The Big Ten has 3 teams in the top-10 heading into the 2025 season, according to ESPN’s SP+ metric.

The list included Ohio State at No. 2 and Michigan at No. 3, with Penn State clocking in at No. 6. SEC powerhouses Georgia, Alabama and LSU round at the top-5 at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

ESPN’s SP+ metric is a predictive measure that factors in things like returning production, recent recruiting and recent history.

Ohio State’s projected overall rating is 29, which sits just behind Georgia’s rating of 29.2. The Buckeyes boast the No. 1 offensive rating at 44.4, but their defensive rating sits at No. 12 at 15.4.

Michigan has an overall rating of 28.6 and is in the top-10 for both offensive and defensive ratings at 40.1 (7) and 11.5 (4), respectively.

Sitting just behind LSU, Penn State has an overall rating of 23.2 with an offensive rating of 36 (22) and a defensive rating of 12.8 (5).

The SP+ rankings differ from the AP Top 25 Poll, which places Michigan at No. 2, Ohio State at No. 3 and Penn State at No. 7.

The Big Ten season will begin Aug. 31 with a matchup between Minnesota and Nebraska, while the rest of the conference begins its slate Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.