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This looks at every Big Ten team and outlines what other model team they should “Strive to be” as a form of “Stretch Goal”. I also include (1) Who are they most like now – their current status; (2) Who they should be like – a realistic goal; and finally (3) Who they most want to be like. See below for two tables summarizing the information and a brief writeup for all 18 teams explaining the rationale.
This information was also broken up into two podcasts, the first was on my weekly Thursday “Big Jeff’s Football Insights” podcast @TheBigTenHuddle on Thursday, June 26 at 9 p.m. EST (See first YouTube Link below). The first 9 teams covered have the 9 best conference win rates since 1970, and include Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Nebraska, Penn State, Washington, Oregon, UCLA and Iowa.
The other 9 teams were covered in a “Part 2” podcast on Thursday, July 3. This included Michigan State, Wisconsin, Maryland, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana and Rutgers. See second link right below for the Part 2 podcast.
What Big Ten Teams Should Strive to Be? (Part 1) | Big Jeff’s Insights
What Big Ten Teams Should Strive to Be? (Part 2) | Big Jeff’s Insight
Big Ten Team Conference Record by Decade and 8 Key Insights – Big Jeff’s Football
What Big Ten Teams Should Strive to Be (Top 9 Teams)
1. OHIO STATE
First is Ohio State who have the best conference win rate since 1970 at 81% and 88% over the last 5 years. They recruit elite averaging #4 nationally over the last 5 years, and are #4 in the nation in NFL Draft Picks generated the past 5 years.
Who They are Like Now – I am not sure there is a good current status comparison team. Ohio State is pretty unique with their elite receiver-oriented offense. I would say Georgia is closest, but they have really only been great the past 5 years or so under Kirby Smart. If this were last year, I would say Texas who are in position to win a Natty for the first time since the 2000’s, but they have not captured one recently so it’s not a great comparison.
Who Should They Be Like – Georgia because both programs are great recruiters and producers of NFL talent. They also have great coaching staffs, similar super passionate fan bases, and lots of football talent in state. Like UGA, OSU wants to stay in the top 5 each year and challenge for titles annually and win one fairly frequently.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Nick Saban’s Alabama teams is what OSU fans have really wanted, which is an almost impossible task. It would require winning the title every 3 years or so but of course Ohio State fans expectations are off the charts and likely the highest of any college fan base.
2. MICHIGAN
The Wolverines have the 2nd best conference win rate since 1970 at 76% and recruit really well but not elite ranking an average of 12th nationally. Michigan has really shined though in generating NFL talent standing 3rd in the nation over the last 5 years and which is even a little better than Ohio State.
Who Are They Most Like Now – It’s not easy to find a good Michigan comparison, especially with moving from a super experienced and proven coach like Jim Harbaugh to a novice coach in Sherrone Moore who was head coach for the first time in 2024.
My comp though is Notre Dame when Marcus Freeman was first hired. Both are young black coaches at traditional powerhouse programs in the upper Midwest seeking to prove themselves. Like Freeman recruiting has even picked up under Moore but the question is how well can he gameplan and consistently win games after losing five in 2024, with a very talented roster.
Who Should They be Like – I will say LSU since they have more frequently won national titles than Michigan (their last two came in 1997 and 2023), and LSU has higher and more consistent recruiting success that Michigan needs to have. The Wolverines though, would like to avoid some of the big up and down years LSU has experienced.
Who They Most Want to be Like – taking it to the next level for Michigan and a stretch goal would be duplicating what Georgia has done which is more consistent winning and being in the Top 10 every year, along with more frequently winning National Titles and achieving higher levels of recruiting success – going from 12th currently to more consistently in the Top 10.
3. USC
USC has the third best conference win percent since 1970 at 70%, have a national recruiting average of #23 (5th best in Big Ten), and are tied for 12th in NFL Pick production which is very good.
Who Are They Most Like Now – Auburn because both are very good historical programs but have had consistently disappointing results for many years now with some bright spots.
Who Should They be Like – Notre Dame under Marcus Freeman because they both are strong historical programs and USC should be doing what Notre Dame did last year in making a strong run in the college playoffs. The Irish have also stepped up recruiting a lot which USC needs to do as well, and are off to a great start in their 2026 class.
