Power Ranking the Big Ten wide receiver groups: Who makes the Top 3?

Ohio State's wide receivers might be the single most dominant unit in college football with Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss all returning in 2025.

The three combined for 142 catches, 2,224 yards and 20 touchdowns in last year's national championship season. Emeka Egbuka went in the first round, the No. 19 pick to Tampa Bay after latching on to 81 passes for 1,001 yards and 10 TDs.

OSU loses Egbuka but gains Purdue tight end Max Klare, so the passing attack remains potent, though new offensive coordinator Brian Hartline has to break in a new starter at quarterback, probably Julian Sayin, who transferred in from Alabama last season.

Sayin has thrown 12 career passes, completed five. He's the favorite to take over from Will Howard in the most plug-and-play offense in the game.

2. USC

Lincoln Riley's Air Raid has always produced big numbers. The Trojans were No. 1 in passing offense in the Big Ten last season at 292 yards a game, 333 yards a game in 2023 in the pass-happy PAC-12.

The prolific numbers attract a lot of receiver talent. When SC takes the field against Missouri State in The Los Angeles Coliseum in 70 days, they'll line up Makai Lemon, Ja'Kobi Lane and Prince Strachan at wideout.

Lemon led the team in receptions with 52 last season, good for 764 yards and three touchdowns. Lane proved the most explosive, hauling in 43 passes for 525 yards, second in the conference in touchdowns with 12.

Riley snatched Strachan from the portal. From Fort Pierce, Florida by way of Freeport in the Grand Bahamas, the 6-5, 204 skyscraper grabbed 25 passes at Boise State last season, good for 304 yards and a touchdown. His brother Mike plays for the Washington Commanders.

3. Penn State

In another indication of how potent the Nittany Lions could be this season, a nagging weakness could be a strength. James Franklin and his staff set out to upgrade at wide receiver after group didn't have a single catch against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.

When PSU lines up against Nevada at Beaver Stadium on August 30, Drew Allar will have a vastly improved array of targets, featuring Troy transfer Devonte Ross, a speedy slot receiver who latched on to 76 passes for 1,043 yards, 11 touchdowns last season.

Listed at 5-11, 161 Ross has a similar style and skillset to Tez Johnson, another former Troy slot receiver who had so much success with the Ducks. He'll be flanked by 6-1, 205 Kyron Hudson, a transfer from USC who pulled down 38 balls for 462 yards, three TDs in the Trojan Air Raid a year ago.

A third transfer, Trebor Pena of Syracuse grabbed 84 passes for 941 yards, 9 TDs for the Orangemen. With a veteran offensive line and a strong running game, this trio should cook for Allar.

Ranked in the Top Five in the preseason, Penn State begins 2025 with the Wolfpack, Florida International and Villanova, all at home. They get a bye before hosting Oregon on September 27 in a White Out game on NBC at 4:30 p.m. PT.

That game will test how real the improvement is at wide receiver for the Lions, and whether Tosh Lupoi has constructed a playoff-worthy defense in Year Four, particularly in the rebuilt secondary, which features three veteran transfers (Dillon Thieneman, Theran Johnson, Jadon Canady) plus four-star junior Jahlil Florence and a group of as-yet untested blue-chippers

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