Big Ten spring football preview: Key players, storylines
It has been just 44 days since the Ohio State Buckeyes raised the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy, but teams in the Big Ten conference, which has won the past two titles, are already preparing for the 2025 season.
ESPN continues its power conference spring previews with the Big Ten, which has several teams that could contend for the CFP title again, including the defending champs.
Big Ten writers Max Olson, Adam Rittenberg, Jake Trotter and Paolo Uggetti look at the players — old and new — and coaches to watch, as well as the teams that could keep the Big Ten’s title streak alive. They’ll also dive into top storylines for all 18 conference teams as spring camps get underway.
Rittenberg: Bryce Underwood isn’t the first No. 1 recruit to come to Michigan — Rashan Gary topped ESPN’s prospect rankings in 2016 — but he arrives with arguably the most attention, and at a fascinating time. Michigan’s national title defense in 2024 went from mostly awful to awesome, as it landed Underwood, a potential generational quarterback talent who grew up minutes from campus, and then finished the season with upset wins against Ohio State and Alabama. Underwood’s recruitment and signing represented a key shift in how Michigan will approach NIL with high school players going forward. He also steps in at the team’s position of need, as the Wolverines finished above only the three service academies in passing offense last fall. Few would be surprised if veteran quarterback transfer Mikey Keene takes the first snaps for Michigan, but at some point, Underwood will have his moment.
Trotter: Indiana struck gold in the transfer portal last year with Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who led the Hoosiers to their first 10-win season in program history and a spot in the playoff. Coach Curt Cignetti is hoping to replicate that success with Fernando Mendoza, who transferred to Indiana from Cal. Mendoza, who also considered Georgia and Missouri, started 19 games for Cal, throwing for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns last season as the Golden Bears made a bowl game in their debut year in the ACC. If Mendoza clicks in Bloomington, the Hoosiers could remain a threat in the Big Ten.
Olson: I’m expecting Dakorien Moore to play right away for Oregon and be one of college football’s next great freshman wide receivers. The No. 4 recruit in the ESPN 300 was a consensus five-star prospect and a dominant wideout at Duncanville High School in Texas, putting up more than 3,400 receiving yards and 40 TDs during his career. Landing the 5-foot-11, 182-pound speedster was a massive recruiting victory for Dan Lanning and the Ducks, and Moore should have every opportunity to step right in and help replace the production of Tez Johnson.
Uggetti: At USC, there is already a lot of hype building around incoming freshman Jahkeem Stewart. The excitement is not unwarranted: the five-star defensive lineman was ranked No. 1 at his position and in Louisiana by ESPN and oozes talent at a position where the Trojans badly need a rising star. USC’s defense improved leaps and bounds under new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn last season, but part of the move to hire Lynn and build a strong defensive staff around him was to be able to bring elite prospects such as Stewart to Los Angeles. Defensive line coach Eric Henderson played a crucial role in recruiting Stewart, and now he and Lynn will get to develop one of the best defensive talents in the country who should get some playing time right away.
Position battle you’re watching?
Rittenberg: A new quarterback will lead defending champion Ohio State in 2025, and the room has changed following the somewhat expected transfers of Devin Brown (Cal) and Air Noland (South Carolina). Perhaps the path is clear for Julian Sayin, the Alabama transfer who enters his second season in Columbus after limited work (12 pass attempts) last fall. Sayin will develop under a reworked but familiar offensive staff, following promotions for Brian Hartline (lead coordinator), Keenan Bailey (co-coordinator) and Billy Fessler (quarterbacks coach). Sayin will need to outplay Lincoln Kienholz, who enters his third year in the program, and incoming freshman Tavien St. Clair, ESPN’s No. 3 quarterback and No. 10 overall recruit for 2025.
Trotter: The Wolverines enter the spring with two intriguing running backs, who will both play regardless of how the battle for the starting/primary role plays out. With Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards sitting out the bowl game against Alabama, freshman Jordan Marshall shined in his first real action of the season. He rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries, as Michigan knocked off the Crimson Tide 19-13. During the offseason, the Wolverines also landed Justice Haynes, who rushed for 448 yards and seven touchdowns for Alabama while averaging 5.7 yards per carry in a backup role to Jam Miller. Marshall and Haynes seem primed to give Michigan another strong rushing tandem.
Olson: Penn State has national championship ambitions but must figure out the answer at wide receiver. USC transfer Kyron Hudson and Troy transfer Devonte Ross are joining a receiver room that returns Liam Clifford, but no other players who saw 5 or more targets in 2024. The Nittany Lions need Tyseer Denmark, Kaden Saunders and several more young options to step up this spring and give this group the competitive depth it needs for a deep playoff run.
Potential breakout player?
Rittenberg: Anyone who watched Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton during the team’s run to the CFP semifinals could appreciate his immense talent. Dennis-Sutton seemed to be everywhere on the field, recording 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and 16 tackles in the stretch against SMU, Boise State and Notre Dame. He will no longer benefit from playing opposite projected first-round pick Abdul Carter, which will bring more attention his way. But Dennis-Sutton is ready to take on a premier role for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. The 6-5, 266-pound senior looks like Penn State’s next top NFL prospect up front after recording 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 9 quarterback hurries and 2 forced fumbles last fall.
Trotter: Dillon Gabriel ended his prolific college career by leading Oregon to the Big Ten title and No. 1 seed in the playoff. Dante Moore is now the favorite to take over for Gabriel and keep the Ducks in national title contention. Moore was the No. 2 recruit in the ESPN 300 rankings two years ago before signing with UCLA. He had a bumpy freshman season with UCLA, posting just a 33.1 QBR while taking a whopping 25 sacks over nine games playing for Chip Kelly. After Kelly benched him, Moore entered the transfer portal and ended up in Eugene. The talent is there, and the Ducks bring back plenty of playmakers around him, including budding star wideout Evan Stewart. If Moore lives up to his potential, the Ducks could push to defend their Big Ten title.
Olson: Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. flashed exciting potential during his true freshman season and was productive with his limited snaps, putting up 944 passing yards, 392 rushing yards (excluding sacks), 10 total TDs and an 84.3 QBR. The 5-foot-11 playmaker followed Jedd Fisch from Arizona to Washington and got to start the final two games of his debut season. He looks like he’s going to be a difference-maker in a Huskies offense that returns leading rusher Jonah Coleman and talented receiver Denzel Boston.
Uggetti: I’m with Jake on Oregon QB Moore, who has all the tools and is in the right offense to flourish right away, but if I had to choose someone else, it would be his teammate, running back Makhi Hughes. After spending two seasons at Tulane totaling nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, Hughes was a big get for the Ducks in the transfer portal. With last season’s starting back Jordan James off to the NFL, the void at running back has Hughes’ name written all over it. Having a strong presence in the backfield who can get Oregon’s offense moving the chains will go a long way toward making it easy on Moore as he acclimates to the starting role.