Since the beginning of college football, the Big Ten has been a national player. It’s had several successful teams in all decades, but its record in the BCS/College Football Playoff era has left much to be desired. Has a Big Ten team ever won the national championship?
The Big Ten’s Record in the National Championship Game
Since its inception in 1896, the Big Ten has undergone several name changes. The league has boasted 29 national champions. In the newest era, which started in 2000 with the BCS, the conference has gone 3-3 in national title games.
The first came in 2002. The upstart Ohio State Buckeyes took its undefeated record in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl against the defending national champions Miami Hurricanes. Not many gave this team a chance to knock off the mighty Hurricanes, which had several future NFL stars on the roster.
The defense held Miami’s star-studded offense in check, forcing five turnovers. Running back Maurice Clarett and quarterback Craig Krenzel each had a pair of rushing touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a stunning 31-24 double-overtime win. This game was marred by a controversial pass interference penalty that kept the Buckeyes drive alive in the first overtime.
The Big Ten’s second foray into the national championship game came in 2006. It was Ohio State once again led by a cast of future NFL stars, including Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, helping them to a 12-0 record. The Buckeyes ran through the competition with just two of their 12 wins coming by one score.
However, the 2007 BCS Championship Game from Glendale, AZ, was a different story for Ohio State. Going up against Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators, the Buckeyes were outmatched, falling in convincing fashion 41-14. Ohio State’s offense had just 82 total yards and two turnovers. Tim Tebow threw and ran for a touchdown in the game.
Ohio State was right back in the title picture the following year in 2007 after they went 11-1 in the regular season. They were led by Beanie Wells, who had 1,609 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. The defense was dominant, giving up just 233 yards per game.
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Once again, they ran into another SEC juggernaut. This time, it was the LSU Tigers in the 2008 BCS Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buckeyes scored the first ten points, but the Tigers answered, outscoring them 38-14 the rest of the way to pick up a 38-24 victory.
Ohio State outgained LSU 353-326 but had three turnovers. Quarterback Matt Flynn threw for just 174 yards but had four touchdowns. Wells was outstanding for the Buckeyes, getting 146 yards rushing on 20 carries and a score.
The Big Ten would not be back in the picture again until 2014, when the College Football Playoff started. The team to represent the league once again was Ohio State. Despite injuries and an early season loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Buckeyes finished 12-1 in the regular season. Led by third string quarterback Cardale Jones, they shutout the Wisconsin Badgers 59-0 in the conference championship game.
The Buckeyes would stun the college football world in the semifinal by knocking off Alabama 42-35 in the Sugar Bowl. Ezekiel Elliott ran wild for 230 yards on 20 carries and a pair of touchdowns.
It was more of the same from Elliott 11 days later in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He ran for 246 yards and four touchdowns as the Buckeyes picked up their first national title in the College Football Playoff era, dominating the Ducks 42-20. The offense had 538 total yards despite its four turnovers.
The next CFP title game came in 2020. Once again, Ohio State represented the Big Ten. The Buckeyes only played six regular-season games due to the global pandemic. They won all contests, with none being by a score or less. Quarterback Justin Fields led the way with 2,100 yards passing with 22 touchdowns. He also added five scores on the ground.
The Buckeyes got redemption in the Sugar Bowl semifinal against Clemson. After falling twice to the Tigers in previous CFP matchups, they took a 35-14 lead to the half and didn’t look back for a 49-28 win. Fields had 385 yards passing and six touchdowns. Trey Sermon had 193 yards rushing with a score. Meanwhile, Chris Olave had 132 yards receiving with a pair of touchdowns.
The College Football Playoff National Championship Game was a different outcome for Ohio State. Facing a tough Alabama team led by several future first-round NFL draft picks, they couldn’t keep the pace as they fell to the Crimson Tide in Miami. Mac Jones threw for 464 yards and five touchdowns. Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith had 12 catches for 215 yards and three scores.
The Big Ten’s final trip to the college football championship game brought a different team to the party. This time, Ohio State’s most hated rival, the Michigan Wolverines, went 13-0 in the regular season. The year was full of controversy, as the program was caught in a sign-stealing scandal that saw its head coach, Jim Harbaugh, suspended for the final three regular season games.
Michigan was led by running Blake Corum, who had 1,245 yards rushing and a nation-leading 28 total touchdowns. JJ McCarthy threw for just under 3,000 yards with 22 scores. The defense was incredible, giving up just 247 total yards a game and forcing just under two turnovers a game.
They started their national championship quest against Alabama in the semifinal from the Rose Bowl. It was a back-and-forth affair until McCarthy hit Roman Wilson for the game-tying touchdown with just under two minutes left to force overtime.
Corum ran for a 17-yard score, and the defense stopped Jalen Milroe on fourth down to pick up a 27-20 victory.
In the national championship game, the Wolverines were too much to handle for Washington as they cruised to a 34-13 win. Corum ran for 134 yards and two scores and Donovan Edwards had 104 yards and a pair of scores as well. The defense held the Huskies to just 301 total yards and two turnovers.
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