The Big Ten conference is conventionally known for its trenches on both sides of football. While some conferences, such as the recently dissolved CAP-12, are or have been defined by high-flying offenses, Big Ten matches are often decided by the team that wins the battle in advance.
On the one hand, we recently classified each Big Ten offensive line entering the 2025 season. It is not surprising that the best projected teams of the conference all have a high level group of blockers.
Now, to counter this group, we focus on the four defensive fronts of each team. Ohio StateThe titles of the front last season. The best group of Jack Sawyer, Ty Hamilton, Tyleik Williams and JT Tuimoloau played an essential role in the team’s national race. It was not a surprise when the four was selected during the NFL – Williams draft in the first round, Tuimoloau in the second, Sawyer in the fourth and Hamilton in the fifth.
THE Buckeyes are responsible for recharging the room for 2025. Although the program’s talent base is as good as anyone in the country, a question surrounds how exactly this front group will meet. He is undoubtedly the biggest unknown of the team in the season.
Position preview: Defense – Infraction – Quarterbacks – Running Backs – Large receivers – Tight ends – Offensive line
With Buckeyes to take a minor step back, which teams plan to be the best of Big Ten along the defensive line? Here is our complete pre-season ranking.
18. Purdue boilermakers
Beginners: Of CJ Madden, Dt Jamarrion Harkless, Dt TJ Lindsey (Transfer), by Trey Smith
The defense of Purdue granted an attempt of 5.1 yards per rune and only totaled 22 bags in total in 2024. Madden, Smith and Harkless all played depth roles on this group, combining only 15 plated in total. Purdue fans hope that a new coach and a new culture lead to improving the game of the defensive line unit. A step forward compared to 2024 is expected, but will it be enough to exceed other units of the conference?
17. Maryland terraapins
Beginners: De Neeo Avery, Dt Camis Rice (Transfer), DT Dillan Fontus
Fontus and Avery combined for only 11 plated last season as depth players on the defensive line of Maryland. Tommy Akingbesote and Jordan Phillips, the two best starters of the team in 2024, are now playing for the Cowboys of Dallas and Miami Dolphins, respectively. Quashon Fuller has also exhausted his eligibility. This group helped Maryland grant 3.8 yards per race and 136.8 yards on the ground per game – respectable brands given the important team deficits. In this case, turnover in position is a bad thing for its prospects.
16. Illinois fight Illini
Beginners: Dere TJPMPSON JR. (Confers), DT Neal (SFER) Derafle) of Testax
The Wisconsin game transfers Thompson Jr. and Neal will define the performance of this group. Thompson Jr. had a strong 2023 season before missing most of 2024 with an injury, while Neal was the only bright point on a bad defensive line of Wisconsin in 2024. As a rule, strengthening a defensive line with transfers of a group that fought the previous year is not a success of success.
15. Trojans USC
Beginners: Of Anthony Lucas, DT Keeshawn Silver (Transfer), DT Devan Thompkins, of Kameryn Fountain
The USC defensive line should be good in the bags department. The fountain collected five plated for the loss and two bags in limited action last season. The major question occurs inside, where the main platform Gavin Meyer has exhausted his eligibility. This group granted more than 4.5 yards per race last season. The Thompkins and Kentucky Transfer Silver game will be the key to the USC modifying this number.
Get more news, USC analyzes and opinions) Trojan horses wire
Beginners: De Corey Walker (transfer), DT Parker Petersen (transfer), DT Ben Barten
Wisconsin has brought five major transfers to the defensive line this offseason, and even more in the outside secondary and Edge Rusher. A combination of Walker, Petersen and Lsu transfer Jay’Viar Sugs will have to take place so that the badgers take a step forward. This group was a major weakness in 2024. The 32 -point victory from Iowa, thanks to 329 yards on the ground and 6.1 yards per race, defines the performance of this group in the section of the year.
13. Michigan State Spartans
Beginners: By Jalen Thompson, DT Alex Vansumeren, Dt Grady Kelly (Transfer), David Santiago (Transfer)
The Michigan State refers Thompson and Vansumeren, each of whom played complementary roles in 2024. This group could be a good Sneaky if transfers Kelly (Florida State) and Santiago (Air Force).
Get more news, analyzes and opinions (Michigan State) on Spartans Wire
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Beginners: From Cameron Lenhardt, Dt Riley Van Poppel, The Elijah Jeudy
Nebraska faces a major turnover in position with 2024, Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher went to the NFL. The two were combined for 46 plated, 11 for the loss and four bags, leading the seven fronts of the Cornhuskers. Lenhardt and Jeudy each have a limited experience in the program. Van Poppel is a more important question after having only totaled three plated in five appearances in 2024.
Get more news, analyzes and opinions (Nebraska) on Cornhuskers Wire
11. Washington Huskies
Beginners: Support (transfer), DT Elinus Davis, DT Thompson (transfer), from Isaiah Ward
Uiagalelei transfers Arizona after a high season of 2024 (35 plated, eight for the loss, 2 1/2 bags). He and Thompson (Western Michigan) are the key to the success of the room in 2025. The group was part of a defense which granted 4.6 yards per race in 2024 – one of the largest weaknesses of the team.
