The Big Ten is the home of the defending National Champions and the Ohio State Buckeyes dominate College Sports Network’s top 100 returning players in the country this season. As such, they also dominate the top players returning to the Big Ten, but are they the runaway picks for favorites to repeat in 2025?
27) Rhys Dakin, P, Iowa
National Ranking: 98
Tory Taylor left significantly sized shoes to fill in the Iowa Hawkeyes special teams room, but Rhys Dakin filled them splendidly in 2024, earning CSN Freshman All-American honors. Dakin housed over half of his 64 attempts inside the 20 during his debut campaign while averaging 44.1 yards per attempt.
For as long as Iowa has a bottom-half of the FBS offense under Kirk Ferentz, Dakin will be as important to the program as a quarterback or wide receiver on any other college football team.
26) Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
National Ranking: 97
Lost in a poor Purdue Boilermakers season was the emergence of tight end Max Klare as one of the top pass catchers in college football. He heads to the Ohio State Buckeyes this fall on the back of a 685-yard, four-touchdown campaign that showcased his incredible pass-catching and route-running capabilities.
Klare ranks second among returning tight ends with 2.40 yards per route run, which is hardly surprising when you flip on the tape and watch him duking defensive backs out of their skin with his sudden movement.
25) Dominic Zvada, K, Michigan
National Ranking: 96
Special teams players are special players, too, and Michigan Wolverines kicker Dominic Zvada is the best there is returning to college football in 2025. The former Arkansas State Red Wolves standout led the Big Ten in field goal percentage last fall (95.5%) and contributed more points than any other Michigan player.
Furthermore, he was the only player with seven or more attempts from 50+ yards to complete 100% of his kicks from that distance. Big-time leg. Big-time accuracy. Big-time player.
24) Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
National Ranking: 85
If it wasn’t for the performances of All-World pass rusher Abdul Carter, we’d be talking more about Dani Dennis-Sutton and his impact on the Penn State Nittany Lions defense. He tallied 13 tackles for loss with 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception last fall before announcing his return for the 2025 season.
His combination of first-step quickness, power, and pure fury make him a dangerous pass rusher off the edge, but he’s also adept at dropping into coverage (just ask Riley Leonard!).
23) Eddrick Houston, DT, Ohio State
National Ranking: 82
The Ohio State Buckeyes are losing a ton of talent (and production) from their defensive front, but that should allow some of their top returning talent to excel in 2025. Eddrick Houston saw some rotational duty last fall, tallying seven total tackles with two pass breakups while playing from several alignments.
A 6’3”, 270-pound bear of a man, Houston is a powerful force who can push the pocket with strength, has the length to create chaos for offensive linemen, and is agile and nimble on his feet.
22) DT Sheffield, WR, Rutgers
National Ranking: 79
After one season dominating the Group of Five level with the North Texas Mean Green, DT Sheffield will take his talents to the Big Ten with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Those talents are considerable.
Only three pass catchers returning to college football in 2025 had more than Sheffield’s 11 receiving touchdowns, while he earned a CSN All-American honorable mention for his 1,192 all-purpose yards, using his lightning speed and agility to make defenders miss wherever he got the ball last fall.
21) Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
National Ranking: 73
Evan Stewart was a significant addition for the Oregon Ducks out of Texas A&M a year ago. Still, it is in 2025, with Tez Johnson headed to the NFL, where his impact is likely to be made and his place among the top wide receivers in college football secured. He has the throttle control and long speed to put defensive backs in a bind.
While he’s not the biggest pass catcher, he won’t dodge contested catch situations or crumple easily under initial contact, showcasing the ability to extend plays.
20) Jermaine Matthews Jr., CB, Ohio State
National Ranking: 67
After earning CSN Freshman All-American honors in 2023, Jermaine Matthews Jr. had a somewhat situational role in the Ohio State Buckeyes run to the national championship. A big-time player when called upon, he made his presence known in the opposition backfield in 2024 and is set to be a starting cornerback for the defending champions this fall.
It’s a testament to his talent that many in and around the program believe he was the best cornerback on the roster this year despite his usage.
19) Darius Taylor, RB, Minnesota
National Ranking: 66
When healthy, Darius Taylor is one of the top running backs in college football. He missed half of what should have been a 1,000+ yard freshman campaign and followed up last year with five 100+ yard outings and was just 14 yards shy of the elusive 1,000 yards.
