July 07, 2025

2025 Big Ten Conference Preview (07.7.25) | Presented by FanDuel

1 hour 11 minutes

The 2025 college football season represents a landmark year for the Big Ten as it embarks on its first full 18‑team campaign without divisions, blending traditional powerhouses and fresh contenders. Ohio State enters as reigning national champions and favorites to repeat, with a loaded roster and high expectations under quarterback Julian Sayin. Penn State, led by Drew Allar and dynamic backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, looks poised to challenge for the title after finishing strong in 2024. Oregon aims to defend its conference crown, returning stars like Dante Moore and Matayo Uiagalelei. Michigan, fresh off a bowl win and reloaded with five-star QB Bryce Underwood, remains in the national conversation but enters 2025 with more questions than answers under Sherrone Moore. Beyond the top-tier contenders, programs like Illinois and Indiana are gaining momentum, while USC, Nebraska, and Wisconsin look to find consistency in a hyper-competitive field. In this preview, we break down team-by-team outlooks, preseason rankings, title odds, and key matchups—plus our favorite sleeper picks and futures bets heading into Week 1.

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You can catch this Monday version of Hit The Books with Joey Knish and Brad Powers every Monday at 5 pm ET and start your week off right for the slate of college football matchups and maybe get ahead of some line movements with the sharp crew. You can catch Hit The Books on YouTube and you can subscribe to follow it more easily. For those catching it later it is also going to be available on your favorite podcast platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcast. Follow these and never miss out.

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