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| Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State |
Power Rankings
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
It was a Hollywood ending for Ohio State to conclude the 2024 season. There was the humbling defeat to rival Michigan that firmly put a microscope on the Buckeyes entering the 12-team College Football Playoff, but it was the response from Ryan Day's crew that ended up defining their season. They ripped off four straight victories, including getting their revenge against Oregon in the Rose Bowl, to win their first National Title in a decade. But now that they've climbed the mountaintop, what do they do for an encore?
There are plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball for the Buckeyes, including a new quarterback at the controls of the offense. Former Alabama transfer Julian Sayin is considered the frontrunner, especially after several other Buckeyes transferred out over the offseason. While untested, Sayin was a blue-chip recruit coming out of high school who will have the luxury of throwing to the best receiver corps in the country.
Jeremiah Smith is the headliner on the perimeter outside, especially after what he did during the National Title run, but Ohio State also boasts juniors Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss, the latter of which has waited his turn here in Columbus. Tight end is also now a strength, as the staff went out and snagged Max Klare from Purdue, who caught 51 passes for 685 yards in 2024.
The offensive line appears to be in good shape in front of Sayin, even with some turnover, but the running back position appears to be the question mark for this Buckeye offense. West Virginia transfer C.J. Donaldson is a veteran, but sophomore James Peoples seems to be the favorite to become the team's feature back. Either way, this backfield will have a difficult time matching the production of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, both of whom are playing on Sundays.
On defense, the Buckeyes saw coordinator Jim Knowles receive a handsome raise to take the same role at Penn State a year after he led the nation's best overall defense. Matt Patricia was brought on as a replacement, an interesting hire considering he hasn't coached college ball in two decades. Fortunately, Patricia has no shortage of talent to work with here.
The back seven should be a real strength for Ohio State, as safety Caleb Downs is perhaps the best player in America entering 2025 - regardless of position. He has a couple familiar faces surrounding him, including senior Davison Igbinosun and do-it-all linebacker Sonny Styles.
The defensive line was the position group the hardest hit by NFL defections, which should thrust some new defenders into the spotlight. Holdovers like Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. have waited for their moment, while transfers Beau Atkinson (North Carolina) and Logan George (Idaho State) bring new blood.
Bottom Line: It's never easy to defend a National Title, and Ohio State will have an especially difficult path in 2025. Not only do they have to deal with a loaded Big Ten but they open their season with the Texas Longhorns, who will be looking to avenge last year's Cotton Bowl defeat. Despite this, I find it hard to believe Ohio State is in store for any major step-back. There's far too much talent on this roster, including arguably the nation's two best players in Smith and Downs, and the program has proven it can withstand heavy losses. It wouldn't shock me if Ohio State is again playing in the National Championship Game when it's all said and done.
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
Although they still ended up losing to Ohio State and weren't able to overcome Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, 2024 felt like a breakthrough for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions. They not only made the 12-team Playoff but won multiple games when they got there before an agonizing defeat at the hands of Notre Dame in the semis.
The momentum gained from that semifinals run didn't stop there, as the Nittany Lions enjoyed a great offseason. They managed to convince numerous players to run it back for one final run in Happy Valley, including QB Drew Allar, tailbacks Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and defensive linemen Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton. Not only that, they made perhaps the splashiest coordinator hire all offseason by hiring Jim Knowles away from the defending National Champion Buckeyes.
With so many big names returning, the pressure is on for Allar and the rest of the veterans on this roster. Allar continued to show progress last fall in Andy Kotelnicki's offense, and will benefit from another full offseason learning the system. He'll also benefit from an upgraded group of pass catchers, even as tight end Tyler Warren moves on. Syracuse transfer Trebor Pena and USC transfer Kyron Hudson could be a potent 1-2 duo.
Singleton and Allen is the best running back combo in the country entering 2025, with both coming off seasons in which they eclipsed 1,000 yards. Allen is the power, and Singleton the big hitter with his speed in the open field, an overwhelming combination for opposing defenses. Add in the fact they'll be running behind an O-Line that brings back four starters, this should be an elite offense.
