The Ohio State football team was the first champion of the 12-team College Football Playoff. It's the second time that they have won the first iteration of a new CFP format, also winning it all in 2014 during the first CFP. Ohio State seems to like it when college football changes its championship formats.
This season, they will likely be back in the CFP for the second straight year. They were able to make it last season despite not winning the Big Ten. In fact, the Big Ten Conference had four teams in the College Football Playoff last year. Oregon, Penn State, and Indiana all made it, as well.
There are two other Big Ten teams that have a chance to make the CFP for the first time now that the field is expanding. These two teams have a shot to join the Ohio State Buckeyes, who will almost certainly be in the field.
1. Illinois
A lot of people are high on what Illinois is going to do this season. They have one of the highest percentages of returning starters in the country, including starting quarterback Luke Altmyer. The Fighting Illini won ten games a year ago, so they could be even better in 2025.
Their schedule helps their case, too. They avoid Oregon, Penn State, and Michigan. While they do play the Buckeyes, they get them at home. Indiana is the only team that was ranked last year that they will play on the road.
2. Iowa
Under Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes seem to have a really good team every five years or so. This could be the year in which they have a team that can compete for a CFP spot. They no longer have an offense that struggles to score more than 17 points in a game.
Unlike Illinois, Iowa's schedule is pretty tough. They have to play Iowa State, Penn State, and Oregon. If their defense is as good as it should be this year, winning at least one of those games might be enough to get them into the Playoff. A ten-win Big Ten team should be enough to get into the 12-team field.