Phil Harrison
July 3, 2024 7:00 am ET
Everyone that’s a college football fan seems to be beside themselves, waiting with bated breath for EA Sports’ “College Football 25” to drop so that fans can play across college campuses and beyond this fall. As we get closer to the July 19 release date, EA Sports has been teasing parts of the gameplay to get everyone even more excited.
We’ve already seen what Ohio State is ranked when it comes to the overall offensive and defensive ranking in the game, and we’ve even gotten a peek at where the Buckeyes land in the overall ranking in the game, but what about the Big Ten in general.
All told, there are seven conference teams (new West Coast teams included) that are ranked in the “College Football 25” top 25, and we’re ready to run through them with you here for your reading and scrolling pleasure. Here’s a look at all of the Big Ten teams and where they land in the “College Football 25” top 25. We count down from the lower ranked to the highest.
No. 25 – Iowa Hawkeyes (87 overall)
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking should be higher
Does anyone really think that Iowa won’t find someway, somehow to figure things out? Whether it be scoring on defense, pinning a team deep and letting them hurt themselves, or taking advantage of some freak of luck with mother nature, the Hawkeyes always seem to find a way to win enough games to boost themselves in the rankings. The culture is set, so don’t look for that to change in 2024.
Why the ranking should be lower
Every once in a while, the Iowa program has a clunker of a year and it feels like it’s due with some coaching and roster turnover. It would be hard to any worse on offense with new offensive coordinator Tim Lester, but it’s not like there’s a lot different personnel than what was there last season. The offense should struggle again.
No. 18 – Wisconsin Badgers (87 overall)
USA TODAY SMG
Why the ranking should be higher
Perhaps we expected too much of Wisconsin in Year 1 of the Luke Fickell tenure. Now that we are in the second year, you’d expect there to be a better grasp of what the coaching staff is trying to do on both sides of the ball by enhancing and upgrading the offense while still staying “on brand” with what the Badger program has meant for years. Combine that with a little bit better recruiting, and maybe we see Wisconsin surprise folks this season.
Why the ranking should be lower
It’s a TOUGH schedule. Perhaps no other team in the conference has to navigate the gauntlent Wisconsin does. It plays Alabama at home in the nonconference, and also hosts Penn State and Oregon. The Badgers have to pack the bags and hit the road to play USC, Iowa, and Nebraska. That’s not exactly a walk through the roses.
No. 11 – Michigan Wolverines (88 overall)
Why the ranking should be higher
Despite a lot of losses to the NFL, there’s still talent and a belief on this roster to keep things chugging along for the reigning national champions — on both sides of the ball. The Michigan way is sort of hard to defend these days with seemingly every other program going lighter on defense to account for spread offenses, and that’s not going to change overnight.
Why the ranking should be lower
Did we mention there are a lot of personnel losses? Oh, and the coaching turnover and schedule will be a tough codes to break as well. Jim Harbaugh is gone as are other assistants, and the Wolverines play Texas in the nonconference, and also host USC and Oregon, and must travel to Washington and Ohio State. That’s a LOT different than the relatively soft schedule we saw last season.
No. 9 – Penn State Nittany Lions (88 overall)
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Why the ranking should be higher
Penn State was so close to being right there with Ohio State and Michigan save for some key plays that didn’t go its way against both. The young skill position players are now a year older, and the defense should be one of the league’s best yet again. At some point James Franklin has to completely breakthrough, right? Maybe it happens in a year in which he gets Ohio State at home and doesn’t have to play Michigan at all.
Why the ranking should be lower
There’s just something missing with this program every year. It beats up everyone not named Ohio State, Michigan (or in the top ten), and if the Nittany Lions have any designs of being right there with the teams that are contenders year in and year out, that has to change. The quarterback play has to be MUCH better against top teams and we’ve yet to see the ability to make that happen, espcially down the field with explosive plays.
No. 3 - Oregon Ducks (93 overall)
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Why the ranking should be higher
Oregon is coming off a year in which it came within a whisker of making the College Football Playoff and there’s still the talent to be right there again. Dan Lanning has this program cooking and the schedule sets up nicely with Ohio State and Washington coming to town. Though Bo Nix is gone under center, getting former Oklahoma quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, via the transfer portal should keep things humming along on offense.
Why the ranking should be lower
Can we really expect the Ducks to come into a new league and have the culture and style of play to be a title contender right away? And while having an early preseason Heisman contender at quarterback, we have to remember that the transition from Nix to Gabriel isn’t a slam dunk. There’s a lot of assumptions that have to become fact in 2024 this fall for the lofty expectations to come to fruition.
No. 2 - Ohio State Buckeyes (93 overall)
USA TODAY SMG
Why the ranking should be higher
I know Georgia is getting the benefit of the doubt coming into this season from a lot of national media outlets, but I’m not sure there’s another team that has as much NFL talent on both sides of the ball coming back this season. With the transfer portal editions and several players opting to come back for one more season that should be on NFL rosters, this team is loaded and should be as shoe-in to make the 12-team College Football Playoff and beyond.
Why the ranking should be lower
For all of the talent coming back, two of the most important spots on this team are still question marks. Who will play quarterback and will it be good enough to make the offense explosive again after a year in which it took a step back? Will the offensive line be able to move defenders off the ball for the skilled running backs as well as protect the QB? Even moreso, can OSU get the Michigan monkey off of its back? All three have to be answered positively with emphasis for this season to be what everyone in shouting distance of the banks of the Olentangy wants.
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