Knowles won't have to reinvent the wheel defensively, as Penn State was seventh in the nation in scoring defense last fall, and seventh in total defense. Losing Abdul Carter stings, but Dennis-Sutton and Durant should ensure there's no slippage in the front seven. Junior linebacker Tony Rojas also looks like he's ready to be the next great Nittany Lion linebacker.
The secondary should be a clear strength, even with some turnover. Junior A.J. Harris is a proven commodity at corner, while senior Zakee Wheatley was another big returnee from over the offseason. Nickelback Zion Tracy also looks like he's ready to play a leading role this fall.
Bottom Line: For so long, Penn State played third wheel in the Big Ten East behind Ohio State and Michigan. The removal of divisions has solved that issue, but are the Nittany Lions finally ready to climb to the top spot in the entire division? All the pieces in place for them to do just that, although games with Oregon and on the road in Columbus are likely to define their entire year. This team has the talent, experience, and motivation to win a National Title - now it's about them going out and proving they can win the big ones, at the most important times in 2025.
3. Oregon Ducks
For the vast majority of the entire 2024 college football season, Oregon was the top team in all the land. Their victory over Ohio State bolted them to the nation's No. 1 overall spot, a position they held nearly the entire rest of the way. That is, until the Buckeyes got them back with a Rose Bowl victory.
The Rose Bowl defeat was a miserable way to end an otherwise impressive season, but Dan Lanning's team shows no signs of stopping as they get ready for 2025. They spent big over the offseason to fill holes through the portal as they look to repeat as Big Ten Champions.
Makhi Hughes was one of the players Oregon brought in through the portal, giving them one of the nation's top tailbacks. Hughes ran for over 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns for Tulane and now looks to keep things rolling in a power conference. He'll play an especially important role early for Oregon, given they will be breaking in a new quarterback in Dante Moore.
Moore, a former five-star prospect who spent one season at UCLA before transferring to Oregon prior to last season, has the pedigree but his lone season with the Bruins was a rollercoaster ride. The Ducks are hopeful the fact he's already spent a year in the system, learning from a veteran like Dillon Gabriel, will make the transition a smooth one.
There will have to be new weapons ready to emerge after Tez Johnson and Treshon Holden left, and likely No. 1 option Evan Stewart was injured in the spring. There's a chance Stewart could still return in 2025 but in the meantime, veterans like Gary Bryant Jr. and highly touted frosh Dakorien Moore will have to lead the way.
Up front, the Ducks have significant turnover, but Lanning and staff focused on this position in the portal. Nevada transfer Isaiah World is the headliner, the likely starter at left tackle, who towers over opponents at 6'8", 310 pounds.
The defense should be the strength of the team, at least early on as Moore figures things out and the rest of the offense gels. Coordinator Tosh Lupoi has plenty returning on this side of the ball, including the team's top tackler from 2024, linebacker Bryce Boettcher, and their leader in sacks, Matayo Uiagalelei.
Unsurprisingly, the defense also brings in several big names through the portal. Defensive linemen Bear Alexander is now on his third school after previous stops at Georgia and USC. He has long had talent, but is this the year he puts it together over the course of an entire year? Veteran defensive backs Dillon Thieneman and Theran Johnson have already done so, coming over from Big Ten foes. Thieneman is a tackling machine who started at Purdue, while Johnson comes over from Northwestern and should pair nicely with talented junior Jahlil Florence.
Bottom Line: The Ducks suffer significant losses from the 2024 team, but the program is operating at an incredibly high level under Dan Lanning. They remain formidable in high school recruiting and are major players in the NIL world, which has helped them develop a roster that can undoubtedly deliver a National Title. They'll be firmly in the hunt again this fall, although it feels like they're a step below Ohio State and Penn State, until we learn just how good Moore is as a quarterback.
4. Illinois Fighting Illini
There was no quieter ten-win team in the country last fall than the Illinois Fighting Illini. Bret Bielema's crew suffered just three losses on the year, with two of them coming on the road against top league foes Penn State and Oregon. Then, they capped it off by beating South Carolina, a team who was firmly in the Playoff mix, in the Citrus Bowl.
What do the Illini do for an encore? Well, they have enough to build on 2024 and perhaps even earn a Playoff berth of their own this fall. At the center of it is quarterback Luke Altmyer, who threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. Altmyer has never been one to put up gaudy stats, but he's as consistent as they come and puts Illinois in position to win games. He should be one of the best in the Big Ten in 2025.
