2025 Big Ten Conference football season

Last updated

2025 Big Ten Conference football season
Big Ten Conference logo.svg
League NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport Football
DurationAugust 28, 2025
through January 2026
Number of teams18
TV partner(s) Fox Sports (Fox, FS1, Big Ten Network)
CBS Sports (CBS, Paramount+)
NBC Sports (NBC, Peacock)
2026 NFL draft
Regular season
Championship Game
Football seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Illinois  0 0   0 0  
Indiana  0 0   0 0  
Iowa  0 0   0 0  
Maryland  0 0   0 0  
Michigan  0 0   0 0  
Michigan State  0 0   0 0  
Minnesota  0 0   0 0  
Nebraska  0 0   0 0  
Northwestern  0 0   0 0  
Ohio State  0 0   0 0  
Oregon  0 0   0 0  
Penn State  0 0   0 0  
Purdue  0 0   0 0  
Rutgers  0 0   0 0  
UCLA  0 0   0 0  
USC  0 0   0 0  
Washington  0 0   0 0  
Wisconsin  0 0   0 0  
Championship: December 6, 2025
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
As of February 15, 2025
Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2025 Big Ten Conference football season is the 130th season of college football play for the Big Ten Conference and part of the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This is the Big Ten's second season with 18 teams and its second season since 2010 with a non-divisional scheduling format.

Contents

Previous season

Oregon won the Big Ten Championship Game in their first season in the league, defeating Penn State 45–37 in the first season of a division-less format. Four Big Ten teams earned spots in the 2024–25 College Football Playoff. Oregon earned the No. 1 seed in the newly expanded 12-team playoff. They were joined in the playoff by Penn State (No. 6 seed), Ohio State (No. 8 seed) and Indiana (No. 10 seed).

Besides the playoff qualifiers, eight other Big Ten football teams qualified for bowl games: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Rutgers, USC, and Washington.

Coaching changes

The Big Ten saw one head coaching change for the 2025 season.

On December 1, 2024, Purdue announced it was parting ways with head coach Ryan Walters after going 5–19 in two seasons, including 1–11 in 2024. [1]

One week later, on December 8, 2023, Purdue announced the hiring of Barry Odom as the next head coach, having spent the previous season coaching at UNLV. [2]

Preseason

Recruiting classes

Big Ten Media Days

Preseason Media Poll

Preseason Player of the Year

Rankings

 PreWk
1
Wk
2
Wk
3
Wk
4
Wk
5
Wk
6
Wk
7
Wk
8
Wk
9
Wk
10
Wk
11
Wk
12
Wk
13
Wk
14
Final
Illinois AP
C
CFPNot released
Indiana AP
C
CFPNot released
Iowa AP
C
CFPNot released
Maryland AP
C
CFPNot released
Michigan AP
C
CFPNot released
Michigan State AP
C
CFPNot released
Minnesota AP
C
CFPNot released
Nebraska AP
C
CFPNot released
Northwestern AP
C
CFPNot released
Ohio State AP
C
CFPNot released
Oregon AP
C
CFPNot released
Penn State AP
C
CFPNot released
Purdue AP
C
CFPNot released
Rutgers AP
C
CFPNot released
UCLA AP
C
CFPNot released
USC AP
C
CFPNot released
Washington AP
C
CFPNot released
Wisconsin AP
C
CFPNot released
Legend
  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
 No change in ranking from previous week
RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
тTied with team above or below also with this symbol

Schedule

Index to colors and formatting
Big Ten member won
Big Ten member lost
Big Ten teams in bold

Regular season schedule

Week 1

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
August 28 Buffalo Minnesota Huntington Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN     
August 30 Ohio Rutgers SHI StadiumPiscataway, NJ     
August 30 Western Illinois Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL     
August 28 Nebraska Cincinnati Arrowhead StadiumKansas City, MO     
August 30 Florida Atlantic Maryland SECU StadiumCollege Park, MD     
August 30 Missouri State USC Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA     
August 30 Albany Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA     
August 30 Utah UCLA Rose BowlPasadena, CA     
August 30 Ball State Purdue Ross-Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN     
August 30 Western Michigan Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI     
August 30 Northwestern Tulane Yulman StadiumNew Orleans, LA     
August 30 Montana State Oregon Autzen StadiumEugene, OR     
August 30 Texas Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH     
August 30 Colorado State Washington Husky StadiumSeattle, WA     
August 30 Old Dominion Indiana Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN     
August 30 Nevada Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA     
August 30 New Mexico Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI     
August 30 Miami (OH) Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI     
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 2

