Is the Big Ten the Best Conference in College Football?
We may be biased, but the numbers aren't.
The Big Ten has now won three consecutive national championships from three different institutions following Indiana’s win over Miami in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Michigan won in 2023, Ohio State won in 2024, and now the Hoosiers have claimed their first national championship.
That consistent postseason prestige begs the question: Is the Big Ten the best conference in college football? We may be biased, but numbers aren’t. Let’s take a look.
Playoff Powerhouse
Nothing tests true greatness like the bright lights of the biggest stage. Three different Big Ten schools have won the last three College Football Playoff National Championships: Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024, and now Indiana in 2025.
Four of the six teams that competed in those championship games are current Big Ten schools (Washington finished runner-up in 2023).
Including Monday's championship game, a Big Ten team has appeared in 14 of the 22 games since the CFP expanded to 12 teams. Two of those games were all-Big Ten matchups – Ohio State vs. Oregon in 2024, and Indiana vs. Oregon in 2025.
Six current Big Ten teams have earned half of the 12 available CFP Semifinal spots in the last three seasons. Meaning, at the end of the last three seasons, two of the nation’s top four teams have been from the Big Ten.
- 2024: Michigan, Washington, Alabama, Texas
- 2025: Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, Notre Dame
- 2026: Indiana, Oregon, Miami, Ole Miss
Depth note: Six different Big Ten squads earned those semifinal slots.
A B1G Bowl Season
Even outside of the CFP, the Big Ten has raised the bar. The conference led the nation in total postseason victories in each of the last three seasons.
- 2025-26: Big Ten (11-5), ACC (9-5), Big 12 (4-4), SEC (4-10)
- 2024-25: Big Ten (11-6), SEC (8-7), Big 12 (4-5), ACC (2-11)
- 2023-24: Big Ten (6-4), SEC and Big 12 (5-4), ACC (5-6)
Stats Tell All
Outside of outcomes, the conference has also topped the charts in on-field performances. At the end of the 2025 regular season, the Big Ten featured:
- The only two unbeaten teams in FBS football
- Four of the country’s Top-15 Scoring Offenses
- Four of the nation’s Top-10 in Offensive Points Per Possession
- Five of college football’s Top-16 Scoring Defenses
- Six of the Top-16 Quarterback Ratings in the country
- Four of the Top-10 in Defensive Points Per Possession
- Three of the Top-5 in SportSource Analytics' ‘Strength of Record’
- Three of the Top-6 in SportSource Analytics ‘Team Strength Ranking'
- Three of the Top-4 in ESPN SP+ Ranking
The Next Level
The conference set a record with 11 first-round NFL Draft picks in 2025 and may tie or break that mark with 10-13 first-round selections in 2026. Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana), Carnell Tate (WR, OSU), Arvell Reese (LB, OSU), and Caleb Downs (S, OSU) are all listed as potential top-10 picks. Makai Lemon (WR, USC) may make a case to go that early, as well.
Below are the projected number of first-round picks, by media outlet:
- PFF: 13
- FOX: 12
- ESPN: 12
- CBS: 11
- The Athletic: 10
Current Big Ten schools have also produced two of the last four Heisman Trophy winners:
- 2022: Caleb Williams (USC)
- 2023: Jayden Daniels (LSU)
- 2024: Travis Hunter (Colorado)
- 2025: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
Viewership: All Eyes on the Big Ten
In the 2025-26 season, no conference matched the Big Ten’s viewership numbers. Eight of the top 10 most-watched college football games this season included at least one Big Ten team. Out of the 20 participating teams, more than half (11) of them were Big Ten schools. Three were Big Ten vs. Big Ten matchups.
- Indiana vs. Miami, CFP National Championship Game (30.1 million)
- Indiana vs. Alabama, Rose Bowl (23.9 million)
- Ohio State vs. Miami, Cotton Bowl (19.0 million)
- Ole Miss vs. Georgia, Sugar Bowl (18.7 million)
- Ohio State vs. Michigan (18.4 million)
- Indiana vs. Ohio State, Big Ten Championship* (18.3 million)
- Indiana vs. Oregon, Peach Bowl (18 million)
- Georgia vs. Alabama, SEC Championship (16.9 million)
- Texas vs. Ohio State (16.6 million)
- Oregon vs. Texas Tech, Orange Bowl (15.9 million)
*The 2025 Discover Big Ten Football Championship game was also the most watched conference championship for any conference on any network, ever.
Numbers Don't Lie
From standout postseason performances to a consistent presence in the NFL Draft conversation, the Big Ten Conference is turning heads. Whether you’re cheering on your alma mater, watching the College Football Playoff, or tracking the rise of future Sunday stars, one thing is certain: Big Ten Football is the new standard.
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