He’s a big-play threat who eats up ground without being the fastest back in the country while being able to lower the shoulder and break tackles to grind out extra yardage after contact. Last year, he demonstrated his receiving ability, too.
18) Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
National Ranking: 59
Consistently one of the most underrated running backs in the country, Jonah Coleman had a stellar season amongst a difficult first season in the Big Ten for the Washington Huskies.
The former Arizona running back tallied a career-high 1,053 rushing yards and surpassed his career touchdown total in just one season with 10 rushing scores. He’s never averaged less than five yards per carry and is a monster who breaks tackles and adds yardage after contact for fun.
17) Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
National Ranking: 52
One of the top linebackers in the country, Aiden Fisher earned a CSN All-American honorable mention after making the transition from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten alongside former James Madison Dukes head coach Curt Cignetti.
Fisher was unfazed by the jump from the Group of Five level to the Power Four, putting together another six tackles for loss and a 1.5-sacks campaign while notching over 100 tackles for the second successive season. You don’t want to meet him in the alley this fall.
16) Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
National Ranking: 51
The honors started piling up for Gabe Jacas in 2022 as the first-ever true freshman from the Illinois Fighting Illini to receive FWAA Freshman All-American recognition, and he’s only been on an upward trajectory ever since.
He returns in 2025 as the second-most productive pass rusher in the Big Ten behind Matayo Uiagalelei after logging eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss. No other player in the Big Ten forced more fumbles last fall than the Illinois outside linebacker.
15) Devonte Ross, WR, Penn State
National Ranking: 49
Former Troy Trojan Devonte Ross was one of the most productive wide receivers at the Group of Five level last season, logging 1,043 yards (20th in the FBS) while snagging 11 touchdowns.
Detractors will point to 229 yards and three touchdowns against FCS opposition as a stat-filler, but he also tore up the Iowa Hawkeyes to the tune of 142 yards and two scores. His speed will significantly affect the Penn State Nittany Lions offense.
14) Eric O’Neill, EDGE, Rutgers
National Ranking: 41
A CSN First Team All-American after registering 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for the James Madison Dukes in 2024, Eric O’Neill is set to prove himself at the Big Ten level as part of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ transfer portal class.
The 6’3”, 250-pound pass rusher is a furious ball of energy who has impressive power for his size to go with decent speed off the edge. He’s a relentless competitor who should thrive on the big stage.
13) Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
National Ranking: 38
Matayo Uiagalelei exploded onto the scene in his second college football campaign as a cornerstone of an Oregon Ducks defensive front that oftentimes looked dominant. He led the team with 13 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the country.
A technically refined pass rusher with eye-popping athletic traits, he should be a frontrunner for multiple defensive awards.
12) Tanner Koziol, TE, Wisconsin
National Ranking: 36
It’s crazy to think that the Mid-American Conference had two of the best tight ends in the country last fall and one of them returns to college football for another go around. Tanner Koziol leads all returning tight ends with 839 receiving yards in 2024.
He added eight touchdowns last fall as a dangerous scoring threat, and that single-year production is more than the total of all Wisconsin tight ends from 2022-2024.
11) Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
National Ranking: 31
It says Nicholas Singleton in the header here, but really it should be a hybrid between Singleton and teammate Kaytron Allen. The two Penn State Nittany Lions running backs combined for over 2,200 yards and 20 touchdowns last fall as a legitimate thunder and lightning backfield.
While Allen is favored by some Penn State fans, Singleton is clearly the more talented of the two, with his receiving prowess set to be more important than ever to quarterback Drew Allar’s success this fall.
10) Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
National Ranking: 30
Elijah Sarratt returns to the Indiana Hoosiers for the 2025 season, marking the first time in his college football career that he’s played for the same program in successive seasons. He’s adapted effortlessly at every turn on that journey, moving up from non-FBS to Group of Five to the Power Four and impressing accordingly.
He’s averaged over 1,000 yards and eight scores over the last two seasons, and a career year as the go-to guy for new quarterback Fernando Mendoza shouldn’t be a surprise.
