Introduction to the Big Ten
The Big Ten Conference is one of the most historic and successful college conferences in the NCAA. It is a Division I conference that comprises 14 schools in the United States. It has produced some of the most successful college athletes and teams in history. The conference was founded in 1895 and has been playing college football since 1896. The Big Ten has won a total of 52 national championships in all sports, including 16 football national championships.
Big Ten Teams That Have Won National Championships
The Big Ten has had a number of teams that have won national championships. The most successful teams in the conference have been the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes. The Wolverines have won 11 national championships, including the 1997 AP National Championship. The Buckeyes have won 8 national championships, including the 2002 BCS National Championship. Other Big Ten teams that have won national championships include Nebraska, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
National Championship Trophies Won by Big Ten Teams
The Big Ten has won a total of 16 national championship trophies. The teams that have won these trophies include:
- Michigan Wolverines – 11 national championships
- Ohio State Buckeyes – 8 national championships
- Nebraska – 3 national championships
- Penn State – 2 national championships
- Wisconsin – 1 national championship
- Iowa – 1 national championship
Big Ten National Championship Appearances
In addition to the 16 national championships, the Big Ten has had a number of teams appear in the national championship game. Teams from the Big Ten have appeared in the national championship game a total of 26 times. The teams that have made the most appearances include:
- Michigan Wolverines – 5 appearances
- Ohio State Buckeyes – 5 appearances
- Wisconsin Badgers – 4 appearances
- Penn State Nittany Lions – 3 appearances
- Iowa Hawkeyes – 3 appearances
Big Ten National Championship Wins
The Big Ten has won a total of 16 national championships. The teams that have won the most championships include:
- Michigan Wolverines – 11 national championships
- Ohio State Buckeyes – 8 national championships
- Nebraska – 3 national championships
- Penn State – 2 national championships
- Wisconsin – 1 national championship
- Iowa – 1 national championship
Notable Big Ten National Championship Games
The Big Ten has had some of the most memorable moments in college football history. Here are some of the most notable Big Ten national championship games:
- Ohio State vs. Miami – 2003 – Ohio State won the BCS National Championship with a 31-24 victory over the Miami Hurricanes.
- Michigan vs. Ohio State – 2006 – The Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes in a classic game, 42-39, to win the national championship.
- Ohio State vs. LSU – 2007 – Ohio State won the BCS National Championship with a 38-24 victory over the LSU Tigers.
- Penn State vs. USC – 2008 – The Nittany Lions defeated the Trojans in the Rose Bowl, 24-13, to win the national championship.
- Ohio State vs. Oregon – 2010 – The Buckeyes won the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship with a 42-20 victory over the Oregon Ducks.
Big Ten Teams That Have Won the Heisman Trophy
The Big Ten has had a number of players win the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding college football player in the country. The Big Ten has had a total of 12 players win the Heisman Trophy, including three Ohio State Buckeyes: Archie Griffin (1974 and 1975), Eddie George (1995), and Troy Smith (2006). Other Big Ten players that have won the Heisman Trophy include:
- Michigan Wolverines – Desmond Howard (1991)
- Wisconsin Badgers – Alan Ameche (1954)
- Illinois Fighting Illini – Red Grange (1925)
- Iowa Hawkeyes – Nile Kinnick (1939)
- Minnesota Golden Gophers – Bruce Smith (1941)
- Nebraska – Johnny Rodgers (1972)
Conclusion
The Big Ten has had a long and successful history in college football. The conference has won a total of 16 national championships and has had a number of teams appear in the national championship game. The most successful teams in the conference have been the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes. The Big Ten has also had a number of players win the Heisman Trophy. It is clear that the Big Ten is one of the most successful and historic conferences in college football.