Ohio State and Penn State showed why they are the early favorites to win the Big Ten this year by having the most players land on the conference's Preseason Honors list.
Both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions ended the 2024 campaign in the final six of the top 25 and in the college football playoffs. However, in the biggest games of the season, Ohio State proved its superiority by navigating its way through the tournament and to another National Title in January.
Entering the 2025 season, both programs are ranked in the top five and have high expectations. The reason is, first, the talented coaches leading them — Ryan Day and James Franklin — and some NFL prospects returning this year. Several of those players were selected for Big Ten Preseason Honors on Tuesday.
"Ohio State has three of the top players to watch in the Big Ten Conference for 2025, as senior LB Sonny Styles , junior SAF Caleb Downs , and sophomore WR Jeremiah Smith were each chosen to the Big Ten's Preseason Honors team," Ohio State said in a statement.
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"A total of 15 players from seven different teams were selected by a vote of Big Ten media voters and an additional select group of voters, including representatives from the Big Ten Network."
Smith led the Buckeyes with 1,315 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 76 catches last season. Many wonder if he can match those numbers after QB Will Howard was selected in the NFL Draft in April. Downs and Styles were two of the team's top players on defense last season. Only Cody Simon had more tackles in 2024.
Penn State also had three of its top stars land on the preseason honors list. They are QB Drew Allar , DE Dani Dennis-Sutton , and RB Nicholas Singleton .
The same could be said for the three Penn State inclusions on the preseason honors list. Allar is an early favorite to be a top 10 pick in next year's NFL Draft. Singleton will once again be a part of a two-headed monster in the backfield with Kaytron Allen this season. While senior Dennis-Sutton will look to boost his NFL stock after an 8.5 sack season in 2024.
QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
OLB Gabe Jacas , Illinois
DL Mikail Kamara , Indiana
DB D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
OT Gennings Dunker, Iowa
C Logan Jones, Iowa
DB Koi Perich, Minnesota
OLB Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
DB Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
SAF Caleb Downs, Ohio State
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
QB Drew Allar, Penn State
DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
