It’s the best time of the year, as the 2025-26 college basketball season is about to begin. The 18-team Big Ten Conference didn’t disappoint last season. Eight teams reached March Madness, with Michigan State rising to the top as they won the Conference Championship by three games and reached the Elite Eight. That sent the Big Ten to its 25th straight year without a National Championship. They certainly weren’t high on the power rankings in 2024-25 going in.
The Spartans once again don’t have as high expectations, much like last season, but there are certainly three programs looking to make a massive breakout this year. Those would be Purdue, Michigan, and UCLA. All three have a case to be at the top of the Big Ten power rankings to begin the 2025-26 season.
Big Ten Power Rankings: Conference is Boilers, Wolverines, and Bruins to Lose
Let’s look at this first power ranking of the season.
1. Purdue
The Boilermakers lead the way, as they are the preseason favorite in the Big Ten. Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn are all back for their senior campaign. Add in a powerful transfer in Oscar Cluff, and Purdue basketball is back to being a contender nationally.
2. Michigan
Dusty May’s Wolverines have completely retooled, and their three-headed monster of bigs could easily overwhelm the competition. Yaxel Lendeborg is going to be in the running for Big Ten Player of the Year. He’s a real difference maker for the defending Big Ten Tournament Champions.
3. UCLA
The Bruins have huge expectations after getting a real trial by fire experience in 2024-25. UCLA looks built to contend in the Big Ten. Donovan Dent is going to be a real difference maker. The ceiling looks pretty high for Mick Cronin’s group.
4. Wisconsin
Now you get into the group of teams that could easily sneak higher in the Big Ten power rankings. The Badgers have to replace some huge pieces, but Coach Greg Gard always finds a way to have the Badgers in the hunt. This season is no different.
5. Illinois
A new crop of playmakers, with plenty of experience returning. Can Coach Underwood get the Illini back to the top?
6. Michigan State
The defending Big Ten Champs had low expectations in 2024-25. Here they are again. They are viewed as a pre-season ranked team that could flirt with missing the NCAA Tournament, according to some. However, it’s Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball. Never count the Hall of Famer out. Until proven otherwise, the Big Ten will go through East Lansing.
7. Indiana
A new era in Bloomington. The place that was once a basketball school has turned into a football school, but Hoosier basketball certainly has high hopes for coach Darian DeVries. He took Drake to three NCAA appearances and was able to win 19 games in his lone season at West Virginia in 2024-25. Time will tell.
8. Oregon
The Ducks return plenty of talent. The only knock to start the season is that Jackson Shelstad is likely out for the first four games. Luckily, they have time to get him healthy before their Thanksgiving trip to Las Vegas.
9. Ohio State
It’s almost past time that Jake Diebler delivered for the Buckeyes. They have plenty of experience, but have fallen short of his magical 11-game run to end the 2023-24 season, when he was still an interim coach. Put up or shut up for Ohio State hoops.
10. Iowa
No more McCaffrey ball in Iowa City. Say hello to Ben McCollum and half of his former Drake Bulldogs team. Bennett Stirtz is going to be a player to keep an eye on. He might also be pesky to fans outside of Hawkeye Nation.
11. Washington
Having 12 new players is a trip. What can Coach Sprinkle do with them? This group is sneaky good. They certainly feel like a darkhorse team in the Big Ten for 2025-26.
12. Maryland
Buzz Williams knows how to get players to gel, which will be his task in College Park. There are new faces, but having an established big man in Pharrel Payne certainly helps. They were an NCAA Tournament team with flashes last year, but they might be a bubble team this season.
13. USC
Another team with question marks across their line-up. Injuries have already been felt for one of their freshman. Will all the transfers and experience actually pay off? The Trojans need to produce or get left behind.
14. Nebraska
The Huskers were fun to watch in 2024-25. They will have to find a different identity this season. A healthy Rienk Mast is a good place to start. Coach Hoiberg has pulled off surprises before.
15. Northwestern
Nick Martinelli is back, but who else is going to step up? It feels like Chris Collins has gotten everything he can out of the Wildcats program. Northwestern will be lucky if it avoids the bottom of the barrel in the Big Ten once more. Injuries killed them in 2024-25; they can’t let it happen again.
16. Minnesota
Who’s going to be the Dawson Garcia for the new coaching staff under Niko Medved? Lots of former Mid-Major players are looking to make a name in the Big Ten for the Gophers.
17. Rutgers
Two lottery picks later, and Rutgers is back to the bottom of the Big Ten. Much like they were when they first joined the conference nearly 12 years ago. Steve Pikiell can coach, but even with talent, the Scarlet Knights bottomed out in 2024-25.
18. Penn State
It’s all up from here for Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions. Happy Valley doesn’t have much to be happy about in their two major sports, but perhaps Rhoades can finally get the team going like he did when he was coach at VCU.
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