The Ohio State Buckeyes put together one of the greatest runs in college football history to win the 2024-25 College Football Playoff national championship.
Yet, Ohio State didn’t win the 2024 Big Ten championship. Losses to Oregon and Michigan prevented the Buckeyes from even reaching Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game. The 18-team league is more difficult than ever to win.
Winning the conference title isn’t required to win the national title. However, Big Ten teams want to win the Big Ten, and one of these four teams will walk away with the trophy in 2025.
(Odds are via FanDuel)
Ohio State (+180)
The Buckeyes are among the favorites to win the national championship in 2025, but there are question marks.
Julian Sayin was the top-ranked quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class. Was one redshirt season enough seasoning? He’s got two standout wide receivers, sophomore Jeremiah Smith and junior Carnell Tate, to throw to.
Junior safety Caleb Downs might be the best defender in college football. Matt Patricia has something to prove as the defensive coordinator, but talent isn’t an issue.
Road trips to Illinois and Michigan could cause problems. Penn State comes to the Horseshoe, though, and if the Buckeyes win that, but lose just one other, they should be in Indy for the first time in five years.
Penn State (+260)
The Nittany Lions haven’t won the Big Ten championship since 2016, although they did reach the title game in 2024.
Expectations are through the roof after the return of senior Drew Allar at quarterback. Seniors Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen form arguably the best running-back duo in college football, plus the defense is talented, experienced, and boasts Jim Knowles, the DC Penn State stole away from Ohio State.
To win the Big Ten, Penn State will have to beat Ohio State, Oregon, or Michigan at some point.
Penn State has 14 returning starters. It also added Trevor Peba, an All-ACC wide receiver, from Syracuse via the transfer portal.
The Nittany Lions avoided Michigan on the schedule but do play at Ohio State. Oregon also comes to Happy Valley. They will have to win at least one of those two games, at least if they want to reach the Big Ten title game.
Oregon (+300)
The knee injury to senior wide receiver Evan Stewart was a blow. He could miss the season, per CBS Sports.
Oregon boasts as much talent as any team in the Big Ten, right on par with Ohio State. It also has an inexperienced quarterback in redshirt sophomore Dante Moore.
Moore previously played at UCLA. After a redshirt season a year ago, the former five-star quarterback will have to deliver if Oregon is going to repeat as Big Ten champion.
Road trips to Penn State and Washington are the most difficult games on the schedule, so a successful title defense isn’t hard to foresee.
Michigan (+1000)
The Wolverines are a long shot. Yet, bettors could do worse. Michigan’s defense held Alabama to 13 points in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl, and most of those players are back.
Michigan returns 13 starters. It also added five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and reinforced the wide receiver position, as well as the defensive line and secondary, via the transfer portal.
There are five league road games, which include Nebraska and USC. Yet, the Wolverines avoid Penn State and Oregon. They also get Ohio State at home.
If Underwood meets the hype, a Big Ten title isn’t a crazy thought.