Big Ten football 2025 preseason poll, All-Conference teams, award selections

USA Today

2 days ago

Big Ten football media days are set to begin on Tuesday, July 22, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State and Rutgers will appear during Tuesday's session. Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Washington and Wisconsin will then follow on Wednesday, before Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA and USC close the event on Thursday.
Unlike at this time last year, the expanded 18-team conference has a sense of normalcy and permanence. Media days for the 2024 season were our first look at Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA as conference members, which added an extra challenge to season preview and preparation work.
That picture is much clearer entering 2025. Oregon solidified its position as a conference and national title contender in its first season as a Big Ten member, while Washington, USC and UCLA all fell a few tiers below that standing. A big question entering 2025 is which of those final three programs breaks out and returns to the top of the sport.
Big Ten Position Previews: Defense -- Offense -- Quarterbacks -- Running Backs -- Wide Receivers -- Tight Ends -- Offensive Line -- Defensive Line -- Pass-Rushers
With media days set to begin on Tuesday, there is no better time to unveil our 2025 Big Ten football season predictions, complete with our preseason poll, projected All-Conference teams and selections for the major individual awards
Badgers Wire's Big Ten Football 2025 Preseason Poll
Big Ten Championship: Penn State over Ohio State
All-Big Ten First Team
Offense
Defense
All-Big Ten Second Team
Offense
Defense
All-Big Ten Third Team
Offense
Defense
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
Pick: WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
While he isn't a quarterback, Smith is an easy pick for this award. The all-world wide receiver turned 76 receptions into 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2024. He should have little trouble replicating those tallies as the clear No. 1 option on Ohio State's offense in 2025.
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
Pick: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
While Penn State may have the better overall team than Ohio State in 2025, the Buckeyes boast the clear top two players in the conference, if not in the entire sport. Downs transferred to Ohio State after a fantastic true freshman season at Alabama in 2023 (107 tackles, four for loss, two interceptions, four pass deflections, one forced fumble). He then met sky-high expectations with an All-American season leading the Buckeyes defense in 2024, finishing with 82 tackles, eight for loss, two interceptions and six pass deflections. Expect another fantastic season from the All-American safety.
Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Pick: WR Dakorien Moore, Oregon
If any player has the potential to follow in Smith's footsteps as a true freshman wide receiver, it's Moore. The five-star recruit joins the Ducks as 247Sports' No. 4 overall player in the class of 2025 and No. 1 wideout. With Evan Stewart out for the year with a torn patellar tendon, Moore should have a path to lead the Ducks in targets.
Big Ten Coach of the Year
Pick: Bret Bielema, Illinois
Bielama and Illinois' breakthrough 2024 season was overshadowed by an out-of-nowhere resurgence from Curt Cignetti's Indiana Hoosiers. 2025 will be Bielema's year to steal the headlines, as Illinois returns significant production and faces one of the conference's easiest schedules.
College Football Playoff Participants
Picks: Penn State, Ohio State, Illinois, Washington
Penn State and Ohio State feel like annual write-ins to the CFP now that it includes 12 teams. Oregon is close to that standing, although the team may be set for a step backward after an offseason of significant roster turnover. While some would put Michigan next, I can't buy in until we know the team's situation at quarterback.
That leaves Illinois, which, as mentioned, faces one of the lightest schedules in the conference. A path to 10-2 should be there if the team can replicate its form from last season.
My breakout pick for 2025 is the Washington Huskies. The team was up-and-down last season as Jedd Fisch installed his culture and worked to turn over the roster. Remember, he took the job late in the cycle after Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama. The program is in a much better place entering 2025 after a full offseason of roster movement. Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. could be the Big Ten breakout player of the year, leading an offensive unit that is sneaky-talented. The major questions come on defense, where the team is set to start six transfers. The Huskies face a tough schedule, but they could sneak in at the bottom of the CFP field with a 9-3 record.
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