College football Bowl Season has concluded. With that, 16 of 18 teams in the Big Ten Conference are preparing for 2025.
Two teams remain alive in the College Football Playoff Semifinal: No. 6 Penn State (vs. No. 7 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl) and No. 8 Ohio State (vs. No. 5 Texas in the Cotton Bowl). Each gives the Big Ten a final hope for year-end bragging rights over the SEC and other top conferences.
Related: Updated conference bowl records for 2024-25 college football postseason
The Big Ten had a successful Bowl Season overall. The conference currently boasts a 9-5 record, highlighted by Penn State and Ohio State’s CFP wins, USC‘s Las Vegas Bowl win over Texas A&M, Michigan‘s ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama and Illinois’ Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina. Those nine bowl wins are the most of any conference, with the winning percentage (64%) slotting third behind only the MAC (5-2, 71%) and AAC (6-2, 75%).
Twelve of the conference’s 18 member schools reached the postseason, demonstrating its depth. Only Purdue (1-11), Northwestern (4-8), Maryland (4-8), Wisconsin (5-7), Michigan State (5-7) and UCLA (5-7) missed out.
Before the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes look to advance to the national title game, it’s time for an updated look at the conference power rankings after an eventful 2024 Bowl Season:
Purdue Boilermakers coach Ryan Walters leads Purdue onto the field Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, ahead of the NCAA football game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue Boilermakers won 49-0. Alex Martin/Journal and Courier-USA TODAY NETWORK
Bowl Result: Did not qualify
Previous Rank: No. 18 (No change)
Analysis: Purdue’s postseason hopes ended long before the season’s final weeks. The Boilermakers lost 11 consecutive games to close the year. They have since fired head coach Ryan Walters and hired UNLV head coach Barry Odom. Odom now faces a significant rebuilding job as he works to return the program to the success it maintained under Jeff Brohm from 2017-22.
Oct. 11, 2024; College Park, Maryland; Northwestern Wildcats coach David Braun walks onto the field after a first half field goal against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Bowl Result: Did not qualify
Previous Rank: No. 17 (No change)
Analysis: Northwestern took a significant step backward in 2024 after an 8-5 2023 campaign. It finished No. 89 in ESPN FPI and No. 101 in SP+. Those marks were the clear second-worst in the conference, ahead of only Purdue.
Dec. 30, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee; Maryland Terrapins coach Mike Locksley waits to take the field before the game against the Auburn Tigers at Nissan Stadium. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Result: Did not qualify
Previous Rank: No. 16 (No change)
Analysis: Maryland is part of the group of teams that struggled in the first year of the expanded Big Ten. Many actually expected realignment to help the Terrapins after it stacked consecutive 8-5 seasons in a tough Big Ten East. Instead, the first year of the post-Taulia Tagovailoa era turned in the wrong direction — the team was a late-game comeback vs. USC away from an 0-9 conference record.
Starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., the team’s only bright spot, has since transferred to Wisconsin, significantly hurting the Terrapins’ 2025 outlook.
Nov. 29, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Bowl Result: Did not qualify
Previous Rank: No. 15 (No change)
Analysis: Much has been written about what was a disastrous season for the Badgers. The team missed its first bowl game since 2001 after suffering a five-game losing streak to close the year. The worst part about that losing streak: the team fell to rivals Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota by a combined score of 110-42.
Luke Fickell has since made significant changes to the coaching staff and roster. 2025 will need to be a breakthrough year or the temperature of his seat could increase.
Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith watches a play against Michigan during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bowl Result: Did not qualify
Previous Rank: No. 12 (No change)
Analysis: Michigan State’s first year under head coach Jonathan Smith was a mild disappointment. The Spartans dropped four of its last five to miss a bowl game, including a lifeless season-ending defeat to Rutgers. Smith deserves time to turn the program around. A bowl appearance would have been a big boost in that regard, however.
