Ben Kenney
July 1, 2024 7:10 am CT
The summer months move forward with the 2024 college football season now on the immediate horizon.
The calendar flipping to July means a recruiting dead period while preparation increases for the upcoming campaign. That means an end to June’s official visits and recruiting blitz. It does not, however, mean an end to the news cycle surrounding the class of 2025, as the dead period does not prohibit some of the class’ top prospects from announcing their college decisions.
Come August, it will be all-systems-go for the 2024 season.
Related: Ranking the Big Ten’s most impactful transfer portal additions entering 2024 football season
That upcoming season sees a completely new Big Ten landscape after the conference added USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington as members this offseason. The conference now includes 18 member institutions, which led to the elimination of the decade-old East-West Division model and the introduction of a new pool play format.
The new landscape will be clear when the season kicks off in late August. But it is also seen today on the recruiting trail, as both USC and Oregon currently sit close to the top of the conference recruiting rankings. The two West Coast powers should continue to rise in the coming weeks as their work on the recruiting trail continues, and as programs like Rutgers lose some momentum.
Wisconsin’s recruiting news had slowed after the program’s red-hot start to June. That changed on Monday with a commitment from four-star offensive lineman Hardy Watts. The Badgers are back on the rise entering July and remain in the running for several more top targets.
Much is still to change as the summer continues, but here are the updated 247Sports Big Ten football class of 2025 team rankings entering the July dead period:
NOTE: These rankings were updated on July 1 after Wisconsin’s addition of four-star iOL Hardy Watts
18
Purdue Boilermakers
Nov 18, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters watches his team play against the Northwestern Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:0
Commits:9
Average Player Rating:86.27
Overall Rank: No. 67
Total Points:129.11
17
Iowa Hawkeyes
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:2
Commits:12
Average Player Rating:87.49
Overall Rank: No. 55
Total Points:160.26
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis, and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
16
Illinois Fighting Illini
Oct 29, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema greets linebacker Tarique Barnes (8) on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:0
Commits:12
Average Player Rating:86.68
Overall Rank: No. 54
Total Points:160.50
15
Northwestern Wildcats
Nov 4, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach David Braun looks on during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:0
Commits:16
Average Player Rating:85.63
Overall Rank: No. 50
Total Points:164.53
14
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during the Indiana football spring game at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Credit: Bobby Goddin/Herald-Times-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:0
Commits:18
Average Player Rating:86.12
Overall Rank: No. 48
Total Points:169.34
13
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State’s head coach Jonathan Smith looks on during the Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Credit: Nick King/Lansing State Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:0
Commits:14
Average Player Rating:86.46
Overall Rank: No. 44
Total Points:172.12
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis, and opinions on Spartans Wire
12
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nov 11, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule during the third quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:3
Commits:13
Average Player Rating:87.76
Overall Rank: No. 39
Total Points:179.61
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis, and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
11
UCLA Bruins
Feb 13, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins athletic director Martin Jarmond, right, with new head football coach DeShaun Foster during a press conference at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:4
Commits:14
Average Player Rating:87.79
Overall Rank: No. 38
Total Points:183.20
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis, and opinions on UCLA Wire
10
Maryland Terrapins
Oct 28, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley (center) on the sidelines during the second half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:3
Commits:17
Average Player Rating:86.76
Overall Rank: No. 33
Total Points:189.01
9
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Oct 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck watches a replay against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:2
Commits:22
Average Player Rating:86.56
Overall Rank: No. 32
Total Points:189.82
8
Washington Huskies
Dec 1, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies mascot Harry the Husky and cheerleaders pose after the Pac-12 Championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:4
Commits:17
Average Player Rating:87.79
Overall Rank: No. 28
Total Points:194.78
Get more (Washington) news, analysis, and opinions onHuskies Wire
7
USC Trojans
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) talks with USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley during the first half of the game against No. 6 Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. Credit: Abigail Dollins-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:5 (one five-star)
Commits:12
Average Player Rating:90.38
Overall Rank: No. 21
Total Points:199.70
Get more (USC) news, analysis, and opinions onTrojans Wire
6
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:10
Commits:13
Average Player Rating:91.11
Overall Rank: No. 15
Total Points:215.52
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis, and opinions on Wolverines Wire
5
Wisconsin Badgers
Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell leads the football team onto the field for warmups prior to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:6
Commits:22
Average Player Rating:88.29
Overall Rank: No. 15
Total Points:220.98
4
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Sep 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:6
Commits:28
Average Player Rating:87.77
Overall Rank: No. 12
Total Points:229.74
Get more (Rutgers) news, analysis, and opinions on Rutgers Wire
3
Penn State Nittany Lions
Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2
Oregon Ducks
Sep 30, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning walks on the field before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamash*ta-USA TODAY Sports
Blue-Chip Players:13 (1 five-star)
Commits:14
Average Player Rating:93.69
Overall Rank: No. 5
Total Points:251.99
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis, and opinions onDucks Wire
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day walks off the field after losing 14-3 to Missouri Tigers in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
Blue-Chip Players:17 (three five-stars)
Commits:21
Average Player Rating:93.70
Overall Rank: No. 1
Total Points:301.80
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis, and opinions onBuckeyes Wire
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