With the season fast approaching, here is our full preview of every defensive unit in the Big Ten entering 2025.
The 2024 Big Ten football season may have been the least defensive ever. In other words, the year saw the conference's top offensive units rule the day, as seen clearly in Oregon's 45-37 win over Penn State in the Big Ten title.
Yes, Ohio State has won plenty of conference crowns with an elite offense. But the conference's expansion appears to have said goodbye to the defense-first teams, like Iowa or old-school Wisconsin, contending for titles. The elimination of the Big Ten West is one major reason for this shift. Another is the conference's addition of former Pac-12 powers USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington, which added to its growing depth of top-tier offensive programs.
That is where the Big Ten appears to be headed -- top-tier offensive teams battling for the title while the traditional defense-first Midwest programs watch from afar. With any dramatic shift will come a correction, however. Whether it's Michigan under Sherrone Moore, new-look Wisconsin with a stout defense and ball-control approach under Jeff Grimes, or Iowa with representative quarterback play, there should be an eventual move back to defense-first teams contending.
Position Previews: Offense -- Quarterbacks -- Running Backs
2025 may not be that year, as we explained in our ranking of the conference's offensive units. But every good team still needs strong support from both sides of the football. With that, here is our look at the Big Ten's defensive units entering the 2025 season, ranked from worst to first.
18. Purdue Boilermakers
2024 Team Stats: 452.7 yards allowed/game (No. 124 of 134 in FBS), 39.9 points allowed/game (No. 131 of 134)
Key Players: DT C.J. Madden, LB Mani Powell, CB Tony Grimes, DT T.J. Lindsey
Purdue's defense was disastrous in 2024, ranking near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision in nearly every measure. The unit has seven new starters entering 2025, including UNLV transfers Mani Powell and Tony Grimes. The group has a long way to go to compete with some of the Big Ten's better offenses. But 2025 will be about forward progress, especially after the team went 1-11 while allowing nearly 40 points per game.
17. Maryland Terrapins
2024 Team Stats: 378.1 yards allowed/game (No. 79 of 134 FBS teams), 30.4 points allowed/game (No. 105 of 134)
Key Players: DT Cam Rice, LB Daniel Wingate, S Jalen Huskey, S Lavian Scruggs
Maryland lost two of its top linebackers in Ruban Hyppolite and Caleb Wheatland after the 2024 season. The 2025 group has major question marks at that position, as well as along the defensive line. The team will badly need to improve upon its 14 total sacks from a season ago -- a primary reason for the unit finishing in the bottom 30 nationally in points allowed per game.
16. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2024 Team Stats: 393.8 yards allowed/game (No. 95 of 134 FBS teams), 25.4 points allowed/game (No. 70 of 134)
Key Players: DE Bradley Weaver, DE Eric O'Neill, LB Dariel Djabome, CB Cam Miller
Rutgers lost significant talent off a defense that fared well in 2024. The unit has seven new starters, including an entirely remade defensive line. The play of Ohio transfer DE Bradley Weaver (15 tackles for loss, 8 1/2 sacks in 2024) and James Madison transfer DE Eric O'Neill (19 TFL, 13 sacks) will be key to the unit improving upon last year's totals. Given the unit's personnel turnover and youth in the secondary, 2025 may be a regression year.
15. USC Trojans
2024 Team Stats: 377.1 yards allowed/game (No. 77 of 134 FBS teams), 24.1 points allowed/game (No. 57 of 134)
Key Players: LB Eric Gentry, S Kamari Ramsey, CB D.J. Harvey, DT Keeshawn Silver
USC's defense was much improved in year one under DC D'Anton Lynn in 2024. However, that improvement still only moved the unit up to No. 77 nationally in total defense. The group added three transfer starters in DT Keeshawn Silver, CB D.J. Harvey and S Bishop Fitzgerald. With top starters LB Eric Gentry, S Kamari Ramey and others returning, many are expecting the unit to take another big step forward. That said, I'm still in 'need to see it to believe it' mode with any Lincoln Riley defense.
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14. Northwestern Wildcats
2024 Team Stats: 361.8 yards allowed/game (No. 56 of 134 FBS teams), 26.3 points allowed/game (No. 79 of 134)
Key Players: LB Yanni Karlaftis, DT Najee Story, DE Aidan Hubbard, LB Mac Uihlein
Northwestern is typically at its best when it has a senior-heavy defensive unit. That is the case this year, at least along the defensive line. A younger secondary should be helped by significant experience up front. Knowing Northwestern, this unit could be much better than the team's final record indicates.