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire
Sept. 14, 2024; Pasadena, California; UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster enters the field before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rose Bowl. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Bowl Result: Did not qualify
Previous Rank: No. 12 (Down 1)
Analysis: UCLA had the best season of any 5-7 team in the Big Ten. It faced one of the toughest schedules in the country with games against Indiana, LSU, Oregon, Penn State, Minnesota, Iowa, Washington and USC. The team started 1-6 with several close losses to that top competition. It then rattled off three huge wins over Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa. While the Bruins finished the season 1-2 to miss a bowl game, they’re clearly on the right track under first-year head coach DeShaun Foster.
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
Aug. 29, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey; Rutgers Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano looks on during the second half against the Howard Bison at SHI Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Result: 44-41 loss to Kansas State (Guaranteed Rate Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 10 (Down 2)
Analysis: It’s hard to fully knock Rutgers for a three-point loss to a good Kansas State team (No. 24 in FPI). But as the Scarlet Knights dropped their bowl game to close the season at 7-6, several nearby programs notched statement victories.
2024 should be considered a success for Greg Schiano’s team. While a tough four-game midseason losing streak followed its 4-0 start, it turned that trajectory around in the season’s final month, winning three of four, including a statement triumph over a strong Minnesota team. Schiano has now made three bowl games in four years. That’s Rutgers’ ceiling in a tough Big Ten landscape.
Aug. 31, 2024; Seattle, Washington; Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch walks back to the sideline following an injury against the Weber State Wildcats during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Bowl Result: 35-34 loss to Louisville (Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 9 (Down 2)
Analysis: Washington was one of the few Big Ten teams to drop their bowl game. It scored a touchdown with nine seconds remaining to cut Louisville’s lead from seven to one. Head coach Jedd Fisch elected to go for two and the win. QB Demond Williams Jr’s pass to the corner of the end zone was just a fingertip away from a completion.
That’s a long way of saying that not all losses are created equal. Washington showed well in its bowl game. While a 6-7 record is a big step back from the team’s national title loss in 2023, it appears on solid footing with Fisch at the helm. 2025 could be a breakthrough year as he gets a full offseason to reload the roster and build around an emerging young quarterback.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
Nov. 23, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule and athletic director Troy Dannen walk off the field after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium. Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Bowl Result: 20-15 win over Boston College (Pinstripe Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 13 (Up 3)
Analysis: Nebraska capped off its best season since 2016 with a bowl victory over Boston College. While the season was a success, it’s still hard to ignore the Cornhuskers losing five of six to close the year. Nebraska’s win over Wisconsin, a program in significant disarray, was the only thing keeping it from a six-game losing streak and another bowl-less campaign.
Matt Rhule still has the Cornhuskers moving in a positive direction. 2025 will need to be about avoiding second-half struggles that have plagued the team for a decade.
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
Oct. 12, 2024; Los Angeles, California; USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley during a time out against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Bowl Result: 35-31 win over Texas A&M (Las Vegas Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 11 (Up 2)
Analysis: USC picked up one of the conference’s best bowl wins. It is one of several results used in the Big Ten’s argument for the nation’s best conference, as it topped an SEC power that many viewed as a College Football Playoff contender at midseason.
The Trojans still have issues to address after a disappointing season. This result creates valuable momentum entering a pivotal 2025 campaign.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
Nov. 2, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa; Iowa Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz watches his team warm up before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Kinnick Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Bowl Result: 27-24 loss to Missouri (Music City Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 6 (Down 2)
Analysis: All of the Big Ten’s non-College Football Playoff bowl losses were by thin margins. Iowa’s came in interesting fashion — it had a 4th-and-2 on its own 33-yard-line trailing 27-24 with 3:13 remaining in the game. Kirk Ferentz elected to punt and play field position. While the Hawkeyes got the ball back with 1:44 left, they were unable to advance the ball into field goal range.
Kirk Ferentz still led the Hawkeyes to a very Iowa-like season. They notched another eight wins despite general struggles on offense. It’s reasonable to expect more of the same in 2025 and beyond.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
Sept. 21, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnesota Golden Gophers coach P.J. Fleck looks on during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Huntington Bank Stadium. Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Bowl Result: 24-10 win over Virginia Tech (Duke’s Mayo Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 8 (Up 1)
Analysis: Minnesota capped off a strong season with a decisive bowl victory over Virginia Tech. The Golden Gophers took clear steps forward after a 6-7 2023 campaign. They were a last-minute field goal against North Carolina, an incorrect call on an onside kick recovery against Michigan and a late-game fourth-down stop against Penn State away from an 11-2 mark and potential CFP berth.