Altmyer will be missing several of his top receiving options from a year ago, although the Illini are excited about West Virginia transfer Hudson Clement and rising sophomore Collin Dixon. The backfield will be able to take pressure off of the passing game as it figures things out, with Aidan Laughery and Kaden Feagin returning, and running behind an offensive line that returns all five starters. In fact, that line could be a frontrunner for the Joe Moore Award in 2025.
The Illini defense was a bend-don't-break unit a season ago, but they'll look to get more consistent under coordinator Aaron Henry this year. They were the nation's 68th best total defense, but made the plays when it mattered the most, holding opponents to just 21.7 PPG (31st nationally).
Henry will have to do some rebuilding on the defensive line as the Illini replace all three starters, but the back-seven looks strong. Senior linebacker Gabe Jacas is a leader up front, a force off the edge who notched 74 tackles and 13 TFL a season ago.
The pass defense was at times an issue last fall, but Illinois has just about every big name returning to the secondary for 2025. Senior Xavier Scott said no to the NFL and should play a leadership role, as will veteran corner Torrie Cox Jr. and safety Miles Scott.
Bottom Line: The Illini were no fluke last fall, and the excitement around the program is palpable entering 2025. They have a veteran quarterback, an elite offensive line, and a defense that should be in the top-half of the Big Ten this season. Add in a schedule that looks to be manageable, aside from a date at home against Ohio State, this feels like it could be the year for Illinois. Don't be surprised if the Illini make their first-ever Playoff appearance this fall.
5. Michigan Wolverines
Last season wasn't quite the National Title defense the Michigan Wolverines were hoping for, as they spent most of last season sitting around .500. However, they finished the season with a massive win over Ohio State in "The Game" and then surprised Alabama in the Reliaquest Bowl, giving the program some much-needed juice as it looks ahead to 2025.
The offense was undoubtedly the problem last season. The complete lack of a passing attack resulted in Michigan averaging just over 286 yards per game (129th nationally) and a measly 22 PPG (113th). Needless to say, head coach Sherrone Moore made sweeping changes over the offseason, bringing on Chip Lindsey as coordinator.
Lindsey will hope to run a more aggressive offensive scheme than what the Wolverines have done traditionally, and he'll have plenty of new weapons to do it. That includes the nation's No. 1 overall recruit, Bryce Underwood, who is expected to vie for the starting job at QB over Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene. They'll be joined by new backfield mates after Donovan Edwards and Kaleel Mullings moved on, with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes and rising star Jordan Marshall expected to handle feature back duties.
The passing game will need new faces to emerge, with star tight end Colston Loveland now a Chicago Bear. Junior Semaj Morgan has long had the potential, but is this finally the year? Indiana transfer Donovan McCulley will also feature heavily.
Wink Martindale did a superb job with this defense a year ago, especially when you consider what a disaster the other side of the ball was. The Wolverines were especially stout against the run, and should be tough again in 2025, despite the losses of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant up front. Veteran linebackers Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham will set the stage in the front seven.
The secondary had some ups-and-downs in 2024, but has a big piece returning in safety Rod Moore. Moore is the team's unquestioned leader on the back-end, but he missed all of 2024 after tearing his ACL last March. Now that he's back in the fold, Martindale can be a bit more creative with what he does defensively, especially with two veteran corners in Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill.
Bottom Line: Between ending last year on a high note and making sweeping changes over the offseason, Wolverine fans are expecting a quick turnaround in 2025. There are still likely to be growing pains offensively as the new pieces get situated, but the defense should once again carry Michigan this fall. If Underwood is as good as advertised, this team could be very scary, but it does feel like they are a year away from returning to national prominence. Yet, an improved 2025 could be just the stage-setting this team needs for a huge 2026 campaign.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes
Kirk Ferentz is back for his 27th season at the helm in Iowa City, although the ever-steady Hawkeyes may have a slightly different look this season, at least offensively. Second-year offensive coordinator Tim Lester helped the Hawkeyes make notable improvements across the board in 2024, and now he'll have a new quarterback to work with.
