Big Ten Network personality Jake Butt picks teams for 2025 Big Ten title game
That's not as easy as it used to be with the addition of former Pac-12 schools from the West Coast -- Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC-- and with Michigan and Penn State rising up to become national powers as well. The Big Ten has closed the gap on the SEC and created one of its own as the best conference in the country, and it should be another fantastic season in 2025.
So, who has the advantage in making the Big Ten Championship game? Ohio State and Penn State are expected to be the best teams this year according to most of the media, but that's not what Jake Butt from the Big Ten Network thinks. In a segment on social media, Butt provided his picks for teams that will play in Indianapolis, and he omitted Ohio State, picking Penn State to tussle with Oregon instead.
It's all opinion, of course, and it's not like the Ducks aren't a program to reckon with almost annually now, so there's that. But Butt not identifying his alma mater, Michigan or the Buckeyes, is an interesting take, especially considering Oregon lost as much talent as OSU.
But never fear Ohio State fans, Butt did mention Ohio State as one of the teams that will contend for a College Football Playoff spot -- so there's at least that.
Ohio State defending its title and having a shot at a conference crown will largely depend on the production it gets at the quarterback spot and how well the defense plugs some of those gaps lost to the NFL. It won't take long to see how those questions are answered because the Buckeyes open up against Texas in Week 1.
Let the countdown continue.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
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