Big Ten basketball was bigger than ever last season, thanks to four former Pac-12 programs joining the conference to bring the total to 18 teams. Two of the four, Oregon and UCLA, made the NCAA Tournament, while the other two, USC and Washington, struggled mightily in their inaugural campaigns.
How will those four and rest of the contenders fare in 2025-26? Here’s a power ranking of the Big Ten.
*Rankings for freshmen are via 247Sports Composite.
1. Purdue Boilermakers
2024-25: 24-12 (13-7)
Key players: Trey Kaufman-Renn, 6-foot-9 senior forward, 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds per game; Braden Smith, 6-foot senior guard, 15.8 points, 8.7 assists per game; Fletcher Loyer, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 13.8 points per game; Oscar Cluff, 6-foot-11 senior forward, 17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds per game (South Dakota State)
The Boilermakers bring back two First-Team All-Big Ten stars in Kaufman-Renn and Smith, with the latter coming off an All-American campaign. Purdue arguably got better in the offseason, adding one of the top rebounders in the nation in Cluff to bolster the frontcourt. Not only are the Boilermakers the clear team to beat in this conference, but potentially the entire country.
2. Michigan Wolverines
2024-25: 27-10 (14-6)
Key players: Roddy Gayle, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 9.8 points per game; Yaxel Lendeborg, 6-foot-9 senior forward, 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds per game (UAB); Elliot Cadeau, 6-foot-1 junior guard, 9.4 points, 6.2 assists per game (North Carolina); Morez Johnson, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds per game (Illinois)
Michigan had one of the best frontcourts last season with Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf, and the Wolverines could be even better up front this year, led by Lendeborg, a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year. Cadeau was one of the top passers in the ACC and gives the Wolverines a clear ball-handler, while Gayle is a key holdover and double-digit scorer on the perimeter.
3. UCLA Bruins
2024-25: 23-11 (13-7)
Key players: Tyler Bilodeau, 6-foot-9 senior forward, 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds per game; Eric Dailey, 6-foot-8 junior forward, 11.4 points, 4.0 rebounds per game; Skyy Clark, 6-foot-3 senior guard, 8.5 points, 2.7 assists per game; Donovan Dent, 6-foot-2 senior guard, 20.4 points, 6.4 assists per game (New Mexico)
UCLA brings back its top scorer in Bilodeau and bolsters the backcourt with Dent, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year who was one of the top scorers in the country back at New Mexico. The defense should remain stout, and there’s depth on the roster. Assuming Dent’s offensive production translates, this will be one of the more well-rounded Big Ten rosters.
4. Indiana Hoosiers
2024-25: 19-13 (10-10)
Key players: Lamar Wilkerson, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 20.5 points per game (Sam Houston); Reed Bailey, 6-foot-11 senior forward, 18.8 points, 6.1 rebounds per game (Davidson); Tayton Conerway, 6-foot-3 senior guard, 14.2 points, 4.8 assists per game (Troy); Tucker DeVries, 6-foot-7 senior forward, 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds per game (West Virginia, 8 games)
New head coach Darian DeVries has one of the top incoming transfer classes, including a pair of conference Player of the Year awardees in Conerway (Sun Belt) and the coach’s son, Tucker DeVries (Missouri Valley). There’s a ton of scoring production on the roster, and veteran pickups such as Sam Alexis (Florida) and Connor Enright (DePaul) give the Hoosiers a good amount of depth. The question is whether the team defense will be good enough to make them a legit contender.
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5. Wisconsin Badgers
2024-25: 27-10 (13-7)
Key players: John Blackwell, 6-foot-4 junior guard, 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds per game; Nolan Winter, 6-foot-11 junior forward, 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds per game; Nick Boyd, 6-foot-3 senior guard, 13.4 points, 3.9 assists per game (San Diego State); Andrew Rohde, 6-foot-6 senior guard, 9.3 points, 4.3 assists per game (Virginia)
Despite the loss of star guard John Tonje, Wisconsin should be set with Blackwell, who is more than capable of taking over as the lead guard. The addition of ball-handlers Rohde and Boyd gives the new backcourt depth, while Winter is set to be the focal point of the frontcourt. An X-factor to watch is Austin Rapp, a 6-foot-11 transfer forward from Portland who averaged 13.8 points per game as the WCC Freshman of the Year; Rapp should provide a stretch option in the frontcourt next to Winter.
6. Illinois Fighting Illini
2024-25: 22-13 (12-8)
Key players: Tomislav Ivisic, 7-foot-1 junior center, 13 points, 7.7 rebounds per game; Kylan Boswell, 6-foot-2 senior guard, 12.3 points, 3.4 assists per game; Andrej Stojakovic, 6-foot-7 junior forward, 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds per game (Cal); Zvonimir Ivisic, 7-foot-2 junior center, 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds per game (Arkansas)
Two key starters are back for Illinois, with Boswell returning as one of the better guards in the Big Ten. The Ivisic brothers will form one of the largest frontcourt duos whenever they’re on the floor together, while Stojakovic is one of the top scoring transfers from the portal. The team’s ceiling could be even higher, depending on the impact of the intriguing incoming freshmen class.