South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski offers a significant upgrade over the likes of Cade McNamara and Brendan Sullivan. Gronowski, the former 2023 Walter Payton Award winner (FCS Heisman), is not only an accomplished downfield passer but his dual-threat ability will add an element to this offense that has been missing for some time. At the very least, he'll jolt an aerial attack that was still among the worst in power conference ball a year ago, averaging 131.6 yards per game.
There is turnover around Gronowski, notably at tailback, as Kaleb Johnson moves on after a monster season. Kamari Moulton is expected to handle feature back duties, while Iowa is hopeful a true No. 1 option emerges outside, with the most likely candidates being seniors Jacob Gill and Seth Anderson. Addison Ostrenga is a familiar name at the tight end spot, always a bright spot in this offense.
The offensive line has suffered some hiccups in recent years, but still remains among the best the Big Ten has to offer. Senior center Logan Jones is a Rimington Trophy favorite, and fellow returning starters Gennings Duner and Beau Stephens man the perimeter at the tackle spots.
The Hawkeye defense has long been an elite group under Phil Parker, although they occasionally took their lumps last season. The unit had several important pieces move on to the NFL, but there is still enough to believe this could be among the better units inside the league.
Seniors Aaron Graves and Ethan Hurkett set the tone for Iowa up front, two defensive linemen who may have to play even larger roles this fall with the turnover at linebacker. However, the linebacker position is one the Hawkeyes always seem to develop, and there are several players who look ready after waiting their turn. Jaden Harrell in particular appears ready for his moment, ready to become a starter after appearing in 13 games last fall.
The pass defense was solid, but far from elite throughout last season, as it clearly missed Cooper DeJean. Xavier Nwankpa enters his senior season and is looking to put it all together over the course of an entire year. With him and veteran corners T.J. Hall and Deshaun Lee, this should become a strength of this team.
Bottom Line: It feels to me as though Iowa is being a bit overlooked heading into the fall. We know the steady Hawkeyes are almost a sure bet to win 7-8 games and if Gronowski can help the offense take even greater leaps forward, this could be a very dangerous team. The final month-and-a-half is no breeze, but Iowa feels like they could play a spoiler this fall.
7. USC Trojans
USC's debut season inside the Big Ten was a confusing one. They looked like a true conference title contender after beating LSU in their opener and getting off to a 3-1 start, but the offense tailed off and the improvements defensively weren't enough to position the Trojans as serious threats in the league. In the end, a Las Vegas Bowl win helped them finish 7-6.
For Lincoln Riley, there has to be a sense of pressure. Not to say he's on the hot seat, but records of 8-5 and 7-6 after he went 11-3 in his debut campaign must have the Trojans wondering if he's truly the guy to return them to glory.
Riley is best when he has the right quarterback and fortunately for him, junior Jayden Maiava looks like he may be that guy. Maiava took over midseason and won three of the final four games, including an impressive showing in the Las Vegas Bowl. He's got a strong arm, but will have to learn how to reel it in and make smarter decisions if this USC team is to reach their ceiling.
Despite the departure of Kyron Hudson, the Trojans have the weapons to support Maiava. Ja'Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon are already an effective 1-2 punch, and it feels like they have the potential to do even greater things this fall. At tailback, Woody Marks is gone, but New Mexico transfer Eli Sanders and JUCO transfer Waymond Jordan Jr. should provide enough balance for this offense.
There is turnover along the offensive line, which is never a great thing in the Big Ten. However, USC worked the portal to plug holes, with D.J. Wingfield coming over from inside the league at Purdue to likely man the left tackle spot.
The numbers on defense still weren't overwhelmingly great, but there was real progress on this side of the ball under D'Anton Lynn. Now, as he enters his second season in control of this unit, the Trojans are hoping for even more progress.
Lynn will have to deal with losses among the front seven, but USC returns several important pieces from injury and also infused the lineup with transfers. Linebacker Eric Gentry is a key returnee after missing most of last season, the type of do-it-all defender who can play just about anywhere. Add in Anthony Lucas, who also returns from injury, and talented transfer Keeshawn Silver, this could be a good group up front.
The pass defense must be better. There's talent back here, but it never quite came together consistently for USC last season, and they were shelled by opponents on several occasions. Junior Kamari Ramsey provides a steadying force, but the corners must take steps forward this fall.
