According to cleveland.com's Big Ten Preseason Poll, Penn State football is the No. 1 team in the conference. As the season nears, though, Ohio State is getting more and more recognition.
Despite the Buckeyes being the No. 3 team in the country on the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll one spot below the Nittany Lions, FanDuel has Penn State's conference foe ahead on the spread. Ohio State has a +190 chance of winning the Big Ten, taking the top spot, and head coach James Franklin's team trails just behind at +210.
The 20-point difference is so minuscule compared to Oregon falling 220 points behind the Nittany Lions. Michigan, that's listed as the fourth most likely to win the Big Ten, is 570 points behind the Ducks at +1000.
Penn State is +210 to win the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game, Ohio State is most likely on FanDuel at +190
Though the Buckeyes didn't make it to the conference championship in 2024, they're coming off an even bigger title. When looking at the Big Ten landscape, though, the Nittany Lions have an advantage in terms of overall experience and returning starters.
Ohio State returns six starters on offense: Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Will Kacmarek, Austin Siereveld, Carson Hinzman, and Tegra Tshabola. Sonny Styles, Davison Igbinosun, and Caleb Downs return on defense.
As for Penn State, it has Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Liam Clifford, Khalil Dinkins, Drew Shelton, Vega Ioane, Nick Dawkins, Anthony Donkoh, and Nolan Rucci just on offense. On defense, it brings back Zane Durant, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Tony Rojas, A.J. Harris, and Zakee Wheatley.
The Buckeyes still have depth with their starters and will in especially good hands if rookie quarterback Julian Sayin steps up to the plate and hits the ground running. What holds the Nittany Lions back isn't experience under center or Allar's supporting cast. It's performing the best when they need it most.
Last season, Penn State fell to Oregon in the conference championship game after a slow start and crucial mistakes in the backhalf of the game. This included a late interception thrown by Allar. In the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame, he threw another late interception that essentially cost the Nittany Lions the game as the Fighting Irish went in to kick a field goal to break the tie.
The team that ends up on top of the Big Ten will likely be whichever does the best in sustaining strength under pressure (Penn State) or minimizing the effects of reloading its team (Ohio State).
The full list of odds to win the Big Ten here: