With the demise a few years ago of the Pac-12, lovingly referred to as the Conference of Champions by the late Bill Walton, the Big Ten has grabbed the torch in regards to the name in football. The league has claimed the past two national championships with Michigan going undefeated and beating current conference member Washington for the title in the 2023 campaign. The expanded CFP format last season allowed the Ohio State Buckeyes to compete for a national championship and they didn’t disappoint, beating Notre Dame in the title game. With two regular season setbacks the Buckeyes likely don’t make the old four-team format. After winning their ninth national championship THE Ohio State is favored on the college football odds to win the 2025 Big Ten title in what is expected to be a tight race.
2025 Big Ten Season Preview
As we saw last season under the expanded CFP format winning a conference championship or even playing in a conference title game isn’t a necessity. The Buckeyes lost to Oregon and Michigan during the season leaving them out of the Big Ten championship. Those two losses were by a total of four points and OSU took care of business in its other games to earn one of the 12 invitations. And the Buckeyes got rolling in the CFP winning all four games by more than 10 points. There was significant roster turnover during the offseason yet the Buckeyes have enough talent to top several other quality programs as the favorite to win the Big Ten title. Most pundits agree that Penn State is poised to finally get over the hump after reaching the title game a season ago. Years of playing in the same division as Ohio State and Michigan prevented PSU from playing for a league title. Finishing last season with the second-best conference record, the Nittany Lions fell to Oregon in their first Big Ten title game since 2016. Oregon and Michigan are also expected to be in the hunt boasting the third and fourth shortest odds respectively. The top four teams opened with Big Ten title odds shorter than 7/1. There are some quality programs on the second tier of favorites led by USC and favorites don’t always win in sports betting.
Big Ten Conference Title Odds
Ohio State +192
Penn State +237
Oregon +279
Michigan +684
USC +2,000
Illinois +2,941
Nebraska +3,265
Indiana +3,467
Iowa +3,549
Washington +6,025
Minnesota +10,153
Wisconsin +11,500
Michigan State+12,421
Rutgers +15,238
UCLA +17,782
Maryland +25,000
Northwestern +40,000
Purdue +50,881
2025 Big Ten Favorites
Penn State Nittany Lions
They are not the favorite, at least not at the time of this writing, but PSU might have the most talent assembled in the conference. And they have something Ohio State doesn’t have. The return of QB Drew Allar gives PSU an experienced veteran at the most important position on the field. Allar threw for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns last year as the conductor of a potent offense. The transfer portal helped address certain holes and the continued development of Allar, who enters his third season as the starter, is a key storyline to the overall success of PSU.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The most powerful college football teams don’t rebuild, they simply reload, and that’s what the Buckeyes have done in their quest for a national championship repeat. Julian Sayin is the likely successor to Will Howard at QB. While he’s short on experience having attempted just 12 passes in his career, Saying is long on talent. And being surrounded with plenty of talent at the skill positions should make the transition smoother.
Oregon Ducks
After bringing in veterans Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel to lead the offense the past few seasons, the Ducks are going a different direction. While the two former signal-callers were fantastic players, new QB Dante Moore gives the attack an added dimension. And it’s not like Moore is new to the system having served as Gabriel’s backup last season. Once again the Ducks have speed and quickness all over the field, including on defense for a group that should be better than last season’s collection. Moore should be fine but the Ducks can be great if he is too.
2025 Big Ten Longshots
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Their late season collapse overshadowed what the Cornhuskers did in the first half of the season. Nebraska won five of its first six games and looked poised to make a run in the Big Ten before going 1-5 to close the regular season. The talent has improved with Dylan Raiola looking to take a step forward, and the schedule plays out in Nebraska’s favor also with no Ohio State or Oregon and the biggest contests set to be played in Lincoln.
Indiana Hoosiers
They won’t sneak up on anyone this season but the Hoosiers laid the groundwork last year under Curt Cignetti winning 11 games. Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza should keep the offense humming and the defense that allowed less than 16 points per outing returns three of its top players. IU went 8-1 in Big Ten play but was denied an opportunity to play in the conference championship. That will be a motivating force this year.
2025 Big Ten Prime Free Picks
Penn State needs to undo the hex Ohio State has on it. If the Nittany Lions can finally beat their nemesis there’s no stopping them. However, that’s a big if.