Bottom Line: USC is a difficult team to get a read on heading into the fall. They have the upside to be a very dangerous team, which we've seen from Riley before - with arguably worse rosters than what the Trojans currently boast. However, the defense is still rebuilding, and Maiava isn't quite at the level of what we've seen of past Riley quarterbacks, at least not until we see it over the course of an entire year. The Trojans feel like a wild card, but this range feels right for them until we see it over the course of a season.
8. Indiana Hoosiers
How can Indiana possibly follow up the greatest season in school history? The Hoosiers didn't just win 11 games last year, they made the College Football Playoff, a miraculous achievement for a program that has spent much of their football history buried near the bottom of the Big Ten.
Head coach Curt Cignetti seems confident the encore will be just as impressive, and both he and the entire staff worked hard over the offseason to augment the roster. One of the biggest moves was landing QB Fernando Mendoza in the portal, the former Cal signal-caller. Mendoza, who has the attention of NFL scouts with his size and arm strength, may end up representing an upgrade over the departed Kurtis Rourke.
Surrounding Mendoza will be a receiver corps led by big-play wide out Elijah Sarratt, who was one of Rourke's top options last fall. Omar Cooper is an excellent complement as well, while former Clemson transfer E.J. Williams has flashed aplenty in the past. The ground game will miss Justice Ellison, although Roman Hemby comes over from Maryland with ample experience under his belt.
The offensive line should give Mendoza a lot of time in the pocket. Three starters are back, and the Hoosiers further bolstered the group by bringing in transfers like Pat Coogan from inside the state at Notre Dame, who is likely to anchor the center spot.
It was the defense that truly fueled Indiana's surprising 2024 campaign. They featured the nation's top rushing defense, and the nation's No. 2 total defense, holding opponents to just over 256 yards per game. Replicating those numbers against a trickier schedule is will be no easy task, but the cupboard is far from bare in Bloomington.
Senior defensive linemen Mikail Kamara was a crucial returnee who followed Cignetti over from James Madison. After racking up All-Big Ten honors last season, even greater things appear on the horizon. Senior Aiden Fisher was another important piece to return, although he'll have to play a true leadership role with some of the losses elsewhere on defense.
The secondary should be very good. There's a star-level player here, too, as D'Angelo Ponds is back for his junior season at cornerback. He'll likely have a new mate opposite of him at corner, although the Hoosiers do have some returning pieces elsewhere in the unit, including junior Amare Ferrell.
Bottom Line: Just about everything went right for Indiana last season, as the Hoosiers benefitted from one of the softest schedules in college football. That won't be the case in 2025, as they face Oregon and Penn State on the road, and get Illinois at home. Still, I don't think the Hoosiers were some complete one-hit wonder last season. Cignetti always gets the most from his rosters, and there is some really nice talent on both sides of the ball here. A step-back feels incredibly likely given the schedule, but Indiana could still flirt with double-digit victories.
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers
After a decade-long hiatus, the Nebraska Cornhuskers returned to a bowl game last year, where they came out victorious over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. Still, 'Husker fans aren't ready to overly celebrate just yet - they're hoping it's the sign of things to come for Matt Rhule and company.
Rhule has his quarterback, as Dylan Raiola is set to return for his sophomore season after throwing for 2,819 yards as a true freshman. Raiola made his fair share of mistakes, as freshmen quarterbacks often do, but displayed a really talented arm and overall feel for the game.
Raiola will benefit from two things - the arrival of Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator, and several new pieces around him in this offense. Holgorsen will replace Marcus Satterfield, who moved over to become tight ends coach, and will hope to bring his track record of explosive offenses to Lincoln.
Along with Holgorsen, Nebraska landed a big name receiver in the portal in Dane Key from Kentucky, and bolstered their offensive line with the additions of Rocco Spindler from Notre Dame and Elijah Prichett from Alabama. Add in the return of junior back Emmett Johnson, who ran for 598 yards last season, there are enough pieces here to believe the Cornhuskers will improve on last season's 23.5 PPG average.
The loss of Tony White on defense stings, as he emerged as one of the best coordinators in college football during his two seasons with Nebraska. With White moving on to Florida State, Rhule promoted John Butler to replace him. Butler has been all over, including nearly a decade in the NFL, before arriving at Nebraska last season as secondary coach. It feels like an interesting move, considering Nebraska's pass defense was by far their greatest weak spot defensively.
