will be slinging the rock in Madison. Both teams will be feisty. UCLA showed that grit and competitiveness down the stretch a year ago. While the Badgers gave Oregon hell despite not having a serviceable quarterback. The bottom could fall out for either one of these teams, especially with Fickell already seemingly on the hot seat. But both teams have a new offensive coordinator in place; let's see if either surprises the league. https://www.firstandgol.com/ucla-bruins-2025-football-preview/, https://www.firstandgol.com/wisconsin-badgers-2025-football-preview/

8) Rutgers—Tier 8: This squad returns a ton on offense but many transfers on D, which is unusual for a Schiano team. This team will drag you out into deep water. If the defense holds up, they'll be scrappy week in and week out. https://www.firstandgol.com/rutgers-scarlet-knights-2025-football/

9) Northwestern, Maryland -Tier 9: I like what I read from Northwestern. I was fired up after deep diving into that program, and Preston Stone was a great get-in to the portal. Maryland, on the other hand, had a grim outlook. The terps have a bunch of young talent, but they could get feasted on this season. https://www.firstandgol.com/northwestern-wildcats-2025-football/, https://www.firstandgol.com/maryland-terrapins-football-2025/

10) Purdue -Tier 10: Honestly, the Boilermakers intrigue me! Barry Odom did things that hadn't happened in UNLV in donkey years. He loves a mobile quarterback and has one at his disposal! Purdue was in the Big 10 title game in 2022. They won't be back this season, but it wasn't too long ago that things were humming in West Lafayette. https://www.firstandgol.com/purdue-boilermakers-2025-football/

Ten most exciting questions

1) How will Mark Gronowski translate to BIG 10 play? Walter Payton Award winner 2023(FCS Heisman). Two-time FCS champion, 93 Touchdowns through the air, 37 toting the rock. Does Iowa finally have a QB that can elevate them, not hinder them? You hate to see an offseason surgery, but I'm excited to see what Gronowski can do with the Hawkeyes.

2) How good can Dakorien Moore be as a freshman? The number 1 rated receiver in the country out of high school. Evan Stewart's injury leaves a void in the Oregon WR room. This kid had offers from everywhere and was a state champion in track! Ryan Williams, who is more similar in build to Moore, put up 865 yards last year with Alabama; that's a fair bar to meet. Ducks fans will dream of a Jermiah Smith-type impact as a freshman, but that dude is one of one.

3) Will Luke Fickell's coordinator change provide the spark he desperately needs? Jeff Grimes comes over from Kansas after a head-scratching era with Phil Longo comes to an end. Everyone has written off the Badgers. But Fickell had a Cincinnati team in the four-team playoff only a few years ago. The offensive line should be excellent. When you look at what Kansas was able to do in the run game last year under Grimes, I think Wisconsin could end up surprising this year. Whatever happens, we will keep a close eye on proceedings in Madison.

4) Which Receiver stepping up in class makes the most significant impact? Griffin Wilde hauled in over 1,100 yards last season at South Dakota State. He heads to Northwestern. Sam Phillips put up 195 yards vs Georgia State a year ago; he will now ply his trade at Iowa. Javon Tracy(Minnesota), DT Sheffield(Rutgers), and Omari Kelly(Michigan State) were first-team all-conference just last year, Tracy in the MAC, Sheffield in the AAC, and Kelly in CUSA. Those are some of the names of intrigue, let's see who assimilates to the level!

5) Which Kentucky transfer has the most significant impact? Dane Key and Keeshawn Silver will play critical roles for their new schools. At the same time, a couple of linemen could be key cogs in shoring up their units. Let's start with Key, he ended fifth all-time in Kentucky's receptions, and think about the QB play Kentucky had the last few years! He was hand-picked by his receiver coach, Daikiel Shorts Jr, who joined the Cornhuskers from Kentucky himself this offseason. If he forms a lethal connection with Raiola, watch out. Keeshawn Silver is a former five-star DT. USC gave up 4.5 yards per run a year ago and lost Bear Alexander to Oregon. Silver needs to hit the ground running for the Trojans. Dylan Ray (Minnesota) and Courtland Ford(UCLA) are the two offensive linemen who could compete for starting roles. Both schools' offensive lines underwhelmed a year ago and need transfers to step up.

6) Will the Mackey Award stay in the BIG 10? Tyler Warren won the award last season, much to the chagrin of Harold Fanin Mackey, future ticket holders! The names to watch this season are Max Klare of Ohio State, who transfers over from Purdue and was third team all-BIG 10 last season. Imagine what he can do with this offense. Kenyon Sadiq had two touchdowns in the Big 10 title game for Oregon. With Ferguson heading to the NFL, he will be a go-to man in the Ducks' offense. Luke Reynolds of Penn State might be the Tight End I'm most intrigued to see. Shoot, if the former 5-star lives up to the billing, the Mackey might not just be coming back to the BIG 10, it might be coming back to Happy Valley!

