Big Ten sleepers: Which unranked teams could make CFP noise?

Published On: August 20, 2025

With six teams—No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Illinois, No. 14 Michigan, and No. 20 Indiana—in the top 25, the Big Ten was well-represented in the preseason Associated Press poll. With several teams that can make it to the College Football Playoffs and a couple that are good enough to win it all, the league is full of talented teams.

With Nick Singleton, Drew Allar, and numerous more NFL-ready players back, Penn State has extremely high expectations. The current national champion is Ohio State. The reigning Big Ten champion is Oregon. Michigan is ready for a comeback season after winning it all two years ago. Following their unexpected runs last year, Illinois and Indiana return important players.

The Big Ten isn’t only its best programs, though. Some of the conference’s unranked teams are worth watching closely because they have the potential to draw attention, place in the top 25, or possibly challenge for the CFP.

Let’s examine five lesser-known Big Ten clubs to keep an eye on in 2025.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes were 8-5, which they were, and could have been in the running for the CFP, but they were 1-3 in one-score games the previous season. Mark Gronowski, a transfer quarterback who led South Dakota State to two FCS national titles and threw for 10,309 yards in four seasons, may be Kirk Ferentz’s most gifted quarterback to date in his 27th season. If Iowa challenges for double-digit victories and frightens Penn State and Oregon in the process, don’t be shocked.

Nebraska: Under Matt Rhule, it’s all about Year Three. In his third seasons with those institutions, Baylor went from a catastrophe to 11-3, and Temple went from a joke to 10-3. At Nebraska, is Rhule able to accomplish the same? A lot depends on five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, who had a mixed first season, having a strong sophomore campaign. However, if Raiola and the offense make a significant improvement, there is a chance that Nebraska may finish 9-3 or perhaps 10-2 with a manageable schedule.

Washington: The Huskies had a difficult first season in the Big Ten after making it to the national championship game with Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze, and company dominating Kalen DeBoer’s offense. In 2025, a transfer-loaded defense will need to be far more effective because to the dangerous schedule. However, my choice for the Big Ten breakout player of the year is quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Jonah Coleman, a 1,000-yard runner, and Williams might create a stir.

USC: According to 247 Sports, the Trojans have the second-best recruiting class in the nation for the 2026 cycle. So get ready for next offseason’s USC hype train. However, Lincoln Riley has one more thing to show this season. Riley is 15-13 in his last 28 games with the Trojans, following an 11-1 start. In October, USC will play Michigan and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks. Perhaps Riley’s Trojans can pull off a surprise or two and carry momentum into 2026.

UCLA: I don’t think UCLA will move up to the top 25 after finishing 5-7 the previous season. However, the Bruins will be entertaining because of Nico. After leading Tennessee to its first CFP berth, quarterback Nico Iamaleavea controversially left to move to UCLA. Iamaleava’s scrambling abilities and five-star arm should immediately improve UCLA’s offense. A revamped defense will determine if the Bruins can qualify for the bowl or beyond. The way Iamaleava will perform against Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana, and USC, however, is at least intriguing.