Who They Most Want to be Like – The goal should definitely be like Pete Carroll’s USC teams in the 2000s who were the talk of the town winning two titles from 2002 to 2008 that saw Carroll go 82-9. Plus, Lincoln Riley has the type of personality that L.A. could really love if they get back to winning big and once again become the glamour program of college football.
4. NEBRASKA
Amazingly Nebraska has the 4th best conference record since 1970 at 69% due to 90% win rates in the 80’s and 90’s under Tom Osborne, but have fallen off a cliff to a 30% win rate the past 5 years Recruiting is at a national 5-year average of 25th which is good but a disconnect from Nebraska’s on field wins, and NFL Production is a terrible tied for 46th in the nation (tied for 14th in Big Ten).
Who Are They Most Like Now – I am going with Oklahoma. Sorry Husker fans. Like Nebraska a traditional power blueblood program located in the center of the U.S., but with recent big struggles made worse by moving to tougher conferences than the old Big 8/12. Can Nebraska win big in the Big 10 is the question? Just like can Oklahoma win big in the SEC?
Who Should They be Like – Washington who has close to a 60% conference win rate average which feels like a good goal for Nebraska and Washington has also made a couple playoffs which is reasonable for Huskers fans to expect as well.
Who They Most Want to be Like – I am going to say Clemson because both don’t have super deep pockets or big boosters but have passionate fans and Clemson has won titles recently which is a good stretch goal for the Huskers.
5. PENN STATE
Penn State has a 64%-win rate since 1970 and 67% in the last 5 years — really good but not to Ohio State and Michigan levels. The Nits are recruiting 14th in the nation so again very good but not elite and want to be in the Top 10 to more consistently challenge for championships. PSU has excellent NFL draft pick production ranking tied for 6th nationally but that speaks to how they have actually under-achieved on the field.
Who Are They Most Like Now – I think Notre Dame before Marcus Freeman so that means more like the Brian Kelly years where Notre Dame was very good but against the very best teams always came up short and that’s where James Franklin is against Top 5 and Top 10 teams.
Who They Most Want to be Like – jumping over to who they most want to be like it’s very clear Ohio State is James Franklin’s benchmark since even in press conferences he has talked about trying to reach their “elite” status. Ohio State win’s titles every 10 years or so and wins their fair share of Top 10 games which would make PSU fans giddy.
Who Should They be Like – Clemson as they are a step down from Ohio States consistency which nobody has been able to duplicate, but Clemson has won titles recently which Penn State should be striving for as well.
6. WASHINGTON
The Huskies are 6th in conference win rate since 1970 at 59% and 66% over the last 5 years. Recruiting has not been as good averaging #44 nationally putting them in more of the “Poor” category in the Big Ten (13th) – behind teams like Iowa, Mich St, Wisconsin and Maryland. But Washington is an impressive tied for 17th in NFL draft pick production showing they thrive in developing players.
Who Are They Most Like Now – I will say Florida since both have a good but not great history and through the years have been more of an up and down team in very tough conferences. I also say Florida since each of their biggest rivals, Georgia for Florida and Oregon for Washington, are recruiting behemoths, which is difficult to compete with.
Who Should They be Like – Penn State since Washington would like more consistent winning and especially beating teams they should beat like Penn State has. Also, PSU has the higher level or recruiting (Top 20) that Washington should be achieving since their #44 national rank there is under achieving and not good enough.
Who They Most Want to be Like – LSU because Washington would like to increase their recruiting prowess AND win titles once in a while along with winning more consistently.
7. OREGON
The Ducks have a 57%-win rate since 1970 BUT 81% over the last 5 years, second only to Ohio State. Oregon is recruiting elite at #7 Nationally the last 5 years – which is second best in the Big Ten only behind Ohio State as well. And they are 8th in NFL Draft Pick generation which is excellent.
Who Are They Most Like Now – this is one I might be most confident in, but a great comp is Texas because they both are very high profile programs, have deep pockets and financial strength, are recruiting at an elite Top 5-100 rate, and have great coaching staffs. BUT neither have broken through to win a title and are very close.
Who Should They be Like – Clemson when they were winning titles. Oregon has all the ingredients to be winning titles except for actually doing it. The Ducks, like Clemson, also have a very distinct culture.
Who They Most Want to be Like – USC under Pete Carroll who was winning big and winning titles which is the only thing missing for Oregon. Also, USC was the glamour school under Carroll which fits what Oregon is right now with their Nike affiliation, uniform combos, etc.
