Big Ten football kicks off this week, and with four new programs joining the fold, the conference is home to some of the nations top teams and storylines.
Here are five storylines to look out for this season.
How will the four West Coast teams fare in a ‘tougher’ conference
The addition of Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA makes the Big Ten arguably the best conference in college football, or at least the richest. Oregon, Washington and USC — along with Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State — gives the conference six elite programs who will compete for a playoff spot every year.
While the merger provides more value and legitimacy to the Big Ten, it also makes interconference play even harder. Oregon, Washington or USC won conference titles in seven of the last 10 years. It’s safe to say that won’t be the case over the next 10 years.
Michigan went 15-0 last year en route to a national championship, while Ohio State is the No. 2-ranked team in AP Top 25 college football poll. Additionally, Penn State is ranked No. 8, Iowa is ranked No. 25 and Nebraska and Wisconsin are always competitive and tough places to play, especially compared to the West Coast weather of November and December.
While Oregon — ranked No. 3 — expects to be among the best teams in the nation yet again, USC, Washington and UCLA may struggle.
Will Michigan and Ohio State remain at the top?
Michigan and Ohio State have run the Big Ten for the last decade, winning nine of the last 10 Big Ten titles, but each face a new set of challenges this season.
For Ohio State, it’s quite simple. The Buckeyes got better in the offseason and are positioned to be national and conference contenders yet again. They are the highest-ranked Big Ten team heading into the seasons and the favorites to win the conference by nearly every major sportsbook. However, they will have to go through Oregon, Penn State and Michigan in the regular season. While the Buckeyes are used to playing Penn State and Michigan, Oregon provides a new challenge.
Michigan’s road to the Big Ten championship is much more difficult than last year, and not just because it has to play USC, Washington, Oregon and Ohio State. The Wolverines not only lost 17 starters, but the two most important pieces to their team: quarterback JJ McCarthy and head coach Jim Harbaugh.
McCarthy was drafted No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and was the Wolverines’ signal caller over the last two years, while Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coaching job after nine years with the program.
The two were replaced by junior Alex Orji, who sat behind McCarthy over the last two seasons, and Sherrone Moore, who has been with the program since 2018.
While Ohio State is still projected to be the best team in the Big Ten, Michigan will have a much harder time defending its title.
Will Penn State finally make the playoffs?
Like last year, Penn State is a top-10-ranked team heading into the season with the college football playoffs in its sight. However, as has been the case over the last few seasons, the Nittany Lions could not take down Michigan or Ohio State last year, leaving them on the outside looking in.
Things are different this season, though. The College Football Playoffs will feature 12 teams this year instead of two, which puts Penn State right on the cusp. Last season, the Nittany Lions were the No. 10-ranked team in the country prior to their bowl game and the No. 13-ranked team after. Additionally, Penn State does not have to play Michigan this year, although USC and Washington were added to its schedule.
While Penn State lost multiple starters, including star defensive end Chop Robinson, the Nittany Lions are right in the College Playoff mix led by junior quarterback Drew Allar.
Goodbye, divisions
Fans of the former Big Ten East rejoiced after the conference rid itself of divisions following the addition of the four West Coast teams. Maryland, Rutgers, Michigan State and Indiana are no longer held hostage by the conference’s top three teams and will finally have an opportunity to make real improvement with a new schedule and opponents.
While replaced by Oregon and USC, it will be a year without Ohio State and Michigan for Maryland, who hasn’t beaten either since 2014 and boasts a combined 1-20 all-time record against them.
As well, the Big Ten championship game will finally be competitive and feature the conferences two best teams, instead of letting Michigan and Ohio State take turns dismantling the best the Big Ten West has to offer.
Ohio State and Michigan could now play in back-to-back weekends with the title on the line, or two of the new teams could battle it out for their first conference championship.
Maryland’s life without Tagovailoa
Maryland has won three straight bowl games and has a chance to make program history with a fourth this year. However, the Terps will have to do it without the man under center for the last three: Taulia Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa, the Big Ten’s all-time leader in career passing yards, now plays in the Canadian Football League, leaving Maryland with a massive question at its most important position. Head coach Mike Locksley does have options, though, narrowing his search down to redshirt junior Billy Edwards Jr., redshirt sophomore MJ Morris and redshirt sophomore Cameron Edge.
Edwards is the most familiar with the program and physically gifted, Morris — a transfer from NC State — has the most in-game experience and Edge is a wild card, appearing in just two games at Maryland.
The Terps have a great defense and talented weapons surrounding their quarterback, but he will need to be able to use them to continue Maryland’s bowl streak.