7. Michigan State Spartans
2024-25: 30-7 (17-3)
Key players: Coen Carr, 6-foot-6 junior forward, 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds per game; Jaxon Kohler, 6-foot-9 senior forward, 7.8 points, 7.5 rebounds per game; Jeremy Fears, 6-foot-2 junior guard, 7.2 points, 5.4 assists per game; Trey Fort, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 14.6 points per game (Samford)
While the top three scorers from 2024-25 are gone, Michigan State showed that elite depth is good enough to win in the Big Ten. And the Spartans return several rotation pieces, with the expectation that Carr and Fears can be breakout players. Overall scoring could be an issue, with incoming Florida Atlantic transfer and 6-foot-7 senior forward Kaleb Glenn already out for the 2025-26 season due to a patellar tendon tear.
8. Oregon Ducks
2024-25: 25-10 (12-8)
Key players: Nathan Bittle, 7-foot senior forward, 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds per game; Jackson Shelstad, 6-foot junior guard, 13.7 points, 2.7 assists per game; TK Simpkins, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 16.4 points, 2.6 assists per game (Elon); Sean Stewart, 6-foot-9 junior forward, 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds per game (Ohio State)
The return of All-Big Ten duo Bittle and Shelstad gives the Ducks a high floor upon which to build. The big question is the supporting cast, which includes a crop of newcomers led by Simpkins, who has the best chance of being a quality third option, while Stewart, a former 5-star prospect, is a breakout candidate to watch.
9. Ohio State Buckeyes
2024-25: 17-15 (9-11)
Key players: Bruce Thornton, 6-foot-2 senior guard, 17.7 points, 4.6 assists per game; Devin Royal, 6-foot-6 junior forward, 13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds per game; John Mobley, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard, 13 points per game; Brandon Noel, 6-foot-8 senior forward, 19 points, 7.7 rebounds per game (Wright State)
Talent is no question for the Buckeyes, who bring back a trio of 13-plus points-per-game scorers, while adding Noel, a star forward from the Horizon League. But it also wasn’t an issue a year ago, when this team still finished under .500 in league play. It’s a big year for young head coach Jake Diebler, who will have to outcoach some quality sideline leaders in order for OSU to move up.
10. Iowa Hawkeyes
2024-25: 17-16 (7-13)
Key players: Bennett Stirtz, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 19.2 points, 5.7 assists per game (Drake); Alvaro Folgueiras, 6-foot-9 junior forward, 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds per game (Robert Morris); Brendan Hausen, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 10.9 points per game (Kansas State); Cam Manyawu, 6-foot-9 junior forward, 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds per game (Drake)
Ben McCollum is one of the rising stars in the coaching world, coming off leading Drake to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his lone year there. He brings with him MVC Player of the Year Stirtz to lead the Hawkeyes, while Folguerias is a capable stretch forward who earned POY honors in the Horizon League. Although there may not be enough depth for Iowa to begin the season as a contender, McCollum can lean on a potent offense to bring the Hawkeyes along.
11. Washington Huskies
2024-25: 13-18 (4-16)
Key players: Zoom Diallo, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, 11.1 points, 2.7 assists per game; Desmond Claude, 6-foot-5 senior guard, 15.8 points, 4.2 assists per game (USC); Wesley Yates, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, 14.1 points per game (USC); Quimari Peterson, 6-foot-1 senior guard, 19.5 points, 3.7 assists per game (East Tennessee State); Jacob Ognacevic, 6-foot-8 senior forward, 20 points, 8.0 rebounds per game (Lipscomb)
There’s a chance the Huskies are being undervalued despite bringing in two different conference Player of the Year winners in Ognacevic and Peterson (Atlantic Sun and SoCon, respectively), along with USC’s 2024-25 starting backcourt in Claude and Yates. There’s a ton of talent on this roster, but the same could’ve been said of last year’s team, which included another former conference POY in Great Osobor. Head coach Danny Sprinkle has no excuses if Washington is not more competitive.
12. USC Trojans
2024-25: 17-18 (7-13)
Key players: Rodney Rice, 6-foot-4 junior guard, 13.8 points, 2.1 assists per game (Maryland); Chad Baker-Mazara, 6-foot-7 senior forward, 12.3 points per game (Auburn); Jordan Marsh, 5-foot-10 junior guard, 18.8 points, 3.7 assists per game (UNC Asheville)
Coach Eric Musselman’s transfer class from a year ago didn’t work out, and this group also has concerns at point guard, with Rice and Marsh likely serving as the lead guards this time around. Final Four veteran Baker-Mazara is the most notable newcomer, but can he be the best player on a contending Big Ten team? The ultimate X-factor for USC will be whether any of the 10 transfers break out as all-league candidates, or else they’ll struggle to get out of the bottom half.
