The AP Preseason Poll is finally out, setting the stage for a season’s worth of narratives and conversations about its legitimacy. With just 12 days until Week 0, the Big Ten boasts six ranked teams, led by the Penn State Nittany Lions at second, just ahead of the defending national champions.
As of the first ranking, there are nine matchups between currently ranked teams on the schedule in the Big Ten. That number can either go up or down. USC, Nebraska, and Iowa received votes, so there could be more in the coming weeks.
AP Preseason Poll Sets Up Potential Ranked Matchups for the Big Ten
Week 1: (1) Texas at (3) Ohio State
The crown jewel of a loaded Week 1 slate, top-ranked Texas gets to travel to third-ranked Ohio State for the fifth-ever matchup between the two. The teams have split the four previous matchups, with Ohio State taking the most recent. Last year’s CFP Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl was one of the top games of the postseason thanks to two game-changing touchdowns by TreVeyon Henderson and Jack Sawyer.
This year, the Arch Manning era begins for the Longhorns. “Big Noon Kickoff” strikes again.
Week 2: (14) Michigan at (18) Oklahoma
After a great Week 1 slate, Week 2 features another Big Ten vs. SEC matchup. Last year, Michigan was beaten easily at home by Texas but salvaged the season thanks to an upset at Ohio State. It was a truly enigmatic season for the Wolverines. This year, highly-touted freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is expected to take over. Oklahoma looks to be on the upswing after a disappointing first year in the SEC. Brent Venables is a popular pick to be on the hot seat entering 2025, so a win over Michigan would go a long way.
This will be the second time these two have ever matched up. Oklahoma won the only other game, 14-6, in the 1976 Orange Bowl.
Week 4: (12) Illinois at (20) Indiana
Last year’s Cinderella story gets to try and run it back with an even easier schedule in 2025, but Illinois is looking to be this year’s surprise. The Fighting Illini have a prime opportunity to show they belong in the CFP conversation. Even if nobody respected Indiana last year, the Hoosiers were a playoff team and could return. Curt Cignetti’s club will look to Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza to lead the way.
This will be the 74th time these two have faced off, with Illinois leading the series, 46-25-2. The Fighting Illini won the most recent matchup in 2023 after Indiana took four in a row.
Week 5: (7) Oregon at (2) Penn State
The first of two critical games for Penn State, Oregon travels to State College for the first time since 1964. Both programs have high expectations in 2025, but Penn State’s are on another level. The Nittany Lions are returning most of last year’s CFP Semifinalist squad, led by potential number-one-overall pick Drew Allar. They have arguably the top one-two punch at running back and may actually finally have a wide receiver room. Oregon’s recruiting has been among the elite lately, and those efforts will have to pay dividends as the reigning Big Ten champions.
This will be the sixth Oregon vs. Penn State game, and the second in as many years as the two faced off for the Big Ten title last year. Penn State leads the all-time series, 3-2, but lost the aforementioned matchup in 1964.
Week 7: (12) Illinois at (3) Ohio State
The Battle for the Illibuck rivalry will renew this year for the first time since 2017. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 69-30-4, and has won each of the last nine (including 2010). The last time Illinois came out on top was in the insane 2007 season that nearly derailed Ohio State’s championship aspirations.
Week 7: (20) Indiana at (7) Oregon
Another matchup featuring two of last year’s CFP participants, Indiana gets to travel to Eugene to take on the Ducks. The Hoosiers won the most recent matchup back in 2004, but Oregon won the other two matchups in 1963 and 1964.
Week 10: (2) Penn State at (3) Ohio State
Penn State has three matchups circled on the schedule, as does Ohio State. If things go right to this point, including wins over Oregon and Texas, this could be the one-vs-two matchup most thought Ohio State-Texas was going to be. While this game is not officially a rivalry, it’s about as close and contentious as one could be. Well, we say close as in how tightly each game is played, because Ohio State owns the all-time series, 26-14, and has won each of the last eight.
No matter how this one goes, it could be the first of three matchups with rematches in the Big Ten Championship and the CFP.
Week 11: (20) Indiana at (2) Penn State
The final potential ranked matchup on the Penn State schedule is when Indiana makes the trip. The Indiana-Penn State series has historically been owned by the Nittany Lions, 25-2. The last time Indiana prevailed was the infamous Michael Penix Jr. dive on the two-point conversion in overtime in 2020. The last matchup was in 2023 in State College when Allar hit KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 57-yard touchdown with just under two minutes left for the win.
Week 14: (3) Ohio State at (14) Michigan
The Game. Ohio State vs. Michigan. The Wolverines won a title in 2023, and Ohio State responded with its own last year. Michigan owns the all-time series, 62-52-6, when you include vacated (and potentially vacated) wins. After winning 17 of 19, Ohio State has dropped each of the last four to Michigan.
There is no rivalry greater, and no two teams hate each other more. Will Michigan extend its win streak to five for the first time since it won six in a row from 1922 through 1927? Will Ryan Day finally shake the Michigan monkey off his back? 110 days. (109 if you schedule for Tuesday).
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