Get more news, analyzes and opinions from Washington on Huskies Wire
10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Beginners: By Eric O’Neill (Transfer), DT Doug Blue-Eli (Transfer), DT Darold Dengohe (Transfer), from Bradley Weaver (Transfer)
Rutgers has rebuilt its entire defensive line in the transfer portal. Blue-Eli (USF) and Dengohe (James Madison) are the biggest keys to the success of the play. This classification is lit by the production of incoming bags of O’Neill (James Madison) and Weaver (Ohio) – the two handsets for 21.5 bags and 34 plated for the loss in 2024. They could form one of the duos of passes of the Big Ten.
9. UCLA Bruins
Beginners: De Grant Buckey, Dt Keanu Williams, DT support, Devin Aubu
UCLA refers Taupaki and Aupiu beginners. This unit was part of a defense which only granted 3.3 yards per race in 2024 against a sly calendar. If the second student of Redshirt Buckey and the old transfer from Oregon Williams Excel, this unit could quickly reach one of the best of the conference.
Get more news, analyzes and opinions (UCLA) on UCLA wire
8. WildCats du North-West
Beginners: Carrine Bastone, Dt Carmine Bastone, by Saka Saka.
Northwestern’s defensive line has three seniors in red shirt and a junior of red shirt. It is generally a recipe for success for a program which therefore depends on the development. Hubbard heads the group after a performance of 33 talls with six headsets in 2024. This unit will not make one of the newspapers, but it should be one of the most reliable of the Big Ten.
7. Indiana HOOSIERS
Beginners: By Stephen Daley (Transfer), DT Tyrique Tucker, DT Hosea Wheeler (Transfer), Edge Mikail Kamara
CUT CIGNETTI again hit the transfer lottery? The defensive front excelled in 2024, led by Kamara, CJ West and James Carpenter. West and Carpenter left for the NFL, leading to the intersane adding of Wheeler (Western Kentucky) and Daley (Kent State). Kamara guarantees to be one of the best passers -by in Big Ten. This unit will again be one of the best in Big Ten if it can replace the interior production of West.
6. Oregon Ducks
Beginners: From Matayo Uiagalelei, Dt a’mauri Washington, Dt Bear Alexander (Transfer)
Oregon has lost the best Derrick Harmon line players, Jamaree Caldwell and Jordan Burch at the NFL after 2024. Uiagalelei returns as one of the best undisputed defensive ends in the country. Washington and Alexander (USC) are the main questions in the room. It’s Oregon, so the team has no talent. It can be difficult to replace the star group which left for the NFL.
Get more news, analyzes and opinions (Oregon) on Duck thread
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
Beginners: From Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Dt Kayden McDonald, DT Eddrick Houston, from Beau Atkinson (Transfer)
The Ohio State defensive line should take a step back in 2025. He lost his entire starting group against the NFL after the 2024 season. While Jackson and McDonald come back after having been part of the rotation last year, it is difficult to expect the same level of play as Sawyer, Williams and Tuimoloau have delivered. A joker to watch is the transfer of North Carolina Atkinson, which raised 7 1/2 bags with the Tar Heels last season.
Get more news, analyzes and opinions (Ohio State) on Buckeyes Wire
4. Michigan Wolverines
Beginners: From Rayshaun Benny, Dt Tre Williams (Transfer), DT Damon Payne (transfer)
Michigan is responsible for replacing the fully American defensive platform Mason Graham and the first -round choice of the NFL Kenneth Grant draft. He brought Williams from Clemson and Payne from Alabama. While Benny returns after a season of 29 years and 1 1/2 in 2024, this room will be defined by the game of his transfers. I was expecting another high floor unit of a Michigan program which has been excellent at the post in the last decade.
Get more news (Michigan), analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
3. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Beginners: Of Anthony Smith, DT Deven Eastern, Dt Jalen Logan-Redding
This top trio represents the elite level of the big ten of the defensive lines entering in 2025. Gophers lost Danny Striggow and Jah Joyner of one of the best lines of the conference last season. Smith’s trio, Eastern and Logan-Redding were all main contributors last year, so it is reasonable to expect that the group does not miss a beat.
2. Penn state nittany lions
Beginners: Danny Dennis-Sutton, DT Zane Durant, Dt Alonzo Ford Jr., by Zuraia Fisher Fsher Fisher
Penn State lost the Rusher of the featured passes Abdul Carter after the 2024 season. He entered in 2025 with a very classified NFL perspective to cover the middle and an excellent defender in Dennis-Sutton. Neither Ford Jr. nor Fisher have much experience, but the best players in the group are sufficient for a solid ranking.
Get more news, analyzes and opinions (Penn State) on Nittany Lions Wire
Beginners: From Max Llewellyn, Dt Aaron Graves, Dt Jeremiah Pittman, by Ethan Hurkett
Iowa returns Llewellyn (22 plated, eight for the loss, 5 1/2 bags in 2024), Graves (33 plated, eight for loss, six bags) and Hurkett (56 plated, 12 for loss, 6 1/2 bags) of an elite defensive line. The group should only take another step forward in 2025. Although it does not boast of the talent of the NFL of Penn State or Georgia, it could challenge the best overall line of the country.
Get more news (iowa), analysis and opinionns Hawkeyes Wire
Contact / follow @Thebadgerswire on x (formerly twitter) and as our page on Facebook Follow the continuous coverage of news, notes and opinions of Wisconsin Badgers
