Big Ten Football Preview

Hi Friends!

The college football season is about to start, which means it's time for my Big Ten Football Preview! Before that, thanks so much for all your support of my blog, and for making Music x Yoga by far my most viewed blog, with over 1,000 views! Thanks too for all your comments, both online and via direct message. Back to football. The Big 10 this year is the first conference to have the top two teams in the preseason ranking (AP Poll) since 1987, the year my Dad, who's helping on this blog given his deep love of college football, was born. One more thing to my SEC diehard readers, your time as the top conference has passed. Sorry. You're still great but the Big Ten is better. Without further ado, here is my Tier List, including preseason AP ranking in () for the Big Ten this upcoming season.

Layout with the help of ChatGPT

Let's dive a little deeper, looking at my top 8 in the Big Ten (note there are 20 teams in the conference), with my projected national playoff chances.

Ohio State (1):

80% Playoffs Chance

• Betting Natty faves, Just (Julian) Sayin (QB)

• No weaknesses, mad depth at every position

• Jeremiah Smith (WR) possible NFL #1 pick next year

• #6 Hoosiers and #14 Trojans away, #2 Ducks at home

Oregon (2):

75% Playoffs Chance

• Returning 68% of production, #6 in all of FBS

• Dante Moore legit Heisman contender QB

• USC, Ohio State, and Washington away

• Get in at 10-2, unlikely they drop below that

• Koi Perich might be the best DB in the country, and I believe Oregon's D is the best in the Big Ten

• Much as it pains me to say it as a Husky fan, I think Oregon is my pick right now to win the Natty (but their playoff chances are a bit lower than Ohio State's given what I consider to be a harder schedule, especially considering home and away distributions versus stronger competition)

Indiana (6):

50% Playoffs Chance

• Curt Cignetti might be the best coach in CFB right now (11-1 in 2023 coaching James Madison, 11-2 in 2024 coaching Indiana (made CFP), 16-0 in 2025 coaching Indiana (won CFP))

• Manageable schedule, Big 10 wise, with Ohio State, Michigan, and USC at home and Washington away

• Can they get over losing Fernando at QB, Omar at WR, and D’Angelo at DB?

Penn State Nittany Lions (18):

35% Playoffs Chance

• Avoids #1 Ohio State, #2 Oregon, and #6 Indiana

• Needs to win at least one of #16 Michigan on the road, #17 Washington on the road, and #14 USC

• Easiest path to playoff outside of “Big 3”

• New HC Matt Campbell comes from Iowa State and won three Big 12 COTY awards

Washington Huskies (17):

25% Playoffs Chance

• Demond Williams Jr. at QB legit dual threat Heisman contender.

• Largely returning D with high upside

• Penn State and Indiana play in Seattle

• Playoff path likely requires going 3-2 vs #2 Oregon, #6 Indiana, #14 USC, #18 Penn State, and #22 Iowa

• With strong strength of schedule, 10-2 ensures a playoff spot

USC (14):

20% Playoffs Chance

• Lots of returning players, 65% of production, more so than other top teams

• RB tandem King & Waymond hard to stop

• Brutal schedule with #2 Oregon, #1 Ohio State, and #17 Washington at home and #6 Indiana and #18 Penn State away but 10-2 is a playoff lock

Iowa (22):

15% Playoffs Chance

• Hardest early season schedule (@ Michigan 9/26, Ohio State 10/3, @ Washington 10/10)

• If they go 2-1 there, playoffs become likely, but that’s a HUGE if

• This team is always ready to win in the trenches with strong lines on both sides of the ball

Michigan (16):

10% Playoffs Chance

• Will Bryce Underwood be elite at QB?

• Impossible schedule with Oklahoma too

• Small chance 9-3 Michigan makes playoff but even that is hard

• At #1 Ohio State, at #2 Oregon, home vs #6 Indiana, #10 Oklahoma, #18 Penn State, and #22 Iowa

As for the best of the rest, I think Wisconsin probably the best in my B tier. UCLA is likely the best in the C tier. New HC Bob Chesney, another James Madison coaching alum post Cignetti, will elevate the squad and QB Nico Iamaleava is a legit Heisman contender, but overall, their weapons aren't quite as strong. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if UCLA makes a bowl, which would bring the Big Ten count to 12 bowling teams. If any teams in my D tier make a bowl, I'd be very surprised. As for the CFB playoffs, I have 4/12 coming from the Big Ten, namely Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, and Penn State, and I have Oregon beating Ohio State in an All Big Ten Natty. Please share your thoughts and predictions in the comments.

That's all for today! See y'all next time! Sarang out.