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore uses hand signal 4-0 to celebrates the Wolverines 4th straight win over Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bowl Result: 19-13 win over Alabama (ReliaQuest Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 7 (Up 1)
Analysis: No team changed the sentiment surrounding its season more over the last few weeks than Michigan. It closed the regular season with a win at Ohio State, then made another statement with a bowl win over Alabama.
Michigan and head coach Sherrone Moore now enter 2025 with considerable momentum. The Wolverines could contend for the conference next year if top 2024 quarterback Bryce Underwood pans out.
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
Sept. 28, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania; Illinois Fighting Illini coach Bret Bielema on the sideline during a timeout in the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Bowl Result: 21-17 win over South Carolina (Citrus Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 5 (No change)
Analysis: Illinois notched its first 10-win season since 2007 with a bowl triumph over the No. 15-ranked Gamecocks. Bret Bielema has the Fighting Illini performing at their ceiling as a program. Their only losses were to Penn State (in CFP Semis), Oregon (Big Ten champion) and Minnesota.
Considering the context surrounding its tough regular season schedule, Illinois’ season was just as impressive as Indiana’s.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti leads the Hoosiers onto the field before the start of the Indiana versus Nebraska football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bowl Result: 27-17 loss to Notre Dame (CFP First Round)
Previous Rank: No. 4 (No change)
Analysis: Contrary to what SEC fans and media members attempt to portray, Indiana did not lose to Notre Dame by 40. It actually lost to the Fighting Irish by a smaller margin than SEC champion Georgia did (23-10).
Indiana’s dream season shouldn’t be overshadowed by a first-round CFP loss. The Hoosiers went from 3-9 in 2023 to an 11-2 record and CFP appearance, with the two losses coming against teams currently in the CFP Semifinal. Curt Cignetti deserves every Coach of the Year award that exists.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning looks on as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bowl Result: 41-21 loss to Ohio State (CFP Quarterfinal — Rose Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 1 (Down 2)
Analysis: Oregon’s undefeated season came to a crashing halt with a blowout loss to Ohio State. That game may be more about the Buckeyes’ top-end potential than the Ducks’ struggles. Still, the current reality of college football puts all of the importance on CFP results. That quarterfinal defeat will make fans forget about Oregon’s Big Ten title run, 13-0 record and regular-season win over the Buckeyes.
Oregon will compete atop the conference again in 2025 and beyond. Dan Lanning has the program ready to compete for national titles. Ducks fans will need to hope that they don’t draw Ohio State in next year’s edition.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
Oct. 12, 2024; Los Angeles, California; Penn State Nittany Lions coach James Franklin locks arms with players as they head on to United Airlines Field for the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Bowl Results: 38-10 win over SMU (CFP First Round), 31-14 win over Boise State (CFP Quarterfinal — Fiesta Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 2 (No change)
Analysis: Penn State owes its current standing to the new CFP format. In previous years, a regular-season loss to Ohio State and a Big Ten title loss to Oregon would have eliminated the team from contention. Now, it has been given an easy road to the CFP Semifinal.
That shouldn’t take credit away from James Franklin and a top-end Nittany Lion team. They have the longest odds of the four teams left, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they defeated Notre Dame and advanced to the national title game.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
Oct. 5, 2024; Columbus, Ohio; Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day prepares to lead his team on the field prior to the NCAA football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Ohio Stadium. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bowl Results: 42-17 win over Tennessee (CFP First Round), 41-21 win over Oregon (CFP Quarterfinal — Rose Bowl)
Previous Rank: No. 3 (Up 2)
Analysis: Ohio State, like Penn State, has the current landscape to thank for its current standing. Regular season losses to Oregon and Michigan would have ended its season in any previous year. Now, the Buckeyes have appeared to reach their top form at the perfect time.
Ohio State’s current national title chances define the impact of the 12-team CFP — it ensures that national powers get one, two, or even three mulligans before any loss becomes truly consequential.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
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