13. Maryland Terrapins
2024-25: 27-9 (14-6)
Key players: Myles Rice, 6-foot-2 junior guard, 10.1 points, 2.8 assists per game (Indiana); Pharrel Payne, 6-foot-9 senior forward, 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds per game (Texas A&M); Elijah Saunders, 6-foot-8 senior forward, 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds per game (Virginia); Darius Adams, 6-foot-5 freshman guard, No. 27 overall prospect
New coach Buzz Williams proved that his physical style of play could succeed in the SEC, and it should work just as well in the Big Ten. The glaring concern, however, is the lack of a go-to scorer and a clear all-league guy on the roster, with many of the newcomers bringing track records as role players. That could change if former UConn commit and top-tier incoming freshman guard Adams can make a big impact out of the gate.
14. Nebraska Cornhuskers
2024-25: 21-14 (7-13)
Key players: Connor Essegian, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 10.7 points per game; Berke Buyukuncel, 6-foot-9 junior forward, 6.0 points, 5.5 rebounds per game; Reink Mast, 6-foot-9 senior forward, 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds (2023-24); Ugnius Jarusevicius, 6-foot-10 senior forward, 16.2 points, 7.3 rebounds per game (Central Michigan)
The loss of star wing Brice Williams is a big blow for the Cornhuskers, leaving Essegian to be the potential go-to option in the backcourt. Nebraska should sport an improved frontcourt with Mast returning from a knee injury that ended his 2024-25 campaign. Point guard play will be the key to this team being competitive, but offense shouldn’t be the main issue.
15. Northwestern Wildcats
2024-25: 17-16 (7-13)
Key players: Nick Martinelli, 6-foot-7 senior forward, 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds per game; KJ Windham, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, 5.6 points, 2.0 assists per game; Max Green, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, 14.9 points, 3.5 assists per game (Holy Green); Jayden Reid, 5-foot-10 junior guard, 12.6 points, 3.6 assists per game (South Florida)
The return of Martinelli gives Northwestern a star to work with, but there are many questions throughout the roster, most notably the frontcourt depth. The team will need transfers Green and Reid to have an impact, along with a group of sophomore breakout candidates, led by Windham. Ultimately, the Wildcats will have to show they can replace the massive lost production of Brooks Barnhizer, who produced a 17-9-4 statline last year as the de facto point guard.
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16. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2024-25: 15-17 (7-13)
Key players: Chansey Willis, 6-foot-2 senior guard, 16.8 points, 5.8 assists per game (Western Michigan); Langston Reynolds, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 16 points, 3.4 assists per game (Northern Colorado); Bobby Durkin, 6-foot-7 junior forward, 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds per game (Davidson); Jaylen Croker-Johnson, 6-foot-8 junior forward, 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds per game (Colorado State)
It’s a new era at Minnesota, with head coach Niko Medved taking over after a fantastic run at Colorado State. The Gophers roster is filled with transfers, so the ceiling — and floor — remains unknown for now. All of the newcomers are stepping up from the mid-major ranks, so we’ll have to wait and see if Medved can lead this group to something more competitive than another bottom-tier finish.
17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2024-25: 15-17 (8-12)
Key players: Dylan Grant, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, 5.9 points, 3.4 rebounds per game; Jamichael Davis, 6-foot-1 junior guard, 4.6 points per game; Tariq Francis, 6-foot junior guard, 19.2 points, 3.6 assists per game (NJIT); Darren Buchanan Jr., 6-foot-7 junior forward, 10.6 points, 5.8 rebounds per game (George Washington)
After last year’s failed experiment of relying on 5-star freshmen to lead the way, Rutgers will look to some of its under-the-radar returning pieces to have a bigger impact. Francis is the most proven newcomer as the likely lead guard, while questions remain in the frontcourt. Coach Steve Pikiell has consistently managed to field competitive rosters in the past, but with more talent in the Big Ten, it may be too steep of a challenge this time around.
18. Penn State Nittany Lions
2024-25: 16-15 (6-14)
Key players: Freddie Dilione, 6-foot-5 junior guard, 9.4 points, 1.7 assists per game; Josh Reed, 6-foot-7 senior guard, 4.8 points, 2.5 rebounds per game (Cincinnati); Sasa Ciani, 6-foot-9 junior forward, 9.9 points, 7.6 rebounds per game (Illinois-Chicago); Kayden Mingo, 6-foot-2 freshman guard, No. 34 overall prospect
The late departure of starting big man Yanic Konan Neiderhauser was a big blow to the Nittany Lions, who have little proven depth on the roster. They’ll need the likes of Dilione and Reed to be breakout players just to be competitive. Penn State is welcoming a seven-man freshman class led by the talented Mingo, and while they should receive playing time, relying on youngsters will likely earn the Lions a ticket to the bottom of the standings.
