Big Ten Projections: Transfers, Tiers, and March Madness Forecasts
After last year's Big Ten champions, the Michigan Wolverines marched to the Sweet Sixteen. Now, it’s time to see where the crown will go next. The race for the Big Ten is as wide as it’s been in a few years. With the 2025–26 college basketball season on the horizon, the Big Ten is officially a coast-to-coast league. The additions of UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington now bring a broader footprint and a deeper talent pool, making this one of the most competitive and portal-influenced seasons in recent history.
Projected Standings
There’s no shortage of talent within the Big Ten, and it starts with the Purdue Boilermakers. Matt Painter and staff return a core that includes Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Oscar Cluff, a transfer from South Dakota State who has made Purdue the pre-season betting favorite to hoist the trophy in March. Despite losing wing Myles Colvin to Wake Forest, the Boilermakers remain one of the deepest and experienced teams. In a tough decision, the Boilermakers and the Michigan Wolverines battled for the top spot. Dusty May lost quite a bit of the talent that made up last year’s championship team. Losing Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin to the NBA and Tre Donaldson to Miami had fans shaking their heads. However, May brought in one of the best portal classes in the country. The Wolverines added Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Elliot Cadeau all through the portal, and look to be right back in contention for the Big Ten title. Projected third is Illinois and their European roster. Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivišić headline the Illini transfer class and the ultra-talented roster for Brad Underwood. UCLA comes in next at fourth, headlined by star-studded transfers Donovan Dent and Xavier Booker. The roster still has skill, but questions linger about size and post play. Mick Cronin’s defensive toughness should keep them competitive in their first Big Ten season. Ben McCollum and his newly put-together Iowa Hawkeyes come in at fifth. With a transfer class headlined by Drake transfer Bennett Stirtz, the Hawkeyes look to make some noise after a disappointing season. The Ohio State Buckeyes are next on the list. All-Big Ten First-Team member Bruce Thornton returns along with sharpshooters John Mobley Jr. and Indiana transfer Gabe Cupps. Already mentioning the Hoosiers, they’re next up. After Darian DeVries took over for Mike Woodson, it wasn’t long until the Hoosiers had a revamped roster. DeVries’ son Tucker DeVries headlines the Hoosiers portal class along with star-studded transfer Tayton Conerway and Lamar Wilkerson. Michigan State, USC, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Maryland, Northwestern, Nebraska, Minnesota, Rutgers, and Penn State all enter the 2025–26 season with significant question marks—whether due to roster turnover, lackluster transfer hauls, or uncertain fit in an evolving Big Ten landscape—making them the conference's most unpredictable and vulnerable tier. Returning scoring leader Nick Martinelli, high-profile transfer Desmond Claude, and Rodney Rice headline some of the top names in the conference.
Who’s Going the Furthest in March?
As the 2025–26 season approaches, Purdue and Michigan look like the safest bets to make deep runs in March. Purdue’s returning core and proven coaching give them a high floor, while Michigan’s transfer-fueled roster boasts the kind of star power and versatility that wins in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois also has the upside to make a Sweet 16 or Elite Eight push if its new pieces gel quickly. While programs like Indiana, UCLA, and Ohio State have potential, their current rosters lack the same blend of continuity and firepower. As it stands, the road to the Final Four in the Big Ten likely runs through West Lafayette or Ann Arbor. However, USC could be a team that could shock a lot of college basketball fans this upcoming season as well.
