BSB Predictions: Staff Split On Who Takes Big Ten Title

Thursday is the final day of Big Ten media days, which means the football season is quickly approaching. Last year, the Buckeyes failed to reach their goal of winning the conference for the fourth straight season, dropping games against Oregon and Michigan.

The Ducks went without a loss last year in the conference and topped Penn State in the Big Ten title game and are looking to bring that success into the new season, but there will be a lot of competition in the expanded conference.

Here are the Buckeye Sports Bulletin staff predictions for how we believe the Big Ten race will go this season, aling with some predictions for conference awards as well:

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The college football season is quickly approaching, and a similar cast of teams is once again receiving the majority of the preseason hype. Ahead of the 2025 season, Penn State, returning likely future-first-round pick at quarterback Drew Allar and All-Big Ten running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, seems to be the preseason favorite to win the conference. Like many others, I, too, believe the Nittany Lions are set to have an impressive year under 12th-year head coach James Franklin. Not only does Penn State project to have one of the best backfields in college football, but it also seems to be much improved at the wide receiver position. In the offseason, the Nittany Lions brought in a trio of accomplished receivers from the transfer portal, including former USC pass-catcher Kyron Hudson, Trebor Peña, an All-ACC receiver at Syracuse in 2024 and Devonte Ross, a 1,000-yard receiver at Troy last year.

Still, I have questions about whether the Nittany Lions will be able to overcome the defending national champions.

Ohio State, despite all of its perceived flaws at this point of the year, will still have one of the most talented rosters in college football in 2025, and more importantly, will be led by receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs, who are undoubtedly two of the best players in the sport.

I think the Buckeyes’ quarterback position is still a major question mark heading into fall camp, but by the time the most significant Big Ten games arrive, Ryan Day’s squad should have a more-than-capable option leading the offense.

Ironically, Oregon, the defending Big Ten champions, hasn’t received the hype of other powers within the conference, even though its schedule seems pretty straightforward.

Other than an early-season road game against Penn State, the toughest team on the Ducks’ Big Ten schedule is one of a group of teams like Indiana, USC or Washington.

If enough chaos occurs in the Big Ten and Penn State or Ohio State pick up two losses, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Ducks, led by former five-star and UCLA quarterback Dante Moore, make the Big Ten Championship game for the second year in a row.

Michigan, fresh off a highly-ranked 2025 recruiting class, has received some predictions to compete in the Big Ten, but I’m unsure if the Wolverines will have the consistency needed over a nine-game Big Ten season to be in the mix for the conference’s title.

Led by a former five-star and my pick for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Bryce Underwood, Michigan will have its moments, but I also see second-year coach Sherrone Moore’s squad slipping up a couple of times on the road in games against Nebraska and USC.

Big Ten Championship: Ohio State over Penn State

Offensive Player of the Year: Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith

Defensive Player of the Year: Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton

Freshman of the Year: Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood

Coach of the Year: Ohio State head coach Ryan Day

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Four seasons in a row have gone by without Ohio State winning the Big Ten now, and Ryan Day and a talented, young roster are looking to end that streak. But it’s going to be tough to do so with the top of the conference coming into the season so strong.

It’s entirely possible that Penn State has the best roster in the country, let alone the Big Ten. Texas, the Buckeyes’ Week 1 opponent, certainly could give the Nittany Lions a run for their money in that competition, but that’s a game that wouldn’t be played until the College Football Playoff. With Drew Allar entering his final year in State College, Jim Knowles taking over the defense and a slew of returning talent in the starting lineup, it’s going to be tough to take down Penn State this year. The Buckeyes will have the chance to do so on Nov. 1 at Ohio Stadium.

One thing Ohio State will have going for it in that game is that it has been nine seasons since Penn State beat the Buckeyes. But the Lions will come into Ohio Stadium energized and rested from its off week, trying to knock off the defending champions

The biggest question everyone has about Penn State at this point is the man at the helm. James Franklin has yet to prove that he is able to win the big one. He led his team to the CFP semifinal last season, but the two wins to get there were over SMU and Boise State, arguably the two weakest teams in the 12-team field.

It’s going to be a tough conference schedule for Penn State this season, with Oregon and Indiana coming to Beaver Stadium and the Nittany Lions going on the road to face off against Iowa and the Buckeyes. But, I think that works out better for this team that likely has very big goals. That could prepare them for a run like Ohio State had last year through the CFP.

However, looking at Ohio State’s schedule, I just don’t see any conference games other than Penn State that are up in the air on paper. But then there’s Michigan for the final game of the regular season in the Big House, and Day will need to exorcise his Wolverine demons to try to make a return to the conference championship, which I believe he finally will.

I don’t think Franklin and the Nittany Lions can come into the Horseshoe and beat the Buckeyes this season, but I think that might be a different story in Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship, where I think the two teams will meet up in the first week of December.

Big Ten Championship: Penn State over Ohio State

Offensive Player of the Year: Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith

Defensive Player of the Year: Oregon defensive end Matayo Uiagelelei

Freshman of the Year: Oregon wide receiver Dakorien Moore

Coach of the Year: Penn State head coach James Franklin