Butler will have to make do with a retooled front seven, although former transfers dot the lineup. Talented veteran Dasan McCullough will play a leading role at linebacker, while the 'Huskers are hopeful names like Williams Nwaneri, a Missouri transfer, will begin to shine. One of the highest-rated recruits in Missouri program, Nwaneri will await his opportunity after redshirting last fall.
The secondary does have some familiar pieces back, including veterans Ceyair Wright and Marques Buford Jr., who started 12 games for the team last season. Wright will man the cornerback spot, while Buford could move around, after splitting time between corner and safety last fall. Senior Malcolm Hartzog is another familiar face who led the team in interceptions last year, making this unit a real strength.
Bottom Line: Nebraska finally got the monkey of their backs by returning to a bowl game, but the hype train entering 2025 has far greater expectations. With Raiola entering Year Two and the Cornhuskers bringing in several big-name transfers, could this team be ready to contend for a Big Ten Title? The losses up front defensively and the transition from White to Butler is enough to give me pause. The schedule is favorable enough to think Nebraska could improve on last year's seven victories, but that's as far as I'll go this season. It feels more like this could be a stage-setting type year, potentially leading to a true breakthrough 2026 season.
Teams 10-18 coming in Part 2
All-Big Ten Teams
First Team
QB Drew Allar, Penn State
RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
RB Darius Taylor, Minnesota
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
WR Denzel Boston, Washington
TE Max Klare, Ohio State
OL Isaiah World, Oregon
OL Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin
OL Logan Jones, Iowa
OL Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
OL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
DL Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
DL Mikail Kamara, Indiana
DL Rayshaun Benny, Michigan
DL Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
LB Ernest Hausmann, Michigan
LB Gabe Jacas, Illinois
CB D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
S Rod Moore, Michigan
Second Team
QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State
RB Makhi Hughes, Oregon
WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
WR Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa
OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
OL Pat Coogan, Indiana
OL Phillip Daniels, Ohio State
OL J.C. Davis, Illinois
DL T.J. Guy, Michigan
DL Zane Durant, Penn State
DL Bear Alexander, Oregon
DL Beau Atkinson, Ohio State
LB Eric Gentry, USC
LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
LB Aiden Fisher, Indiana
CB Zeke Berry, Michigan
CB Xavier Scott, Illinois
S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
S Koi Perich, Minnesota
The Five Most Important Games
1. Penn State @ Ohio State (November 1) -- Is this the year Penn State overtakes the Buckeyes, not just for the Big Ten but as a National Title favorite? They've been stymied by Ohio State every year since the 2016 upset, but this year feels different. Going into Columbus and coming away with a win would be quite the statement from the Nittany Lions.
2. Texas @ Ohio State (August 30) -- A rematch of last year's Cotton Bowl, Texas will be out for revenge as they travel into "The Shoe" and take on the Buckeyes. It will be the start of both the Arch Manning era at Texas and the Julian Sayin era at Ohio State, which should only further the intrigue between these two National Title frontrunners.
3. Oregon @ Penn State (September 27) -- If Ohio State takes a step back this fall, it will almost assuredly open the door for one of these two teams to take the crown. In fact, it would be a rematch of last year's Big Ten Championship Game, won by the Ducks.
4. Ohio State @ Michigan (November 29) -- It's remarkable that "The Game" is all the way down here at the four spot, but there's just so much big games across the league this fall. After last season's shocking defeat, Ohio State will be extra juiced up for this game, especially if they have a shot at spoiling Michigan's College Football Playoff hopes.
5. Michigan @ Oklahoma (September 6) -- Big Ten-SEC supremacy will be a constant storyline all fall, and this will be an important one in shifting the narrative one way or another. Not only are these two blue blood programs who have met just once in their storied histories, both teams will be breaking in a lot of new pieces so early on in the season.
Superlatives
Offensive Player of the Year: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Defensive Player of the Year: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Coach of the Year: Bret Bielema, Illinois
Freshman of the Year: Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan
Transfer of the Year: Makhi Hughes, RB, Oregon
Big Ten Championship Game: Ohio State over Penn State
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