7) Can Northwestern, UCLA, or Purdue ride new Quarterbacks to a bowl? Don't forget Preston Stone threw over 3,000 yards in the AAC with SMU in 2023. After an injury, he was beaten out by Jennings a year ago; he will likely have a massive point to prove. Ryan Browne at Purdue put up 297 yards through the air and 118 yards on the ground in an OT loss last year to Illinois. Barry Odom loves a mobile QB; it could be a hell of a match. Lastly, the biggest storyline of the offseason was Nico coming over from Tennessee; he put a target on his back with his antics. Let's see if his play can live up to all the hoopla. As we discussed in the UCLA team preview, it was Joe Milton-esque play a year ago.

8) Which second-year coach-quarterback combination takes the biggest leap? Dylan Raiola, Aiden Chiles, Demond Williams? We have read all the articles, and Raiola is in better shape and is more of a leader. Chiles reunited with his Quarterback coach. Williams (played enough last season to be included in my eyes) impressed at the Manning Academy. The hype has been drummed up for these three, and their schools will need consistent high performance. It will be fascinating to see who can make the leap.

9)Which freshman makes the biggest impact? Bryce Underwood is the most anticipated Quarterback recruit in Michigan history; that is not a stretch to say. Malik Washington is the four-star Quarterback likely to be under center for Maryland. Both are hometown kids, which you love to see. Moore, as we mentioned earlier, and Bo Jackson, the RB who is also staying in his home state with the Buckeyes, are some others that jump out!

10) Will the National Champion once again come from the BIG 10? Penn State feels like this year's iteration of an all-in Big 10 program. The Wolverines went undefeated in their run to the National Title in Jim Harbaugh's swan song in 2023. Ryan Day silenced the skeptics in the Buckeyes' historic run to a championship in the first-ever 12-team playoffs. Penn State hasn't won the title since 1986; they are likely the safest bet, but Franklin's record against top-10 teams is there for everyone to see. The Buckeyes will once again be in the mix, and Oregon is probably the one other side that has the upside if everything clicks that has a chance.

Ten favorite bets

I'm pounding the table here.

1) Northwestern over 3.5 wins- Northwestern won 4 games a year ago, despite being banged up, and incompetent QB play. Am I missing something here? This team has a brotherhood culture, and Preston Stone is the quarterback. It's one of my favorite overs in all of college football.

2) Maryland under 2.5 conference wins—I'm absolutely pounding the table here. It's been juiced to high heaven since I put it in the individual team breakdown a few weeks back. But I honestly am stunned this isn't 1.5. I'm selling shares of my favorite companies to get down as much as possible here.

3) Ohio State under 10.5 wins- I had a coach tell me once 'keep it simple, stupid", that applies here. The all-in, thermo-nuclear Buckeyes of a year ago won 10 regular-season games? This team that just had 14 players drafted to the NFL bests that? 10-2 would be a fantastic year for the Buckeyes, and that cashes my ticket!

4) Michigan State over 5.5 wins- Jonathan Smith is a renowned program builder. He won 5 games in his first year in charge in East Lansing. We think he wont up that here? He has bent over backwards to get the most out of his Quarterback, and brings back an electrifying wide receiver room. Chiles and his go-to WR Marsh will lead this team to a bowl.

Who doesn't love a player prop

5) Emmett Johnson to lead the BIG 10 in scrimmage yards (Bet365 +1000)- Johnson will play a significant role with Holgorsen's system now dialed in. He put 113 yards on the ground and 85 receiving against Wisconsin in Holgorsen's second game in charge of the offense.

6) Francisco Mendoza to lead Big 10 in passing yards (Bet365 +650). Mendoza threw for over 3,000 yards behind one of the worst lines in Power 4 football last season. Kurtis Rourke threw for over 3,000 yards while on a bum knee, missing some game time also! In Cignetti's offense, Mendoza could put up gaudy stats.

Let's get weird

7)Kamari Moulton Doak Walker Award (Betonline+4000 ) Moulton ran for 5.6 yards per attempt last year to relieve the workhorse Kaleb Johnson. Iowa would have had the winner a year ago if Ashton Jeanty had not been otherworldly. This Offensive line will once again be mean, and those odds for a guy that has proven can be elusive are pretty enticing!

8) Indiana to win the Big 10 (+3500). Indiana had a favorable schedule last year, no doubt. But you know what they did to the teams on that schedule? They obliterated them, with a QB on one knee. They return Kamara, Ponds, Sarratt, among others. Cignetti will need one big scalp to get to the title game, something that has evaded him. Oregon or Penn State needs to be a win for the Hoosiers to get to Indy.

9) Demond Williams to lead the Big 10 in rushing (BET365+5000) - Denard Robinson did it as a QB in 2010 at Michigan. Williams is an electric factory, and based on what he did vs Louisville in last year's bowl, he is primed to break out.

The Hail-Mary

10) Aiden Chiles to win the Heisman (+200000)- Sparty has been deliberate, invested the money, resources, and surrounded their QB with everything to give him a chance to succeed. It's on him now to live up to the billing. He has a great mentality and believes this WR group is the best he has played with. We have to remember that he was only 18 last season. His improvement could be scary this year!

Thank you for reading. Find your favorite teams’ deep dive in my Substack. Give a like and subscribe if you want to dive deeper into other conferences!