Regarding the entire conference this could be the year that Penn State finally gets it done. They’ll have a tough test early but at home in their 2025 Penn State White Out set for prime time as they’ll host the Ducks in Beaver Stadium on Saturday, September 27th at 4:30pm on NBC. With returning Edge Rusher Dani-Dennis Sutton leading the defense on the front side with 8.5 sacks last year and Safety Zakee Wheatley who recorded 57 solo tackles, 4 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions covering the back you can expect the Nittany Lions to hold their own on that side of the ball. Returning on offense is one of the best QB’s in the country in Drew Allar who will be playing behind and with a veteran offensive line, arguably the best backfield in the country with Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen—both of whom rushed for over 1,000 yards last year–and top notch wide receivers. In spite of all that goodness you can still expect Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon to be right up near the top all season long with USC as my dark horse candidate with a schedule that has Michigan at home in the Coliseum and avoids Ohio State and Penn State altogether.
USC—After blowing fourth-quarter leads in five of their six losses last year and unable to win a game outside of California, look for USC to finally break out this year in this, Lincoln Riley’s fourth year . . . https://www.si.com/college/usc/football/danton-lynn-usc-trojans-defense-biggest-improvement-lincoln-riley-recruiting-nil-transfers-practice-los-angeles-memorial-coliseum
Here’s what the coach had to say at the Big Ten Media Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uCmbH3a9MA
Check out the College Football News link below for the “USC Football Preview 2025: Trojans Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players” https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/usc-football-preview-2025-trojans-season-prediction-win-total-projection-top-players
UCLA—Check out what’s going on with the Bruins, including the addition of the disgruntled Tennessee starting QB who left for Westwood after a disagreement regarding NIL. https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/ucla-football-preview-2025-bruins-season-prediction-win-total-projection-top-players and https://athlonsports.com/college-football/ucla-football-bruins-prediction-preview-2025
In late July Head Coach DeShaun Foster gave his take for this year at Big Ten Media Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TDowj_1lZQ
Washington—Don’t forget what Jedd Fisch did at Arizona, taking a team on a 12 game losing streak from 1-11, to 5-7, to 10-3 in his third year before jumping into the Big Ten and taking over Kalen DeBoer’s job at Washington when he left to do the same at Alabama after Nick Saban’s retirement. Listen to what the coach has to say here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjEDf1tC8Hg
Check out the predictions for the Huskies from College Football News here: https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/washington-football-preview-2025-huskies-season-prediction-win-total-projection-top-players
Oregon—As long as Phil Knight is above ground you don’t have to worry about Oregon’s ability to stay abreast with college football’s big dogs. As he said after his $500 million dollar donation just a couple of months ago; “This isn’t just about money. It’s about belief. I believe in the Ducks. I believe in what this university can be — not just in the Pac-12 or Big Ten, but nationally. I will do everything in my power to make sure we are second to none.” Check out their preview here https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/oregon-football-preview-2025-ducks-season-prediction-win-total-projection-top-players and here https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/oregon-football-preview-2025-ducks-big-year-playoff-run
Then hear what Head Coach Dan Lanning had to say at Big Ten Media Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqLjhcYa-ZE