13. Michigan State Spartans
2024 Team Stats: 332.0 yards allowed/game (No. 34 of 134 FBS teams), 26.1 points allowed/game (No. 77 of 134)
Key Players: DT Alex VanSumeren, S Nikai Martinez, S Malik Spencer, LB Jordan Hall
Michigan State's defense was mostly pedestrian in 2024. It ranked well in total defense, though it struggled to generate much pressure on opposing quarterbacks and fell short in the turnover department. Transfer linemen Kelly Grady and David Santiago will play a role in changing that pressure total, while returning starters Nikai Martinez and Malik Spencer will both need to increase their takeaway totals. All sings point toward the Spartans deploying another middle-of-the-pack defensive unit.
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12. Wisconsin Badgers
2024 Team Stats: 342.7 yards allowed/game (No. 41 of 134 FBS teams), 23.1 points allowed/game (No. 46 of 134)
Key Players: LB Christian Alliegro, DL Corey Walker, DL Parker Petersen, CB Ricardo Hallman, OLB Mason Reiger
2025 will be a make-or-break year for Wisconsin's defense. While its 2024 yardage and point totals were in the middle of the pack, the team allowed a combined 110 points to rivals Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. More specifically, its front seven wore down as the season reached its height. Luke Fickell addressed that area with numerous transfer additions, headlined by Walker, Petersen and Reiger. To simplify the unit's season outlook, the Badger defense will go as far as its front seven can take it.
11. UCLA Bruins
2024 Team Stats: 340.8 yards allowed/game (No. 39 of 134 FBS teams), 25.2 points allowed/game (No. 68 of 134)
Key Players: S Key Lawrence, LB Jalen Woods, DE Devin Aupiu, DT Keanu Williams
UCLA's defense improved as the 2024 season continued. It notably did so after losing ace DC D'Anton Lynn and several veteran leaders to USC during the previous offseason. The unit's late-season trajectory and a full offseason of roster improvements should lead to it taking a step forward in 2025.
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10. Illinois Fighting Illini
2024 Team Stats: 373.2 yards allowed/game (No. 68 of 134 FBS teams), 28.3 points allowed/game (No. 65 of 134)
Key Players: DL James Thompson Jr., DL Curt Neal, LB Dylan Rosiek, S Miles Scott
Illinois' defense played better than the stats show in 2024. A 50-49 win over Purdue and a 38-9 loss to Oregon inflated both the team's total points and yardage totals. Now entering 2025, the Illini welcome in a new-look defensive front, led by Wisconsin transfers James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal. That unit will dictate whether the overall defense takes a step forward and leads the team to the College Football Playoff.
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers
2024 Team Stats: 317.9 yards allowed/game (No. 18 of 134 FBS teams), 19.5 points allowed/game (No. 17 of 134)
Key Players: S DeShon Singleton, DB Malcolm Hartzog, LB Marques Watson-Trent, DT Elijah Jeudy
The Matt Rhule-era Nebraska Cornhuskers are sound on defense. His two years at the helm have seen finishes of No. 18 (2024) and No. 13 (2023) in total defense. While it's reasonable to expect another year of strong results, the team is tasked with replacing three of its top four leading tacklers, as well as nearly its entire tackle-for-loss and sack production. 2025 might need to be a reset year for the unit as new leaders emerge, especially along the defensive front.
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8. Washington Huskies
2024 Team Stats: 328.4 yards allowed/game (No. 28 of 134 FBS teams), 23.8 points allowed/game (No. 54 of 134)
Key Players: DT Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, LB Taariq Al-Uqdah, DE Isaiah Ward, CB Ephesians Prysock, CB Tacario Davis
Washington will deploy a new-look defense in 2025. It lost the four leading tacklers from last year's unit. While it replaced that production with several notable transfers, it's hard to project the unit to replicate its strong 2024 output. Players who will decide the unit's fate include Arizona transfer DL Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, Washington State transfer LB Taariq Al-Uqdah, returning starters Isaiah Ward and Ephesians Prysock and top transfer cornerback Tacario Davis.
