Joel Klatt ranks his top five Big Ten games in 2025

The 2025 Big Ten schedule was released earlier this week and Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt is already breaking it down. There are still plenty of games to be played in the 2024 college football season, but it’s never too early to look ahead.

Thursday on The Joel Klatt Show, Klatt ranked his top 5 Big Ten games for 2025, starting with No. 5 and working his way to No. 1. It’s no surprise which game Klatt has at No. 1, but there are plenty of other intriguing matchups slated to take place in the Big Ten in 2025. Here are Klatt’s top 5 games:

5. Michigan at Oklahoma, Sept. 6

The No. 5 matchup in Klatt’s top 5 games involving Big Ten teams is an out of conference showdown between Michigan and Oklahoma. The Wolverines played an SEC foe in Texas early in the 2024 season and struggled. They will look to have a better result when they travel to face Oklahoma early on in 2025.

“We’re going to have a Michigan team that’s going to have likely a new quarterback. They’re going to have a lot of new faces. They’ve got all this hype of what has turned into an incredible offseason for Michigan off the win against Ohio State,” Joel Klatt said. “And now they’re going to go and they’re going to face Brent Venables and that defense at OU, on the road. That’s going to be a great one.”

4. Penn State at Ohio State, Nov. 1

A pair of College Football Playoff teams in 2024 will face off in the 2025 season when Penn State travels to Ohio State to take on the Buckeyes. Penn State has been one of the best programs in the Big Ten under James Franklin, but there’s no doubt the Nittany Lions have struggled in big games. They will have a chance to change that in the CFP this year and again next year in Columbus.

As for Ohio State, it’s going to be an interesting offseason in Columbus depending on how the playoff goes after Michigan stunned the Buckeyes to close out the regular season. Klatt has more questions about Penn State than Ohio State heading into 2025.

“That’s obviously going to be a fabulous game. And I think I have some questions about what Penn State’s roster’s going to look like, how many guys are going to stay. How many guys are going to leave and actually go,” Klatt said. “What is their roster going to look like next year? Who knows. So that game against Ohio State is going to be very interesting, no doubt.”

3. Oregon at Penn State, Sept. 27

The No. 3 Big Ten game for 2025 in Klatt’s rankings has Penn State hosting Oregon on Sept. 27. The Ducks have a fairly manageable schedule in 2025 as they avoid Ohio State and Michigan. According to Klatt, the game at Penn State will be the toughest regular season game of the year for Oregon.

“Easily the toughest game for the Ducks on their schedule – Oregon at Penn State. Can’t wait for that one. And Oregon is a team … This could be a defending national championship team under Dan Lanning,” Klatt said. “But I will say this, I don’t know what Penn State’s going to look like next year from a roster perspective. I have a good idea what Oregon’s going to look like, because their depth of recruiting over the last couple of years, their ability to get transfers, their ability to flip high-end recruits in the recruiting process has been excellent. And so Oregon’s going to be a very good team.”

2. Texas at Ohio State, Aug. 30

Up next on the list is another out of conference matchup as Ohio State is set to host Texas on Aug. 30. The Longhorns played at Michigan in 2024 and will now challenge themselves against another top Big Ten program in Ohio State in 2025. This matchup should feature two of the top teams in all of college football next season.

“August 30th, this is going to be a great one. Texas at Ohio State. Absolutely. Give me that all day long,” Klatt said. ” I feel very strongly about [Texas] moving forward because of the way Sark has recruited. Probably going to have Arch Manning as your quarterback, so that’s going to be an incredible game, at The Shoe, at Ohio State.”

1. Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 29

It should come as no surprise that the top game on Klatt’s list is Ohio State vs. Michigan as this rivalry is the biggest game in the Big Ten most years. The fact that Michigan has won four straight in the series will only add to the build up ahead of the 2025 matchup.

Joel Klatt didn’t say a lot about this game, but there’s not much that needs to be said. It’s a game that has Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff implications just about every season.

“And then No. 1, Nov. 29th, as always, The Game. Ohio State at Michigan this time as Michigan will go for five in a row against Ohio State,” Klatt said. “And Ryan Day and the Buckeyes look to stop the skid as Ohio State goes to Michigan on Nov. 29th.”