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 6 Akron Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE     
September 6 Florida International Penn StateBeaver Stadium • University Park, PA    
September 6 Kennesaw State IndianaMemorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN    
September 6 Northwestern State MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN    
September 6 Georgia Southern USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA    
September 6 Grambling Ohio StateOhio Stadium • Columbus, OH    
September 6 Boston College Michigan StateSpartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI    
September 6Western IllinoisNorthwestern Martin StadiumEvanston, IL     
September 6Miami (OH)RutgersSHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ    
September 6 Southern Illinois PurdueRoss-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN    
September 6 Middle Tennessee WisconsinCamp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI    
September 6 UC-Davis WashingtonHusky Stadium • Seattle, WA    
September 6Iowa Iowa State Jack Trice StadiumAmes, IA (Cy-Hawk Trophy)    
September 6UCLA UNLV Allegiant StadiumLas Vegas, NV     
September 6 Oklahoma State OregonAutzen Stadium • Eugene, OR    
September 6Michigan Oklahoma Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OK     
September 6Illinois Duke Wallace Wade StadiumDurham, NC     
September 6 Northern Illinois MarylandSECU Stadium • College Park, MD    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 3

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 13OhioOhio StateOhio Stadium • Columbus, OH    
September 13 Houston Christian NebraskaMemorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE    
September 13Western MichiganIllinoisMemorial Stadium • Champaign, IL    
September 13 Massachusetts IowaKinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA    
September 13OregonNorthwesternMartin Stadium • Evanston, IL    
September 13USCPurdueRoss-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN    
September 13 Norfolk State RutgersSHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ    
September 13 Youngstown State Michigan StateSpartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI    
September 13 Villanova Penn StateBeaver Stadium • University Park, PA    
September 13 Indiana State IndianaMemorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN    
September 13New MexicoUCLARose Bowl • Pasadena, CA    
September 13Wisconsin Alabama Bryant-Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL     
September 13 Towson MarylandSECU Stadium • College Park, MD    
September 13 Central Michigan MichiganMichigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI    
September 13Minnesota California California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA     
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
September 13Washington

Week 4

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 20 Oregon State OregonAutzen Stadium • Eugene, OR (Platypus Trophy)    
September 20Washington Washington State Martin StadiumPullman, WA (Apple Cup)    
September 20IllinoisIndianaMemorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN (ILL-IU Rivalry)    
September 20IowaRutgersSHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ    
September 20MarylandWisconsinCamp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI    
September 20MichiganNebraskaMemorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE    
September 20Michigan StateUSCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA    
September 20Purdue Notre Dame Notre Dame StadiumNotre Dame, IN (Shillelagh Trophy)    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
September 20MinnesotaNorthwesternOhio StatePenn StateUCLA

Week 5

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 27RutgersMinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN    
September 27USCIllinoisMemorial Stadium • Champaign, IL    
September 27UCLANorthwesternMartin Stadium • Evanston, IL    
September 27Ohio StateWashingtonHusky Stadium • Seattle, WA    
September 27IndianaIowaKinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA    
September 27OregonPenn StateBeaver Stadium • University Park, PA    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
September 27MarylandMichiganMichigan StateNebraskaPurdueWisconsin

Week 6

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 4Penn StateUCLARose Bowl • Pasadena, CA    
October 4WisconsinMichiganMichigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI    
October 4WashingtonMarylandSECU Stadium • College Park, MD    
October 4 Louisiana-Monroe NorthwesternMartin Stadium • Evanston, IL    
October 4MinnesotaOhio StateOhio Stadium • Columbus, OH    
October 4Michigan StateNebraskaMemorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE    
October 4IllinoisPurdueRoss-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN (Purdue Cannon)    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 4IndianaIowaOregonRutgersUSC

Week 7

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 11RutgersWashingtonHusky Stadium • Seattle, WA    
October 11UCLAMichigan StateSpartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI    
October 11PurdueMinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN    
October 11Ohio StateIllinoisMemorial Stadium • Champaign, IL (Illibuck)    
October 11NorthwesternPenn StateBeaver Stadium • University Park, PA    
October 11NebraskaMarylandSECU Stadium • College Park, MD    
October 11MichiganUSCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA    
October 11IowaWisconsinCamp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI (Heartland Trophy)    
October 11IndianaOregonAutzen Stadium • Eugene, OR    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 8

