{"id":54739,"date":"2025-07-10T18:08:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/54739\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T18:08:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:08:14","slug":"phil-steele-releases-preseason-big-ten-football-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/54739\/","title":{"rendered":"Phil Steele releases Preseason Big Ten Football Rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the 2025 college football season on the horizon, Phil Steele has released his \u201cPower Poll\u201d<\/a>. Included in this poll are all 136 FBS teams, including all 18 teams in the Big Ten.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, Steele has a Big Ten team (and not the reigning National Champions) atop the list. Four teams from the conference are included in his top-15.<\/p>\n

Steele\u2019s ranking of Big Ten teams, 1-18, is below:<\/p>\n

James Franklin<\/a><\/strong> and his Penn State<\/strong> Nittany Lions sit atop Phil Steele\u2019s Power Poll at No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 1 nationally. Last season, Penn State<\/strong> won two College Football Playoff games before falling to Notre Dame<\/a><\/strong> 27-24 in the Orange Bowl (College Football Playoff Semifinal).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis looks like a very special veteran team and Penn State<\/strong> is my pick to win it all this year,\u201d Steele wrote. Their last National Championship came back in 1986.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Adam Cairns\/Columbus Dispatch \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The reigning National Champions come in ranked at No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 5 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite dropping from No. 47 to No. 105 on my Experience Chart, Ohio State<\/strong> could be favored in all 12 regular season games,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cThey\u2019ve got Penn State<\/strong> and Texas<\/a><\/strong> at home and are a threat to repeat as National Champions.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a bit of a rocky start in the first year of the Sherrone Moore<\/a><\/strong> era, Michigan finished the 2024 season strong with wins over eventual National Champion Ohio State<\/strong> and Alabama<\/a><\/strong> in the ReliaQuest Bowl to end the year. This season, the Wolverines are ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 12 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year they only lost [seven] NFL Draft choices, so they will have an improved record and are back to being a Big Ten title contender,\u201d Steele wrote. Michigan<\/strong> had won the Big Ten Championship Game in three consecutive seasons prior to last season.<\/p>\n

Oregon<\/strong> started last season with an unblemished 13-0 record before finally falling to Ohio State<\/strong> 41-21 in the Rose Bowl (College Football Playoff Quarterfinal). This season, the Ducks are ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 13 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey did bring in some super transfers and remain one of the top teams in the country,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cThey did have three net close wins last season and now face Penn State<\/strong>, Iowa<\/strong> and Washington<\/strong> on the road, which makes another unbeaten season unlikely. But they are a legitimate Big Ten and national title contender once again!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Rich Janzaruk\/Herald-Times \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Although Indiana<\/strong> defeated zero top-25 ranked teams in the regular season, the Hoosiers still made an appearance in the College Football Playoff last season for the first time in program history. This season, Curt Cignetti<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s team is ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 16 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year they played Ohio State<\/strong> and Michigan<\/strong> and avoid both this year, but now face Oregon<\/strong> and Penn State<\/strong>,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201c[Curt] Cignetti<\/strong> mentioned playing a playoff game hurt some transfer portal signings, but they are loaded once again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2024 season marked a return to relevancy for the Illinois<\/strong> football program, which won 10 games in a season for the first time since 2001. This was bookended by an exciting 21-17 win over South Carolina<\/a><\/strong> in the Citrus Bowl. This season, the Fighting Illini are ranked No. 6 in the Big Ten and No. 17 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the most talented team that [Bret] Bielema<\/a><\/strong> has had in his five years here and is both a legitimate contender in the Big Ten and a playoff contender,\u201d Steele wrote.<\/p>\n