8. UCLA
The Bruins are #8 in the Big Ten with a 57% win rate since 1970 and 51% the last 5-years. Recruiting though is only 53 nationally over the last 5 years which is only 16th in the Big Ten and the only teams worse are Northwestern and Purdue. So, their win rate far outperforms their recruiting. UCLA is tied for 17th with Iowa and Washington in NFL draft pick generation which is actually great considering their poor recruiting.
Who Are They Most Like Now – I will go with South Carolina who also produce good NFL talent but play second fiddle to Clemson in state just like UCLA does to USC.
Who Should They be Like – Auburn when the program has things rolling. Both have a good overall long-term history of winning but have struggled in recent years.
Who They Most Want to be Like – UCLA under Terry Donahue. UCLA under all-time winningest coach Terry Donahue from 1976 to 1995 went 151-74 for a 67%-win rate, that would put UCLA as the 5th best overall record in the Big Ten. The last two decades UCLA has won at 51% in conference so 67% winning would be a huge step up. With the right coach UCLA has proven they can win big.
9. IOWA
The Hawkeyes have a 54% win rate since 1970 (9th in the Big Ten) BUT a 69% win rate the last 5 years which is 4th best in the Big Ten. Iowa is recruiting nationally at #33 on average the last 5 years, which is probably better than most people think. Their NFL draft pick production is tied for 17th showing they are an excellent development program.
Who Are They Most Like Now – it might be surprising but I am saying Kentucky mostly from a culture perspective. Both like to be a physical football team with good overall defense but struggle to beat the top teams and are in a very tough conference. Iowa has won at a higher rate than Kentucky but that has been helped by being in the Big Ten West.
Who Should They be Like – maybe this is a stretch but how about Tennessee since both states don’t have tons of talent and Tennessee has a fairly high ceiling that Iowa fans would love to see the Hawkeyes achieve. Every few years Tennessee challenges to make the Top 10.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Wisconsin under Bret Bielema as the Badgers had a win rate of 76% in the 2010’s good for second in the conference only behind Ohio State. Achieving that level of winning would be much tougher in today’s more competitive Big Ten but is a good stretch goal and in today’s 12-team playoff era would likely get Iowa into the playoffs.
What Big Ten Teams Should Strive to Be (Bottom 9 Teams)
The other 9 teams are covered in a “Part 2” podcast on Thursday, July 3. This will include Michigan State, Wisconsin, Maryland, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana and Rutgers.
10. MICHIGAN STATE
The #10 Big Ten team based on conference win rate since 1970 is Michigan State at 54% which is actually tied with Iowa, but MSU’s 5-year win rate is just 40%. The Spartans have a 5-year national recruiting rank average of 38th which is disappointing but even worse they are tied for 46th nationally in NFL draft production.
Who They are like Now – Auburn because both have struggled the past few years and Auburn is over shadowed in the state and in their conference to Alabama like MSU is over shadowed by Michigan as well. But the Spartans are capable of winning big and do beat their “Big Brother” sometimes, just like Auburn has upset Alabama many times. But Michigan State continue to win inconsistently despite their relative strong history.
Who Should They Be Like – Texas A&M is a good comp because they also are over shadowed by Texas within state and have a solid history of winning but like Michigan State have a coach (in Mike Elko) who like Jonathan Smith is very well respected. Both are entering their second seasons with their teams and their fans would like more consistent winning than the majority of previous coaches.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Penn State since MSU would love to beat all the teams your supposed to like Penn State has recently, but be in the Top 25 consistently, and recruit in the Top 25 like Penn State does. The only thing missing from the comp is MSU will want to beat blue bloods like Michigan more consistently than PSU has managed.
11. WISCONSIN
Wisconsin has the 11th best conference record since 1970 at 52% and have an average 5-year national recruiting rank of 34. They are tied for 30th in the nation for production of NFL draft picks the last 5 years. All this supports why the sub-par results on the field from Luke Fickell’s first two years in Madison is so disappointing.
Who Are They Most Like Now – Oklahoma State – Wisconsin is similar to the Cowboys who have been a consistent winning program over many years under Mike Gundy but are always somewhat under the radar. Both programs consistently make bowl games but both have had recent struggles like last year’s surprising 3-9 record for Oklahoma State that has people questioning Gundy’s future in Stillwater. Sound familiar Wisconsin fans?
