The Big Ten is now a very large conference with he addition of the four teams, Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington, last season. With four new teams means there could be some new contenders in the conference against the elites.
Contenders may not win the conference every season, but they certainly make a push against the elites that usually end up on top. These teams are ones that can sometimes be dark horses and even upset an elite team to win a conference title. Indiana is a perfect example of a contender last season, even though they didn't win the title, they certainly made a play for it.
So here is the newest batch of 2025 Big Ten contenders that could be a threat to the throne of the elites.
Iowa
The Iowa Hawkeyes may have had a down year in 2024, but in 2025, with a few changes, they have a chance to be a contender of sorts. They are closer to being in the contenders tier than they are in the "need help and luck" tier, so that is why they are here.
Iowa needs a lot of help offensively in 2025, but head coach Kirk Ferentz somehow always figures out how to be competitive even with a subpar offense and an elite defense. The defense should be top-notch as always, but without a consistent offense, they will always be in the contenders tier.
Illinois
Illinois has taken some serious steps forward in the past couple of seasons, and this season just might be its best opportunity at a Big Ten title. The return of quarterback Luke Altmyer is a big lift for this team going forward, and head coach Bret Bielema has big plans for the 2025 season.
Illinois is poised for another big season, and it will be built on the win they had over South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The Fighting Illini took down a very hot South Carolina team, and Altmyer was a big reason for that win. Illinois really upgraded this offseason in the transfer portal, so they certainly are a contender and a contender at the top of this tier.
USC
USC came very close to not being in this tier as the Trojans have yet to find success under head coach Lincoln Riley. Quarterback Jayden Maiava will be taking over the reins this season, and if there is one thing Riley knows how to do, it is produce great quarterbacks; however, the rest of the squad needs to produce.
The Trojans are very close to dropping to the tier below, which would involve a lot of luck and help to win a Big Ten title, but with one season now in the Big Ten, they should be able to get their feet under them a bit more.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a very confusing team in the Big Ten; they always seem to win more games than they need for bowl eligibility, but they also aren't necessarily a team that seems to threaten a Big Ten title very much. The Golden Gophers are unable to find enough consistency to be in the elite tier, but certainly don't deserve not to be in the contenders tier.
Nebraska
The rise of Dylan Raiola is upon us, and if the young sophomore gunslinger can take a step forward this next season, Nebraska can be a serious threat in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers upgraded a lot in the transfer portal this offseason, and Matt Rhule always seems to find his footing with a team after a few seasons.
Indiana
The Indiana Hoosiers were the most surprising team in the 2024 season, a team that no one saw coming and ended up riding it all the way to the College Football Playoff. In his first season in the Big Ten and with a power conference school, head coach Curt Cignetti was able to lead his team to a playoff appearance and almost an undefeated season.
Now in year two, the Hoosiers have a chance to take an even bigger step forward with some huge upgrades in the transfer portal, including in the quarterback position with Cal's Fernando Mendoza, Indiana can cement their spot in the contenders tier.