The Art of Pass and Rush: Who’s Leading This Season?
The Big Ten is stacked heading into 2025, with National Championship hopes riding high after Michigan and Ohio State claimed back-to-back championships. Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon are near locks for the playoff, while Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and USC are lurking with a serious upside. As always, defense defines the conference, and this year's pass rushers are set to wreak havoc. Pressure wins games, and these edge threats could decide the season's biggest moments.
T.J. Guy, Derrick Moore, and Kenneth Grant - Michigan Wolverines
Michigan kept one of the best defenses last season, and the Wolverines are expected to contain an elite unit once again this season. T.J. Guy is set to play a pivotal role in Michigan's defense this season, building on his impressive debut year. The talented defensive lineman racked up 32 tackles with five and a half sacks. Last season, his coaches and teammates praised his development. Guy is primed for a breakout campaign. Despite the loss of elite linemen Mason Graham and Josaiah Stewart to the NFL, Michigan is thriving.
Derrick Moore and Kenneth Grant are also the center of the buzz. While their stats may not rival flashier names, Moore and Grant shared the spotlight last season with some of the nation's top defensive talent and still made their presence felt. In the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama, they proved they're ready to take over, even with NFL-bound teammates sidelined. With the stage now theirs, Michigan's defense remains a force to be reckoned with, and Guy is leading the charge.
Gabe Jacas - Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois football is emerging as a serious contender in the Big Ten heading into the 2025 season, ranked No. 12 in the coaches poll after a ten-win campaign in 2024. Under head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini promotes strength across every position and is no longer flying under the radar. Anchoring the defense is Gabe Jacas, a relentless edge rusher who posted 74 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles last season. His disruptive playmaking sets the tone for a unit that could be one of the conference's best, making Illinois a team to watch this fall.
Dani Dennis Sutton - Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State enters the 2025 season with championship aspirations and the number three spot in the preseason coaches’ poll. Thanks in large part to the return of elite talent like Dani Dennis Sutton, the explosive edge rusher turned heads in 2024 with 42 tackles, eight and a half sacks, three passes defended, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Showcasing his versatility and game-changing impact with Dennis Sutton anchoring a stacked defense, the Nittany Lions are built to dominate and poised to make a serious run at the national title.
Matayo Uiagalelei - Oregon Ducks
Matayo Uiagalelei isn't just Oregon's defensive anchor; he is the Big Ten's most fearsome pass-rushing force heading into the 2025 season. After a dominant campaign that saw him rack up 10.5 sacks, 38 tackles, two forced fumbles, a pick, and a pass breakup. Uiagalelei enters the fall as a headline name in college football's defensive elite. The Ducks, who spent most of last season perched atop the national rankings, are once again chasing after a title. After their defense was dismantled by Ohio State in a Rose Bowl heartbreaker, the message is clear: dominance up front is non-negotiable. Uiagalelei's relentless motor and stat-stuffing prowess make him the centerpiece of Oregon's redemption arc. With top-tier edge talent across the conference, Big Ten pass rushers are set to be among the most dominant defensive forces in college football this fall.
