The Michigan Wolverines will be featuring a new starting quarterback, two new running backs, several other new offensive weapons, and new defensive players from the line to the secondary. Despite all the turnover from last season, the media members that cover the conference still believe Michigan will be a Top-5 team in the Big Ten in 2025.
In the 15th annual Cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Football Poll, the Wolverines were picked to finish No. 5 in the conference this fall. The four teams above
them, in order, are Penn State (11 first-place votes), Ohio State (10), Oregon (2) and Illinois. Michigan received one first-place vote.
Beat writers from all 18 Big Ten teams were invited to take part in this year’s poll, as were some who cover the entire league or have a national perspective, according to Cleveland.com. Twenty-four voters ended up participating.
Throughout the history of this preseason poll, only four of the favorites to win the Big Ten in the preseason actually ended up winning the conference, with the most recent being Michigan in 2023. The other three favorites over the years that won were, predictably, all Ohio State teams.
Here is the entire list:
- Penn State (11)
- Ohio State (10)
- Oregon (2)
- Illinois
- Michigan (1)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Nebraska
- USC
- Washington
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan State
- Rutgers
- UCLA
- Maryland
- Northwestern
- Purdue
What team do you think will win the Big Ten this season? If it isn’t the Nittany Lions, which team do you think it will be? Are there any teams outside the Top-10 that could create some noise this year? Let us know what you think down in the comments section below.
