Campuses are emptying for the Thanksgiving holiday, but Big Ten gyms across the country have been packed with hoop fans despite several conference football teams still being in the mix. The league is making noise early. With 18 programs stretching from Lincoln to Los Angeles and several teams already appearing in the national polls, the Big Ten race is shaping up to be competitive chaos in the best possible way.
Here is a snapshot of who looks most dangerous right now when you blend record, quality of wins, and how the betting markets are pricing each team. Undefeated starts are nice, but staying in the fight long enough to matter in March is what every program cares about. Here is how we are stacking the Top 8 in the Big Ten as of November 23, 2025.
1. Purdue Boilermakers (6-0)
Purdue has held the top spot in the AP Poll since Week 1 and has validated the early hype despite dropping an exhibition to Kentucky. Wins over No. 8 Alabama (87-80) and No. 15 Texas Tech (86-56) show how complete this group already looks. Senior guard Braden Smith is averaging 15.8 points and has been every bit the steady leader this team needs.
2. Michigan Wolverines (4-0)
Michigan sits at No. 7 in the AP Poll and lands at No. 2 in our Big Ten rankings. Strong exhibition showings against Cincinnati and St. John’s carried over into a sharp start to the season. The Wolverines head to the Players Era Championship next week with matchups against No. 22 Auburn and San Diego State. Freshman guard Trey McKenney is averaging 13.3 points while shooting 45 percent from three, and sophomore Morenz Johnson Jr. is shooting 63 percent overall and scoring 14.7 per game.
3. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1)
Illinois, ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll, has taken on early challenges. They beat Texas Tech 81-77, pushed Alabama to the wire in a 90-86 loss, and then unleashed a 98-58 clinic against Long Island. A major test arrives November 28 at Madison Square Garden against No. 3 UConn.
4. Indiana Hoosiers (5-0)
Indiana is unbeaten but relatively untested, with the lone close call coming in a 76-74 exhibition win over a rebuilding Baylor squad. Their December 13 showdown at Kentucky will reveal much more. Tucker DeVries is averaging 19.2 points on 47 percent three-point shooting, and senior guard Lamar Wilkerson adds 17 per game.
5. UCLA Bruins (5-1)
UCLA, ranked No. 19, made No. 4 Arizona sweat in a 69-65 loss, their only notable result so far. Gonzaga awaits in early December before conference play intensifies. The Bruins have a balanced attack with six players averaging in the low double figures.
6. Wisconsin Badgers (4-1)
Wisconsin, ranked No. 23, is getting their footing after a lopsided loss to a talented BYU team on Friday. A December 10 matchup with a hot Nebraska team looms. San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd leads the Badgers with 19.2 points. Junior forward Nolan Winter provides size and efficiency at seven feet tall while shooting 57 percent and averaging 14.2 points.
7. Michigan State Spartans (5-0)
Michigan State, ranked No. 17, has looked strong after an exhibition loss to UConn. A 69-66 defensive win over Arkansas and an impressive 83-66 victory over Kentucky at the Champions Classic highlight their early résumé. Four Spartans are averaging double figures, with senior forward Jaxon Kohler leading the group at 14 points.
8. Maryland Terrapins (4-1)
Maryland’s only loss came early against Georgetown. Since then they have stacked wins and head to the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas to face UNLV and Gonzaga. The Terps average 82 points per game with guard David Coit scoring 18.4. The future is bright as well, with Buzz Williams bringing in the No. 3 recruiting class for 2026-27.
How the betting markets see the Big Ten
A look at the championship futures boards shows a clear pattern. Books love the Big Ten’s top tier. DraftKings has Purdue at +900 to win the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Michigan at +1900, and Michigan State at +3500. FanDuel’s early-season numbers are similar with Purdue at +950, Michigan at +2200, and Michigan State at +3500. UCLA, Indiana, and Wisconsin are sitting in the +5000 to +6000 range.
The bottom line: if you believe the Big Ten finally ends its championship drought, this league offers multiple live futures at very different prices. Purdue is the safest play, but the two Michigan teams and Illinois have realistic paths to making noise in March.
Why this matters in November
Today’s Big Ten hierarchy will likely shift as conference play arrives. Injuries, travel, and front-loaded or back-loaded schedules will shuffle these rankings throughout the winter. But this is when sharp bettors and serious fans begin shaping watch lists and early bracket projections. They assess which Big Ten matchups will carry the most weight for seeding, who is tracking toward a protected NCAA Tournament seed, and which teams are overshooting or undershooting expectations.
Come January there are very few easy nights anywhere in this league. Conference play has not even started, and the Big Ten already looks like it is headed for a wild winter.
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