Who Should They be Like – Utah – I am not sure Wisconsin can get back close to the 76% win rate (second best to only Ohio State) from the 2010’s (that included the Brett Bielema era) due to no longer benefitting from being in the Big Ten West and given how much deeper the Big Ten is now. But I think Utah under Kyle Wittingham is a good comp given their consistency of winning, solid culture and runbased and defense-oriented team that Luke Fickell needs to get the Badgers back to.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Clemson – last year I heard someone say during a Wisconsin based podcast that Wisconsin should strive to try to be a Clemson so I am going with that. It’s good to think big.
This would mean the Badgers are making the playoffs fairly consistently and even winning games once they get there. It may be a stretch though to say the Badgers can win national titles unless they can get their recruiting into the Top 10 which Clemson has been able to do sometimes tapping into their nearby fertile Southeast recruiting territory.
12. MARYLAND
Number 12 in the Big Ten with a 46% conference win rate since 1970 is Maryland. The Terrapins sport a 5-year national recruiting average of 30th and are 29th nationally in the production of NFL draft picks the last 5 years.
Based on recruiting and NFL talent produced, Maryland’s Big Ten conference record should really be better than 34% over the last 5 years. But they have been partially hamstrung by the tough Big Ten East schedule, but now there are no longer divisions Maryland has no excuses not to win more given their access to talent in the region and the Big Ten’s financial windfall.
Who Are They Most Like Now – Virginia – The ACC’s UVA has substantial potential like Maryland but are also consistently disappointing and both have similar, good access to available local/region talent.
Who Should They be Like – North Carolina as they also share in being over shadowed by their basketball teams but have had more wide open and successful offenses like the Terps but the Tar Heels have had better success in making bowl games. However, both programs have been held back by sub-par defenses lacked strong, consistent defense.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Ole Miss as both are long-time underachieving programs, but now Ole Miss is doing quite well with the right coach (Lane Kiffin) and have been in the Top 15 the last few years. That is where Maryland could be with the right coach.
13. PURDUE
Purdue’s Big Ten record since 1970 ranks 13th overall at 43%. Boilermaker recruiting has been severely lacking the last 5-years ranking just 62nd nationally which is last in the Big Ten, while NFL Draft Pick production is tied for 34th nationally which is actually quite strong.
Who Are They Most Like Now – Mississippi State – because both have had some good periods under the right coach (i.e. MSU’s Dan Mullen and Mike Leach and Purdue’s Joe Tiller and Jeff Brohm) but can’t sustain it and are really down right now. Plus, both play in very tough conferences with a major in-state competitor in the same conference.
Who Should They be Like – Kentucky: UK because both are strong basketball schools but have football teams that should win more consistently like Stoops has for Kentucky who made 8 straight bowls before last year’s disappointing season. Purdue fans would love that level of success. They also both have good access to good Ohio High School players who Ohio State can’t always take.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Washington – because winning close to 60% conference games since 1970 would be a big step-up for Purdue and Washington tends to have wide open and successful offenses like Purdue. Finally, Washington has made some playoff appearances which would be great for the Boilermakers.
14. ILLINOIS
The Illini ae #14 in the Big Ten with a 40% 5-year conference win rate. Recruiting over the last 5 years is 51st in nation and disappointing given the good High School football in the Chicago area. But NFL draft production stats are better at tied for 32nd in the nation.
Who Are They Most Like Now – Arkansas – both are historical under-performers and in very tough conferences but with the feeling they should win consistently given they have solid resources and access to talent. Off course Brett Bielema coached at both places as well.
Who Should They be Like – Iowa – the Hawkeyes more consistently win (54% vs 40%) which is really what Illinois fans would love to have and Iowa can even sometimes upset top teams at home.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Wisconsin (under Bielema) – Wisconsin under Bielema is a big stretch goal given the 76% win rate for the Badgers in the 2010’s but with the Big Ten West no longer around this would be extremely difficult. But making bowl games every year like Wisconsin did is not unreasonable.
15. MINNESOTA
Minnesota ranks 15th in the Big Ten with a poor 38%-win rate since 1970 but are winning at a 51% rate in the 2020’s under P.J. Fleck – the only decade they are over .500. The Gophers 5-year recruiting average is a respectable 43rd in the nation, and Minnesota has done well at tied for 34th in the nation in generating NFL draft picks the last 5 years proving the Gophers are good at player development.
