Phil Steele releases Preseason Big Ten Football Rankings

With the 2025 college football season on the horizon, Phil Steele has released his “Power Poll.” Included in this poll are all 136 FBS teams, including all 18 teams in the Big Ten.

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.

Steele’s ranking of Big Ten teams, 1-18, is below:

1. Penn State Nittany Lions (No. 1 nationally)

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

“This looks like a very special veteran team and Penn State is my pick to win it all this year,” Steele wrote. Their last National Championship came back in 1986.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (No. 5 nationally)

The reigning National Champions come in ranked at No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 5 nationally in Steele’s Power Poll.

“Despite dropping from No. 47 to No. 105 on my Experience Chart, Ohio State could be favored in all 12 regular season games,” Steele wrote. “They’ve got Penn State and Texas at home and are a threat to repeat as National Champions.”

3. Michigan Wolverines (No. 12 nationally)

After a bit of a rocky start in the first year of the Sherrone Moore era, Michigan finished the 2024 season strong with wins over eventual National Champion Ohio State and Alabama 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’s Power Poll.

“This 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,” Steele wrote. Michigan had won the Big Ten Championship Game in three consecutive seasons prior to last season.

4. Oregon Ducks (No. 13 nationally)

Oregon started last season with an unblemished 13-0 record before finally falling to Ohio State 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’s Power Poll.

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

5. Indiana Hoosiers (No. 16 nationally)

Although Indiana 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‘s team is ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 16 nationally in Steele’s Power Poll.

“Last year they played Ohio State and Michigan and avoid both this year, but now face Oregon and Penn State,” Steele wrote. “[Curt] Cignetti mentioned playing a playoff game hurt some transfer portal signings, but they are loaded once again.”

6. Illinois Fighting Illini (No. 17 nationally)

The 2024 season marked a return to relevancy for the Illinois 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 in the Citrus Bowl. This season, the Fighting Illini are ranked No. 6 in the Big Ten and No. 17 nationally in Steele’s Power Poll.

“This is the most talented team that [Bret] Bielema has had in his five years here and is both a legitimate contender in the Big Ten and a playoff contender,” Steele wrote.

7. USC Trojans (No. 21 nationally)

USC‘s 2024 season opened strong with a 27-20 win over LSU 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 in the Las Vegas Bowl. This season, the Trojans are ranked No. 7 in the Big Ten and No. 21 nationally in Steele’s Power Poll.

“They do face Illinois, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Oregon on the road, but most key indicators are pointing up,” Steele wrote. “They were much better than their record and could be a surprise contender in a loaded Big Ten.”

8. Iowa Hawkeyes (No. 31 nationally)

Iowa‘s 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 (Iowa 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’s Power Poll.

“They do host Indiana, Oregon and Penn State and have five Big Ten home games,” Steele wrote. “Win those, and they are a contender. Lose those and they have USC, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Rutgers on the road. Coach [Kirk] Ferentz will have the Hawkeyes near the top as usual.”

9. Wisconsin Badgers (No. 32 nationally)

The Luke Fickell era at Wisconsin hasn’t 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’t 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’s Power Poll.

“They led Penn State and Oregon at halftime [last season], but five straight losses (longest losing streak since 1991) snapped the bowl streak,” Steele wrote. “This year, they face the Big Ten’s toughest schedule, but do have five Big Ten home games.”

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers (No. 35 nationally)

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

“It has been 13 years since the Huskers have had a double-digit win season but this is [Matt] Rhule‘s best team and they are capable of getting there,” Steele wrote.

11. Washington Huskies (No. 39 nationally)

Washington struggled a bit in its first season following Kalen DeBoer‘s departure for Alabama, finishing with a 6-7 record and a 35-34 loss to Louisville in the Sun Bowl. This season, Jedd Fisch‘s team is ranked No. 11 in the Big Ten and No. 39 nationally in Steele’s Power Poll.

“They had a one-point loss to Louisville in the bowl to go from National Title game to a losing season,” Steele wrote. “This year, they are a much more improved, experienced team in year two of Jedd Fisch and just like in 2022, make my Most Improved List.”

12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (No. 44 nationally)

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano 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’s Power Poll.

“This year, they have [Greg] Schiano‘s best team since his return with 16 returning starters, but the schedule is at the other end of the Big Ten spectrum” Steele wrote. “Five road games and Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Illinois, Iowa 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.”

13. Minnesota Golden Gophers (No. 45 nationally)

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

“I am more bullish on the Gophers this year and, this time, the Vegas over/under is 6.5,” Steele wrote. “Just 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‘s bowl record, they have a shot at topping last year’s eight-win total.”

14. UCLA Bruins (No. 52 nationally)

The 2025 season will mark the second year of the DeShaun Foster era at UCLA. 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’s Power Poll.

“They have an improved O-Line and bring in [Tennessee transfer] QB [Nico] Iamaleava, so they will be stronger on offense,” Steele wrote. “They 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.”

15. Michigan State Spartans (No. 54 nationally)

It’s been a rough stretch for Michigan State 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 took over). This season, Jonathan Smith‘s team is ranked No. 15 in the Big Ten and No. 54 nationally in Steele’s Power Poll.

“They have a now veteran QB (Aidan Chiles) 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,” Steele wrote.

16. Northwestern Wildcats (No. 63 nationally)

A season removed from shocking the college football world and finishing with an 8-4 record in 2023, Northwestern 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’s Power Poll in David Braun‘s third season at the helm.

“Expectations are low for the Wildcats this year, but Northwestern has won 12 games under HC [David] Braun in two years despite only being favored in three of those games,” Steele wrote. “With 15 starters back, this has the potential to be his best team, but making a bowl would be an accomplishment.”

17. Maryland Terrapins (No. 72 nationally)

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

“They 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,” Steele wrote.

18. Purdue Boilermakers (No. 106 nationally)

Purdue 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, Louisiana-Monroe and Northern Illinois. The Boilermakers went just 5-19 (3-15) in the first two years of the Ryan Walters era, leading to his firing. This season, they are ranked No. 18 in the Big Ten and No. 106 nationally in Steele’s Power Poll entering their first season with former UNLV and Missouri coach Barry Odom at the helm.

“While I do not think they will be as bad as last year, give [Barry] Odom a pass for this clear rebuilding year,” Steele wrote.