Penn State Tops 18-Team 2025 Big Ten Media Poll, Purdue Picks Last

The Cleveland.com 2025 Big Ten preseason media poll projects Penn State as the conference favorite, followed by Ohio State, Oregon, Illinois, and Michigan, with Indiana ranked sixth after a historic 2024 season under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti. Indiana returns key defensive players, including three All-Americans, and has notable offensive talent such as quarterback Fernando Mendoza and wide receivers Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt, who received preseason individual votes. Purdue, coming off a 1-11 season and coaching change to Barry Odom, was picked last in the 18-team conference for the second consecutive year, reflecting low media expectations despite Odom's intent to quickly build a competitive program. Wisconsin is projected 12th, marking its lowest ranking under coach Luke Fickell, with a challenging schedule including top-ranked teams and significant quarterback turnover. Individual awards favored Ohio State players Jeremiah Smith (Offensive Player of the Year) and Caleb Downs (Defensive Player of the Year), while Indiana's Mikail Kamara and Aiden Fisher earned defensive nominations. The Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas will further spotlight teams and players ahead of the season kickoff.