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 18USCNotre DameNotre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN (Jeweled Shillelagh)    
October 18NebraskaMinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN ($5 Bits of Broken Chair)    
October 18WashingtonMichiganMichigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI    
October 18PurdueNorthwesternMartin Stadium • Evanston, IL    
October 18Penn StateIowaKinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA    
October 18OregonRutgersSHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ    
October 18Ohio StateWisconsinCamp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI    
October 18Michigan StateIndianaMemorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN (Old Brass Spittoon)    
October 18MarylandUCLARose Bowl • Pasadena, CA    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 18Illinois

Week 9

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 25IllinoisWashingtonHusky Stadium • Seattle, WA    
October 25MichiganMichigan StateSpartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)    
October 25MinnesotaIowaKinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA (Floyd of Rosedale)    
October 25NorthwesternNebraskaMemorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE    
October 25RutgersPurdueRoss-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN    
October 25UCLAIndianaMemorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN    
October 25WisconsinOregonAutzen Stadium • Eugene, OR    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 25MarylandOhio StatePenn StateUSC

Week 10

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 1IndianaMarylandSECU Stadium • College Park, MD    
November 1Michigan StateMinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN    
November 1Penn StateOhio StateOhio Stadium • Columbus, OH (OSU-PSU Rivalry)    
November 1PurdueMichiganMichigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI    
November 1RutgersIllinoisMemorial Stadium • Champaign, IL    
November 1USCNebraskaMemorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
November 1IowaNorthwesternOregonUCLAWashingtonWisconsin

Week 11

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 8IndianaPenn StateBeaver Stadium • University Park, PA    
November 8MarylandRutgersSHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ    
November 8NebraskaUCLARose Bowl • Pasadena, CA    
November 8NorthwesternUSCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA    
November 8Ohio StatePurdueRoss-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN    
November 8OregonIowaKinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA    
November 8WashingtonWisconsinCamp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
November 8IllinoisMichiganMichigan StateMinnesota

Week 12

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 15UCLAOhio StateOhio Stadium • Columbus, OH    
November 15WisconsinIndianaMemorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN    
November 15PurdueWashingtonHusky Stadium • Seattle, WA    
November 15Penn StateMichigan StateSpartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI (Land Grant Trophy)    
November 15MinnesotaOregonAutzen Stadium • Eugene, OR    
November 15MichiganNorthwesternMartin Stadium • Evanston, IL (George Jewett Trophy)    
November 15MarylandIllinoisMemorial Stadium • Champaign, IL    
November 15IowaUSCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
November 15NebraskaRutgers

Week 13

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 22NebraskaPenn StateBeaver Stadium • University Park, PA    
November 22MinnesotaNorthwestern Wrigley FieldChicago, IL     
November 22WashingtonUCLARose Bowl • Pasadena, CA    
November 22USCOregonAutzen Stadium • Eugene, OR    
November 22RutgersOhio StateOhio Stadium • Columbus, OH    
November 22Michigan StateIowaKinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA    
November 22MichiganMarylandSECU Stadium • College Park, MD    
November 22IllinoisWisconsinCamp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
November 22IndianaPurdue

Week 14

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 28IowaNebraskaMemorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE (Heroes Game)    
November 29OregonWashingtonHusky Stadium • Seattle, WA (UO-UW Rivalry)    
November 29WisconsinMinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN (Paul Bunyan's Axe)    
November 29UCLAUSCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA (Victory Bell)    
November 29Penn StateRutgersSHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ    
November 29Ohio StateMichiganMichigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (The Game)    
November 29NorthwesternIllinoisMemorial Stadium • Champaign, IL (Land of Lincoln Trophy)    
November 29MarylandMichigan StateSpartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI    
November 29IndianaPurdueRoss-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Big Ten Championship Game

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
December 6Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, IN (Big Ten Championship Game)    
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Postseason

Bowl games

Big Ten records vs other conferences

2025–2026 records against non-conference foes

Awards and honors

Player of the Week Honors

Big Ten individual awards

Home attendance

TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Game 8TotalAverage% of capacity
Illinois Memorial Stadium 60,670
Indiana Memorial Stadium 52,626
Iowa Kinnick Stadium 69,250
Maryland SECU Stadium 51,802
Michigan Michigan Stadium 107,601
Michigan State Spartan Stadium 75,005
Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium 50,805
Nebraska Memorial Stadium 85,458
Northwestern Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium [a] 12,000 [3] [b] [b]
Ohio State Ohio Stadium 102,780
Oregon Autzen Stadium 54,000
Penn State Beaver Stadium 106,572 [4]
Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium 61,441
Rutgers SHI Stadium 52,454
UCLA Rose Bowl 80,816
USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 77,500
Washington Husky Stadium 70,138
Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium 76,057 [5]

Bold – At or Exceed capacity
†Season High

  1. Temporary stadium to be used during the construction of the new Ryan Field, set to open in 2026.
  2. 1 2 Game to be played at Wrigley Field. Its listed capacity for baseball is 41,649, but does not reflect changes for football.

