BIG TEN TEAM PREVIEWS: Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern & Purdue | 2025 College Football

The Solid Verbal College Football

We dive into the Big Ten with the second part of our three-part conference preview series, breaking down nine teams with detailed previews of the conference's contenders and most compelling storylines. From the Penn State hype train to Purdue's "Pastrami of the Big Ten," we give you enough to be dangerous around the water cooler.

In this college football podcast episode, we examine Ohio State's championship odds with new coordinators Brian Hartline and Matt Patricia, debate whether Julian Sayin can handle the pressure in Week One against Texas, and wonder if the Buckeyes can overcome so many new variables. We break down James Franklin's "Phil Collins" moment with a loaded roster of veterans, a splash hire of Jim Knowles to run the defense, and a schedule working in their favor.

We analyze Oregon's talent-heavy retooling under Dan Lanning, questioning whether Dante Moore and a loaded-but-unproven roster can match last year's success. Plus, we debate Michigan's ceiling with true freshman Bryce Underwood potentially starting behind a rebuilt offense, and examine the fascinating battle between Illinois' experience-heavy roster and Indiana's portal-powered reload under Curt Cignetti.

We also explore Maryland's youth movement with four-star freshman Malik Washington, Northwestern's impossible schedule in their temporary lakefront stadium, and Purdue's complete roster overhaul under Barry Odom, featuring 69 new players and the "most erotic sandwich potential" in college football.

Can Penn State finally beat Ohio State when they matter? Can Ryan Day get the Michigan monkey off his back?

This is your comprehensive guide to the most intriguing storylines and burning questions in the Big Ten's upper crust.

Timestamps:
3:50 - Ohio State Preview
20:40 - Penn State Preview
34:09 - Oregon Preview
43:21 - Michigan Preview
54:40 - Illinois Preview
1:03:55 - Indiana Preview
1:13:26 - Maryland Preview
1:20:27 - Northwestern Preview
1:26:32 - Purdue Preview

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Chapters

1. BIG TEN TEAM PREVIEWS: Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern & Purdue | 2025 College Football (00:00:00)

2. Ohio State Preview (00:03:50)

3. Penn State Preview (00:20:40)

4. Oregon Preview (00:34:09)

5. Michigan Preview (00:43:21)

6. Illinois Preview (00:54:40)

7. Indiana Preview (01:03:55)

8. Maryland Preview (01:13:26)

9. Northwestern Preview (01:20:27)

10. Purdue Preview (01:26:32)