9) Xavier Scott, CB, Illinois
National Ranking: 29
The Illinois Fighting Illini received several pieces of good news this offseason, but none were much more significant than the return of cornerback Xavier Scott. A CSN Third Team All-American for his efforts in 2024, he often looked like the best defensive back on the field and takes his rightful place at the sharp end of our top 100 returning players.
A stick coverage man with an eye for the ball, he snagged four interceptions and a pick-six in 2024 and is set for even bigger things this fall.
8) Makhi Hughes, RB, Oregon
National Ranking: 27
The Oregon Ducks offense lost playmakers at every position, but their ground game shouldn’t skip a beat after luring former Tulane Green Wave running back Makhi Hughes to Eugene. Hughes earned a CSN All-American honorable mention after rushing for 1,401 yards (10th nationally) and 15 touchdowns.
One of the fastest running backs in college football (verified by Reel Analytics) he has the vision and drive to get the job done anywhere on the field.
7) Koi Perich, S, Minnesota
National Ranking: 20
Koi Perich was one of the best defensive playmakers in the Big Ten last fall, and he was just a true freshman. His five interceptions led the conference, and he picked off more passes than he allowed touchdowns.
He also forced a fumble and had three tackles for loss while making contributions on special teams. He’s set to play more offensive snaps in 2025, making him a potential Travis Hunter MK. II.
6) D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
National Ranking: 19
A CSN Freshman All-American in 2023 with the James Madison Dukes, D’Angelo Ponds transferred to the Indiana Hoosiers and somehow upped his game with the transition to the Big Ten.
With 22 pass breakups and five interceptions over two seasons, throwing toward Ponds will sink your offense while he’s capable of flooding the box and impacting the game behind the line of scrimmage.
5) Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
National Ranking: 18
The Oregon Ducks made one of the biggest splashes in the transfer portal this offseason, landing an impact-making playmaker that will shore up a defense that was savaged by the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.
Dillon Thieneman is an elite sideline-to-sideline safety who can come downhill and lay the boom with the best of them. His sophomore campaign lacked some of the sizzle of a freshman season laden with honors, but Thieneman is a sensational, special talent regardless.
4) Mikail Kamara, EDGE, Indiana
National Ranking: 12
Following his transfer from the James Madison Dukes to the Indiana Hoosiers, Mikail Kamara established himself as one of the top pass rushers in the country.
The first-year Hoosier earned CSN First Team All-American honors after tallying 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks with two forced fumbles, using his pass rush toolbox to lead Indiana to one of the greatest seasons in program history. He’s set to dominate again in 2025.
3) Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
National Ranking: 8
The 2025 college football quarterback class is a complex beast with plenty of room for movement as the year progresses and a multitude of opinions as to who will emerge as the best.
That complexity is created by the inconsistency of performances from some of those at the very top, including Penn State Nittany Lions passer Drew Allar, who has his fair share of detractors due to some head-scratching decision-making last fall.
KEEP READING: James Franklin sees a motivated Drew Allar this offseason
However, when he’s at his very best, there is no better-returning quarterback in college football than Allar. He can throw the ball into tight windows with impressive velocity, possesses exceptional accuracy, can manipulate and maneuver expertly in the pocket, and showcased the ability to put the ball on a dime deep downfield in several big moments last fall.
2) Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
National Ranking: 3
Caleb Downs established himself as one of the top defensive playmakers in the country during a breakout freshman season with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2023. One year later, he’s one of the best and most recognizable faces in the sport.
A transfer to the Ohio State Buckeyes was mutually beneficial, with Downs developing an already impressive skill set under Jim Knowles and using his talent to drive the best defense in the country to the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
For the second consecutive season, he tallied two interceptions while flashing his ability to impact the game in all phases with eight tackles for loss. A true force.
1) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
National Ranking: 1
Jeremiah Smith looked like a man amongst boys during the 2024 college football season, a remarkable feat as a true freshman establishing himself in an Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver room that is consistently the best in the country. Smith earned Freshman All-American and Third-Team All-American honors from CSN.
KEEP READING: Jeremiah Smith’s NIL Valuation
That Smith finished the season with the fourth-most receiving yards (1,315) and second-most receiving touchdowns (15) in the country is a testament to his talent as the very best player returning to college football in 2025. No player in the country had more than 50+ receiving yard plays last fall, despite attempts to try and shut him down by any means possible.