Who Are They Most Like Now – Iowa State – Similar to how Iowa State has played second fiddle to Iowa, so has Minnesota mostly been in the shadow of Wisconsin up until the last few years. Both programs have good younger but experienced coaches who have had years where they were close to having a true breakout year (i.e. in 2019 Minnesota went 11-2, 7-2).
Who Should They be Like – Utah – Minnesota now has similarities to how Wisconsin used to be, but I am going to go outside of conference and say wanting to be like Utah with a higher level of winning than Minnesota’s 51% conference win rate this decade would be great for the program. They also both have strong run and defense oriented cultures.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Michigan (pre-2021 under Harbaugh) – Michigan currently is probably quite a stretch but Gopher fans would be thrilled for the level of success Harbaugh had pre-2021 and both upper mid-west teams have similar run and defense oriented cultures. Minnesota fans would love to consistently be in the Top 25 like Michigan did in Harbaugh’s first six years at the school.
16. NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern stands #16 in the Big Ten with a 35%-win rate since 1970, have a poor 5-year national recruiting average of 58th (2nd worst in the Big Ten) and NFL draft pick production tied for 58th which is very bad and also tied for 2nd worst in the Big Ten with Rutgers.
Who Are They Most Like Now – Vanderbilt – granted Northwestern has had much higher highs than Vandy has (i.e. 2 Big Ten West titles) but are still inconsistent year to year. The last 4-year conference win rate for the Cat’s though is more like Vandy looks (9-27, 25%). Both are the strongest academic school in their conference and are small in size in two football dominant conferences.
Who Should They be Like – Iowa – yes I had Iowa as the Should They be Like comp for Illinois as well but Northwestern fans would also love to have Iowa’s consistency of winning (62% in BT since 2000s) and ability to make bowl games.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Stanford (in David Shaw’s heyday of 2011 to 2017) – Stanford of course also has very strong academics like Northwestern, yet were able to produce consistent Top 10 teams under Shaw and went to Rose Bowls 3 of 4 years going 2-1. For Northwestern just making one Rose Bowl would be huge and would mean they would make the playoffs.
17. INDIANA
IU is second to last in the conference and #17 with a paltry 29% win-rate since 1970. Their 5-year recruiting average 52nd is not good but better than I thought at 4th worst in the Big Ten.
What sets IU apart in a bad way is their atrocious and Big Ten worst NFL draft pick production of tied for 77th in the nation. IU has been by far the worst developer of talent in the Big Ten and has not had a first round draft pick since 1994 (Thomas Lewis WR to the Giants).
Who Are They Most Like Now – Kansas because both are traditional blue blood basketball schools with periodic but very limited football success. Any football success for both schools has been short lived.
Who Should They be Like – Washington who is winning about 60% of conference games since 1970 (6th best in the Big Ten) and they have made the college football playoffs twice which for IU would be great. Consistently going to bowl games would make Indiana fans very happy.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Michigan State (under Dantonio 2010-2017) – Dantonio in the 2010’s won 67% of his Big Ten games and made the 4-team playoff once. Dantonio 78-28 overall 2010 to 2017 record would make Indiana fans extremely happy and some think it’s very possible under Curt Cignetti. Plus, Dantonio’s teams sometimes beat the blue bloods like Michigan and Ohio State.
18. RUTGERS
Last in conference win rate at 28% since 1970 is Rutgers. They also are last in the 2020’s win rate at 29%. Rutgers 5-year recruiting average of 40th nationally is much better than their win rate but they have been hurt being in the rugged Big Ten East. The Scarlet Knights are tied for 58th in NFL draft pick production with Northwestern for 2nd to last in the Big Ten.
Who Are They Most Like Now – Virginia – This is the second time I have used Virginia but both programs should be significantly better than they have been and both are in locations with very good regional talent access.
Who Should They be Like – Kentucky (under Stoops) – this is the second time I am giving the comparison to Kentucky but Rutgers fans would love to make bowl games 8 years in a row as Kentucky had up until last year and Kentucky’s more physical style of play fits what Greg Schiano is trying to do.
Who They Most Want to be Like – Iowa – I know I have used Iowa several times but Iowa is a good stretch comp as a better and more consistent version of what UK is and a focus on a strong run game and defense fits Schiano. But with the additions of the four Pac 12 teams, winning at 62% like Iowa since 2000 would be huge success for Rutgers