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7. Indiana Hoosiers
2024 Team Stats: 257.2 yards allowed/game (No. 2 of 134 FBS teams), 15.6 points allowed/game (No. 6 of 134)
Key Players: LB Mikail Kamara, LB Aiden Fisher, CB D'Angelo Ponds, DT Hosea Wheeler
Indiana finished the 2024 season with one of the best defenses in the sport. But as became a common discussion point during the team's run to the CFP, those numbers did come against a less-than-stellar schedule. The Hoosiers' defense was quite good, but it wasn't top-of-the-nation strong. The group now returns top contributors Kamara, Fisher and Ponds for 2025. Transfer linemen Wheeler and Stephen Daley will both play major roles -- much of Indiana's success in 2024 was due to the nation's second-best rush defense.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes
2024 Team Stats: 318.4 yards allowed/game (No. 20 of 134 FBS teams), 17.8 points allowed/game (No. 11 of 134)
Key Players: DT Aaron Graves, DT Jeremiah Pittman, DE Ethan Hurkett, S Xavier Nwankpa
Iowa's defense may finally be poised for a mini-regression in 2025. The unit loses top 2024 contributors, DT Yahya Black, LB Jay Higgins, LB Nick Jackson, S Quinn Schulte and S Sebastian Castro. Together, those players accounted for 368 tackles, 18 for loss, 4 1/2 sacks, nine interceptions, 18 pass deflections and five forced fumbles. There are several capable veterans set to fill major roles, including DT Aaron Graves, DE Ethan Hurkett and S Xavier Nwankpa. But even at a place like Iowa that churns out perennial top-15 defenses, top-end success with that much turnover in the starting lineup is hard to project.
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5. Oregon Ducks
2024 Team Stats: 315.9 yards allowed/game (No. 15 of 134 FBS teams), 19.4 points allowed/game (No. 16 of 134)
Key Players: DT Bear Alexander, LB Bryce Boettcher, S Dillon Thieneman, DE Matayo Uiagalelei
Oregon quietly had one of the best defenses in college football in 2024. That unit was somewhat overshadowed by an offense that was the nation's best. That defense lost a ton of talent to the NFL draft, including DT Derrick Harmon, DE Jordan Burch, DT Jamaree Caldwell and LB Jeffrey Bassa. It does, however, return leading tackler Bryce Boettcher and a double-digit sack edge rusher in Matayo Uiagalelei, plus welcomes in top transfer safety Dillon Thieneman. Oregon is at the point where the team deserves the benefit of the doubt on both sides of the football, regardless of how much talent leaves for the NFL.
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4. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2024 Team Stats: 285.7 yards allowed/game (No. 5 of 134 FBS teams), 16.9 points allowed/game (No. 9 of 134)
Key Players: DT Jalen Logan-Redding, LB Maverick Baranowski, DE Anthony Smith, S Koi Perich
Minnesota has quietly turned into one of the more consistent defenses in college football. It boasts two top-five finishes in total defense in the last three years, sandwiched around a pedestrian No. 70 finish in 2023. The unit again looks solid on paper entering 2025. While it lost top contributors Cody Lindenberg, Danny Striggow and Jah Joyner after the 2024 season, it returns intriguing and experienced talent at every level. The star to circle is sophomore safety Koi Perich, who could soon emerge into the All-American conversation.
3. Michigan Wolverines
2024 Team Stats: 307 yards allowed/game (No. 10 of 134 FBS teams), 19.9 points allowed/game (No. 19 of 134)
Key Players: DT Damon Payne, DT Tre Williams, LB Jaishawn Barham, LB Ernest Hausmann, S Rod Moore
Michigan has the tough task of replacing first-round NFL draft picks Mason Graham and Will Johnson. Graham's production (45 tackles, seven for loss, 3 1/2 sacks) will be especially tough to replicate. If transfers Tre Williams and Damon Payne can fill that void in the aggregate, the Wolverines should again boast one of the better defenses in the conference.
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2. Ohio State Buckeyes
2024 Team Stats: 254.6 yards allowed/game (No. 1 of 134 FBS teams), 35.7 points allowed/game (No. 14 of 134)
Key Players: S Caleb Downs, LB Sonny Styles, DE Kenyatta Jackson
Ohio State had arguably the best defense in college football last season. The unit's success wasn't much of a surprise. After it led the team to a national title, it saw a whopping eight starters/top contributors selected in the NFL draft. Ohio State has the talent base to withstand that top-down turnover. However, it's reasonable to pick the unit to take a step or two backward. Top DC Jim Knowles leaving for rival Penn State also didn't help the Buckeyes' cause. That all said, safety Caleb Downs might be the best player in college football this season.
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1. Penn State Nittany Lions
2024 Team Stats: 294.8 yards allowed/game (No. 7 of 134 FBS teams), 16.5 points allowed/game (No. 8 of 134)
Key Players: DT Zane Durant, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, LB Tony Rojas, S Zakee Wheatley, CB A.J. Harris
Penn State's defense takes our No. 1 spot entering the season due to several factors. First, it stole top DC Jim Knowles from Ohio State, both adding to its own future performance and subtracting from the Buckeyes'. Next, while the team lost top pass-rusher Abdul Carter to the NFL, it returns significant experience along the defensive front and at linebacker. This defense may not match last year's Ohio State. But it will be more than good enough to lead the Nittany Lions back to the doorstep of the national title game.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Power ranking all 18 Big Ten defenses from worst to first
Category: General Sports