The Big Ten will probably be well-represented in the preseason coaches poll, and there’s a big reason for that. The conference has become arguably the most impactful in college football—yes, even above the SEC—due to its expansion and recent success.
Marquee programs USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington officially joined the Big Ten in 2024, and the conference has produced the last three College Football Playoff (CFP) national champions—Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana.
Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana represented the conference in last year’s CFP, with the Hoosiers capping their undefeated season with a national championship.
Our guess is that the Buckeyes will top the preseason poll due to their recent success, a tremendous overall roster, and the presence of Heisman candidate and quarterback Julian Sayin. Oregon, led by future first-round pick Dante Moore, shouldn’t be far behind, though.
And while Indiana lost several marquee players to the NFL this past spring—including quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza—they’re poised to make another run.
This year’s Indiana team will be led by TCU transfer Josh Hoover and, of course, head coach Curt Cignetti, who believes he’s competing in the nation’s toughest conference.
“The Big Ten is the best league in football,” Cignetti said at Big Ten media days (h/t ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti). “We don’t run a hype machine up here in the Midwest. We believe everything’s earned, not given. And when we fall short, we say we fell short.”
While the Big Ten may fall short of delivering a fourth straight national title to the conference, expect several of its members to be among the preseason favorites.