There are four categories of Big Ten football teams going into the 2025 season. We have arrived at the final tier: the favorites. These are the teams that have the best odds and are the most likely to win the Big Ten. The other four tiers are found here:
1. No Chance
2. Would take a wing and a prayer
3. Contenders
4. Favorites
There are only three teams that you can consider true favorites going into the 2025 year. Let's dive in.
3. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks were the best team in the Big Ten last year in terms of record. They lost to no one in the regular season, and their lone loss came to the Buckeyes in the college football playoffs. They have reloaded this offseason and will be looking for another run this season.
They have all the pieces they need to win it, it will come down to the other two teams on this list on whether they will or not. The Ducks will only see Penn State in the regular season but could find themselves up against the Buckeyes in a playoff scenario again.
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
Many consider the Nittany Lions to be the favorite to win the Big Ten this season. It's easy to see why, with the best-returning quarterback in the conference, Drew Allar, they've got so many of their starters from last season back for another shot at it. They only lost to the Oregon Ducks in the regular season and only lost to Notre Dame in the quarterfinal game. It was a game that felt like it could have easily gone the way of the Nittany Lions.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are the reigning National Champions, and they are returning a lot of production. They should be the leading favorite for the Big Ten. It won't be easy for them, though. They start the season against the Texas Longhorns, take on Penn State a few weeks later, and end the season against their rivals, the Michigan Wolverines, who seem to perpetually find a way to beat them.