2025 College Football Review: Big Ten

Photo from The Big Ten

After two straight national titles, the Big Ten has three representatives that could make it three in a row for the conference.

And frankly, this is just going to be a shrine to Indiana and Curt Cignetti, so let’s just get to it.

Biggest Surprise: Indiana Hoosiers

I didn’t think last year was a fluke, but I also didn’t think they’d follow up an 11-2 season with a playoff appearance with a 13-0 season and being the number 1 team in the country with a Big Ten Championship.

I don’t think anyone did, including Indiana fans.

What a season.

Biggest Disappointment: Penn State Nittany Lions

This was supposed to be the year.

The final year of Drew Allar. A great run game. An excellent defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles.

And once they lost a barnburner to Oregon at home, another sign of James Franklin’s inability to win the big game, the wheels completely fell off, with losses to UCLA and Northwestern right after.

It lost Franklin his job, and it ended their season.

There have been disappointing seasons for Penn State recently, but this was by far the biggest of the bunch.

What I Was Right About

Maryland felt like a lost cause in the offseason, and despite that, they started 4-0 and had an electric freshman QB in Malik Washington.

And then, in typical Maryland fashion, it all went downhill, losing 8 games in a row and missing a bowl.

The Mike Locksley era will continue in College Park next season, and frankly, I’m not sure how.

What I Was Wrong About

I also had no faith in Northwestern, and they proved me wrong.

6-6 might not be a season to write home about, but it’s an improvement over the 4-8 they were a year ago, and people’s preseason expectations of them.

Credit to David Braun. He’s done a good job.

Coach Of The Year: Curt Cignetti

Alright. Let’s just rapid fire the rest of these.

Player Of The Year: Fernando Mendoza

And one more.

Team Of The Year: Indiana Hoosiers

The Indiana Hoosiers are the number one team in the country and have the Heisman Trophy Winner.

The Indiana Hoosiers are the number one team in the country and have the Heisman Trophy Winner.

If you don’t know about college football, I’m not sure anybody would ever think that sentence would be said, written, even thought of.

I have no idea if they’ll win the title, but my goodness what a season it has been regardless.