2026 NFL draft

The following list includes all Big Ten players who were drafted in the 2026 NFL draft

PlayerPositionSchoolDraft
round
Round
pick
Overall
pick
Team

Head coaches

TeamHead coachYears at schoolOverall recordRecord at schoolB1G record
Illinois Bret Bielema [a] 5123–80 (.606)26–22 (.542)54–37 (.593)
Indiana Curt Cignetti 2130–36 (.783)11–2 (.846)8–1 (.889)
Iowa Kirk Ferentz 27216–144 (.600)204–123 (.624)128–88 (.593)
Maryland Mike Locksley [b] 735–65 (.350)33–39 (.458)16–38 (.296)
Michigan Sherrone Moore 27–5 (.583)7–5 (.583)4–4 (.500)
Michigan State Jonathan Smith 239–41 (.488)5–6 (.455)3–5 (.375)
Minnesota P. J. Fleck 987–61 (.588)57–39 (.594)34–36 (.486)
Nebraska Matt Rhule 358–56 (.509)11–13 (.458)6–12 (.333)
Northwestern David Braun [c] [d] 312–12 (.500)12–12 (.500)7–10 (.412)
Ohio State Ryan Day [e] 766–10 (.868)66–10 (.868)46–6 (.885)
Oregon Dan Lanning 434–5 (.872)34–5 (.872)8–0 (1.000)
Penn State James Franklin 12123–56 (.687)99–41 (.707)64–33 (.660)
Purdue Barry Odom 144–33 (.571)0–0 (–)0–0 (–)
Rutgers Greg Schiano [f] 1793–100 (.482)93–100 (.482)12–32 (.273)
UCLA DeShaun Foster 24–7 (.364)4–7 (.364)3–6 (.333)
USC Lincoln Riley 481–24 (.771)26–14 (.650)4–5 (.444)
Washington Jedd Fisch 223–27 (.460)6–5 (.545)4–4 (.500)
Wisconsin Luke Fickell [g] 376–38 (.667)13–13 (.500)11–15 (.423)
  1. Bret Bielema coached in the Big Ten from 2006 through 2012 at Wisconsin, going 37–19 in Big Ten play and winning three Big Ten championships.
  2. Mike Locksley served as interim head coach at Maryland in 2015 and coached for six games, going 1–5. [6]
  3. Pat Fitzgerald was relieved as head coach on July 10, 2023, after allegations of hazing within the Wildcat football program surfaced. [7]
  4. David Braun was named interim head coach on July 14, 2023. [8]
  5. Ryan Day served as interim head coach at Ohio State for the first three games of the 2018 season while Urban Meyer served a three-game suspension and went 3–0. [9]
  6. Greg Schiano served as head coach at Rutgers from 2001 through 2011 then left for the NFL. Following the conclusion of the 2019 season, Schiano returned to Rutgers for his second stint as head coach. The Scarlet Knights competed in the Big East Conference in his previous stay at the school.
  7. Luke Fickell served as interim head coach at Ohio State in 2011, going 6-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Fickell took over as coach of Wisconsin for the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl

References

  1. Fornelli, Tom (December 1, 2024). "Purdue fires Ryan Walters". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  2. "Barry Odom Named Head Coach of the Purdue Boilermakers". PurdueSports.com. December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  3. McKessy, Jack (August 28, 2024). "How Northwestern turned lacrosse field into unique 12,000-seat, lakeside football stadium". USA Today. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  4. "Facilities". Archived from the original on November 26, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  5. "Camp Randall Stadium" (PDF). Wisconsin Football: 2024 Fact Book. Wisconsin Badgers. August 19, 2024. p. 245. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  6. "OC Mike Locksley named interim head coach at Maryland". RSN. October 11, 2015.
  7. "Northwestern fires football coach Pat Fitzgerald'". ESPN. July 10, 2023.
  8. Thamel, Pete (July 14, 2023). "Northwestern DC David Braun to be interim coach'". ESPN.
  9. Allen, Paul Myerberg and Kevin (August 22, 2018). "Ohio State suspends football coach Urban Meyer three games: 'I want to apologize'". USA TODAY.