7. USC Trojans<\/a> (No. 21 nationally)<\/p>\n

USC<\/strong>\u2018s 2024 season opened strong with a 27-20 win over LSU<\/a><\/strong> in the Vegas Kickoff Classic, but it went just 4-5 in Big Ten play and finished the season at 7-6 with a 35-31 win over Texas A&M<\/a><\/strong> in the Las Vegas Bowl. This season, the Trojans are ranked No. 7 in the Big Ten and No. 21 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey do face Illinois, Notre Dame<\/a><\/strong>, Nebraska<\/strong> and Oregon<\/strong> on the road, but most key indicators are pointing up,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cThey were much better than their record and could be a surprise contender in a loaded Big Ten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Steve Roberts-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Iowa<\/strong>\u2018s model of consistency continued last season as the Hawkeyes won eight games for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz<\/a><\/strong> (Iowa<\/strong> was 6-2 in COVID shortened 2020 season). This season, the Hawkeyes are ranked No. 8 in the Big Ten and No. 31 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey do host Indiana<\/strong>, Oregon<\/strong> and Penn State<\/strong> and have five Big Ten home games,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cWin those, and they are a contender. Lose those and they have USC<\/strong>, Nebraska<\/strong>, Wisconsin<\/strong> and Rutgers<\/strong> on the road. Coach [Kirk] Ferentz<\/strong> will have the Hawkeyes near the top as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Luke Fickell<\/a><\/strong> era at Wisconsin<\/strong> hasn\u2019t gotten off to the greatest start, as the Badgers are just 12-13 (8-10) in his first two seasons at the helm. The program hasn\u2019t suffered four consecutive sub-eight win seasons since 1989-1992. This season, the Badgers are ranked No. 9 in the Big Ten and No. 32 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey led Penn State<\/strong> and Oregon<\/strong> at halftime [last season], but five straight losses (longest losing streak since 1991) snapped the bowl streak,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cThis year, they face the Big Ten\u2019s toughest schedule, but do have five Big Ten home games.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2024 season for Nebraska<\/strong> marked a return to the program standard, as the Cornhuskers won at least seven games and a bowl game (Pinstripe Bowl over Boston College<\/a><\/strong>) for the first time since 2013. This season, Matt Rhule<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s team is ranked No. 10 in the Big Ten and No. 35 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been 13 years since the Huskers have had a double-digit win season but this is [Matt] Rhule<\/strong>\u2018s best team and they are capable of getting there,\u201d Steele wrote.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 GABY VELASQUEZ\/ USA TODAY \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Washington<\/strong> struggled a bit in its first season following Kalen DeBoer<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s departure for Alabama<\/a><\/strong>, finishing with a 6-7 record and a 35-34 loss to Louisville<\/a><\/strong> in the Sun Bowl. This season, Jedd Fisch<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s team is ranked No. 11 in the Big Ten and No. 39 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey had a one-point loss to Louisville<\/strong> in the bowl to go from National Title game to a losing season,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cThis year, they are a much more improved, experienced team in year two of Jedd Fisch<\/strong> and just like in 2022, make my Most Improved List.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rutgers<\/strong> head coach Greg Schiano<\/a><\/strong> has led the Scarlet Knights to back-to-back seven win seasons for the first time since 2011-12 and will look to hit the eight-win marker this season for the first time since 2014. This season, the Knights are ranked No. 12 in the Big Ten and No. 44 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, they have [Greg] Schiano<\/strong>\u2018s best team since his return with 16 returning starters, but the schedule is at the other end of the Big Ten spectrum\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cFive road games and Ohio State<\/strong>, Penn State<\/strong>, Oregon<\/strong>, Illinois<\/strong>, Iowa<\/strong> and three other bowl caliber teams on the slate. So while it is his best team, it may not show record-wise with the much tougher schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minnesota<\/strong> recorded its fourth eight-win campaign under head coach P.J. Fleck<\/a><\/strong> last season, which ended with Fleck having mayonnaise poured over his head following a 24-10 drumming of Virginia Tech<\/a><\/strong> in the Duke\u2019s Mayo Bowl. This season, the Golden Gophers are ranked No. 13 in the Big Ten and No. 45 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am more bullish on the Gophers this year and, this time, the Vegas over\/under is 6.5,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cJust like last year, I will take the over on that one! I have them as a dog in just three games with a couple of toss-ups. With [P.J.] Fleck<\/strong>\u2018s bowl record, they have a shot at topping last year\u2019s eight-win total.\u201d<\/p>\n

14. UCLA Bruins<\/a> (No. 52 nationally)<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The 2025 season will mark the second year of the DeShaun Foster<\/a><\/strong> era at UCLA<\/strong>. The Bruins just narrowly missed a bowl game in his first season, finishing with a 5-7 (3-6) record. It snapped their three-year bowl game streak. This season, the Bruins are ranked No. 14 in the Big Ten and No. 52 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have an improved O-Line and bring in [Tennessee<\/a><\/strong> transfer] QB [Nico] Iamaleava<\/a><\/strong>, so they will be stronger on offense,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cThey were one play away from a bowl bid last year under tough circumstances and look to continue the improvement they showed during the second half of last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a rough stretch for Michigan State<\/strong> since finishing with an 11-2 record in 2021. Over the past three seasons, the Spartans are 14-22 (8-19) and have missed three consecutive bowl games for the first time since 2004-2006 (right before Mark Dantonio<\/a><\/strong> took over). This season, Jonathan Smith<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s team is ranked No. 15 in the Big Ten and No. 54 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have a now veteran QB (Aidan Chiles<\/a><\/strong>) and a very underrated defense and, despite the schedule, are capable of getting to a bowl but not yet ready to get back to contending in a loaded Big Ten,\u201d Steele wrote.<\/p>\n

A season removed from shocking the college football world and finishing with an 8-4 record in 2023, Northwestern<\/strong> went just 4-8 (2-7) last season. This season, the Wildcats are ranked No. 16 in the Big Ten and No. 63 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll in David Braun<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s third season at the helm.<\/p>\n

\u201cExpectations are low for the Wildcats this year, but Northwestern<\/strong> has won 12 games under HC [David] Braun<\/strong> in two years despite only being favored in three of those games,\u201d Steele wrote. \u201cWith 15 starters back, this has the potential to be his best team, but making a bowl would be an accomplishment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

After posing three consecutive seven-win seasons from 2021-23, Mike Locksley<\/a><\/strong> and Maryland<\/strong> reverted back to a 4-8 (1-8) record last season. The \u2018Terps lost eight of their nine conference games by an average of 19.6 points per game. This season, Maryland<\/strong> is ranked No. 17 in the Big Ten and No. 72 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should get off to a strong start this year and, if they get solid QB play (and I think they will), they will have a shot at getting back to a bowl, even with five Big Ten road games,\u201d Steele wrote.<\/p>\n

Purdue<\/strong> is ranked dead last among Big Ten teams and is at the bottom of the power-four conference teams, listed behind teams such as Southern Miss<\/a><\/strong>, Louisiana-Monroe<\/a><\/strong> and Northern Illinois<\/a><\/strong>. The Boilermakers went just 5-19 (3-15) in the first two years of the Ryan Walters<\/a><\/strong> era, leading to his firing. This season, they are ranked No. 18 in the Big Ten and No. 106 nationally in Steele\u2019s Power Poll entering their first season with former UNLV<\/a><\/strong> and Missouri<\/a><\/strong> coach Barry Odom<\/a><\/strong> at the helm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I do not think they will be as bad as last year, give [Barry] Odom<\/strong> a pass for this clear rebuilding year,\u201d Steele wrote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the 2025 college football season on the horizon, Phil Steele has released his \u201cPower Poll\u201d. Included in…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":54740,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[1318,1317,1315,1316,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-54739","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-ncaa","10":"tag-ncaa-football","11":"tag-ncaafootball","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114830278864250292","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54739\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}