2025 Big Ten Media Days: Bryce Underwood, Nico Iamaleava Among Day 3 Storylines

2025 Big Ten Media Days: Bryce Underwood, Nico Iamaleava Among Day 3 Storylines

College Football 2025 Big Ten Media Days: Bryce Underwood, Nico Iamaleava Among Day 3 Storylines

Updated Jul. 18, 2025, 11:01 a.m. ET

With the defending national champions (Ohio State) out of the picture on Day 1 and the popular favorites for this year’s conference title taking the spotlight on Day 2 (Oregon and Penn State), the third and final session of the Big Ten Media Days will be led by Michigan and the league’s representatives from Los Angeles.

The Wolverines always bring a lot of intrigue, especially with the possible debut of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the self-imposed suspension of head coach Sherrone Moore, and the program’s best recruiting class since 2017—long before former coach Jim Harbaugh led them to a win against Ohio State for the first time. Although Underwood, a true freshman, won’t be present next week, his growing reputation as a potential program figurehead is one of the key narratives in this fall’s college football landscape.

And what would this be without USC and UCLA making a splash in Las Vegas? The explosive recruiting at USC has kept them competitive, while UCLA’s exciting addition of former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who will be representing UCLA at the league event, adds more buzz to Southern California football.

These topics are sure to emerge as the Big Ten steps into the national limelight next week during its three-day media showcase in Las Vegas, reflecting the conference’s coast-to-coast membership. For the second year in a row, each day will feature the head coach and essential players from six programs:

  1. Day 1: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State, Rutgers
  2. Day 2: Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, Wisconsin
  3. Day 3: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA, USC

As we prepare for the event, we evaluated each team leading up to the 2025 season. Here’s what to anticipate from Day 3 at Big Ten Media Days:

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Iowa

Last year: 8-5 overall, 6-3 Big Ten
Postseason: 27-24 loss to Missouri in the Music City Bowl
Head coach: Kirk Ferentz, 27th season, 204-124 at Iowa
Coordinators: Tim Lester (offense); Phil Parker (defense)
Recruiting: No. 39 nationally, No. 11 in the Big Ten
Transfer portal: No. 60 nationally, No. 17 in the Big Ten

Key storyline: It has been five turnaround-filled years since Iowa has experienced above-average quarterback play. The list of names—Spencer Petras, Alex Padilla, Cade McNamara, Deacon Hill, and Brendan Sullivan—has left much to be desired from 2020 to 2024, increasing pressure on defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s unit to compensate for a struggling offense.

The last time a Hawkeyes quarterback threw at least twice as many touchdowns as interceptions in a single season was in 2019 when Nate Stanley recorded 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions, leading Iowa to a solid 10-3 record ph 366 casino login. The arrival of former South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski through the transfer portal has created a sense of optimism regarding Iowa’s offensive potential. Gronowski boasts a remarkable career with the Jackrabbits, including two national titles and the Walter Payton Award. If he transitions well to the Big Ten, Iowa could contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff. how to register maya phcash.com casino

Michigan

Last year: 8-5 overall, 5-4 Big Ten
Postseason: 19-13 win over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl
Head coach: Sherrone Moore, second season, 9-5 at Michigan
Coordinators: Chip Lindsey (offense); Wink Martindale (defense)
Recruiting: No. 6 nationally, No. 3 in the Big Ten
Transfer portal: No. 35 nationally, No. 11 in the Big Ten

Key storyline: In typical Michigan fashion, the three players representing the Wolverines at Big Ten Media Days will be linebacker Ernest Hausmann, edge rusher Derrick Moore, and tight end/fullback Max Bredeson, making his second appearance. While all three will be key contributors, the spotlight shines on a player yet to take a collegiate snap: five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, the top recruit in the country.

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Underwood’s switch from LSU to Michigan last November sparked a recruiting resurgence for the Wolverines under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore. The program’s No. 6 finish in national recruiting rankings for 2025, its highest in eight years, showcases Underwood’s influence. With other quarterbacks injured, Underwood is the frontrunner for the starting role, likely making him a hot topic in Las Vegas.

Michigan State

Last year: 5-7 overall, 3-6 Big Ten
Postseason: None
Head coach: Jonathan Smith, second season, 5-7 at Michigan State
Coordinators: Brian Lindgren (offense); Joe Rossi (defense)
Recruiting: No. 57 nationally, No. 16 in the Big Ten
Transfer portal: No. 28 nationally, No. 8 in the Big Ten

Key storyline: With numerous roster questions as they head into the 2025 season, Michigan State aims to address its issues under coach Jonathan Smith. The Spartans have yet to benefit from the typical boost that follows coaching changes. Smith’s initial recruiting classes ranked poorly, and the on-field performance was lackluster. Improvements remain hard to find as the Spartans’ struggles continued last season, making the upcoming campaign crucial for growth and performance.

Purdue

Last year: 1-11 overall, 0-9 Big Ten
Postseason: None
Head coach: Barry Odom, first season, 0-0 at Purdue
Coordinators: Josh Henson (offense); Mike Scherer (defense)
Recruiting: No. 91 nationally, No. 18 in the Big Ten
Transfer portal: No. 47 nationally, No. 14 in the Big Ten

Key storyline: There are parallels to be drawn between Barry Odom’s rebuilding efforts at Purdue and those of Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, who successfully transformed his team before reaching the College Football Playoff. Odom’s strategy at Purdue involved bringing in over 50 transfers, including players he previously coached, to reshape the program. However, unlike Cignetti’s favorable schedule, Odom faces a challenging slate against strong opponents the likes of USC, Michigan, and Ohio State. Achieving more than two or three wins would be a notable accomplishment.

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UCLA

Last year: 5-7 overall, 3-6 Big Ten
Postseason: None
Head coach: DeShaun Foster, second season, 5-7 at UCLA
Coordinators: Tino Sunseri (offense); Ikaika Malloe (defense)
Recruiting: No. 42 nationally, No betso88.com register. 12 in the Big Ten
Transfer portal: No. 20 nationally, No. 5 in the Big Ten

Key storyline: Second-year head coach DeShaun Foster has generated buzz about UCLA through the saga of quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who became a headline-making transfer after leaving Tennessee. Foster recognized Iamaleava’s potential impact on recruiting, making the calculated decision to pursue him. In doing so, the dynamics of recruiting in Los Angeles have shifted, setting up intriguing comparisons between Iamaleava and former quarterback Joey Aguilar.

USC

Last year: 7-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten
Postseason: 35-31 win over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl
Head coach: Lincoln Riley, fourth season, 26-14 at USC
Coordinators: Luke Huard (offense); D’Anton Lynn (defense)
Recruiting: No. 13 nationally, No. 4 in the Big Ten
Transfer portal: No. 18 nationally, No. 4 in the Big Ten

Key storyline: USC’s most significant developments may happen off the field as coach Lincoln Riley revamps the Trojans’ recruiting strategy jilino 1 app. Although there are concerns about the team’s performance in the upcoming season, USC is excelling in the 2026 recruiting cycle, signing many top-level players. Maintaining this momentum with strong performances during the season will be essential to sustaining interest among high-profile recruits.

Michael Cohen covers college football and college basketball for FOX Sports. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13. What do you think about the current dynamics of college football as we head into the 2025 season?