Indiana Chosen as Big Ten Men’s Soccer Preseason Favourite

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Indiana Hoosiers have been chosen as the favourite the 2025 Big Ten Conference title, in response to a vote of the league’s coaches launched on Tuesday.

Ranked No. 11 within the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, Indiana acquired six first place votes and 4 second place nods to take the highest spot. Maryland completed second, whereas defending Big Ten Tournament champion Ohio State positioned third. UCLA and Washington rounded out the highest 5.

The convention additionally unveiled the 2025 Big Ten Players to Watch List on Tuesday, as chosen by the league’s coaches. Included within the listing are eight student-athletes who earned All-Big Ten recognition in 2024. Among them are a pair of First Team honorees together with Goalkeeper of the Year Zac Kelly from Michigan State and Maryland midfielder Leon Koehl.

The 2025 Big Ten Men’s Soccer season kicks off on Thursday, with all 11 groups in motion. 

The full 2025 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll and Players to Watch List will be discovered under.

2025 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll

1. Indiana
2. Maryland
3. Ohio State
4. UCLA
5. Washington
6. Michigan
7. Michigan State
8. Wisconsin
9. Rutgers
10. Penn State
11. Northwestern

2025 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Players to Watch
Palmer Ault, Sr., F, Indiana
Josh Maher, So., D, Indiana
Collins Oduro, Jr., M, Indiana
Luca Costabile, Sr., D, Maryland
Leon Koehl, Jr., M, Maryland
Sadam Masereka, Sr., F, Maryland
Raymundo Mendez, Gr., M/F, Michigan
Nolan Miller, Sr., D, Michigan
Shuma Sasaki, Gr., F/M, Michigan
Zac Kelly, Sr., GK, Michigan State
Miles Merritt, Jr., M, Michigan State
Brandon Munson, So., D, Michigan State
Jason Gajadhar, Sr., M, Northwestern
Nigel Prince, Sr., D, Northwestern
Fritz Volmar, Jr., D, Northwestern
Marko Borkovic, Sr., F, Ohio State
Thomas Gilej, Gr., M, Ohio State
Luciano Pechota, Sr., M, Ohio State
Malick Daouda, So., M, Penn State
Caden Grabfelder, Jr., M, Penn State
Kai Phillip, Gr., F, Penn State
Nick Collins, Jr., D, Rutgers
Ciaran Dalton, Sr., GK, Rutgers
Joschi Schelb, Jr., M, Rutgers
Drew Brown, Sr., D, UCLA
Sergi Solans Ormo, So., F, UCLA
Tamir Ratoviz, So., M, UCLA
Egor Akulov, Sr., D, Washington
Richie Aman, Sr., F, Washington
Charlie Kosakoff, Jr., F, Washington
Matisse Hébert, So., GK, Wisconsin
Ellis Jones, Jr., D, Wisconsin
Matthew Zachemski, So., M, Wisconsin