Big Ten Football: Ranking the top 5 programs since 2015

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

To no one’s surprise, the Buckeyes come in at No. 1 on this list. For decades now, Ohio State has dominated the conference and college football as a whole. Between the accomplishments of the Buckeyes’ last two head coaches, Urban Meyer and Ryan Day, there is no argument that the Bucks have earned their spot at the top.

Since 2015 alone, here is what Ohio State has accomplished in the world of college football:

• Seven top-10 finishes
• Seven ranked finishes
• Five bowl wins
• Five NY6 wins
• Four outright division titles
• Four conference titles
• Six 10-win seasons
• Six 11+ win seasons
• 79 wins

Coming off of its 2014-15 national championship run, the Buckeyes had set themselves up perfectly for a phenomenal run in the coming seasons.

While the rest of the Big Ten is competing amongst themselves for 10-win seasons and bowl wins, the Buckeyes are competing nationally for national championships.

The Buckeyes are the only Big Ten team with a playoff win; in fact, OSU has made three playoff appearances since 2016 alone — more than the rest of the Big Ten combined in the history of the CFP. Wisconsin comes in at second-most 13+ win seasons in the Big Ten since 2015 (1), meanwhile Ohio State has won 11 or more games in every full-length season but one (2011).

On top of that, the Buckeyes became the first Big Ten team to win 14 or more games in a single season during the 2002 season, and have accumulated a second 14-win year since. Though there is little dispute for teams 2-5 on this list, there is no debate that Ohio State is the best program in the Big Ten and has been for a long time.

In what many Buckeye fans considered to be a “down year” in 2021, Ohio State still finished the season 11-2 with a share of the Big Ten East title, a Rose Bowl win, and a Heisman finalist (CJ Stroud).

In 2022 Ohio State will retain much of its talent, and will likely continue its streak of dominance under Day. Right now, the Buckeyes are on a level of their own amongst Big Ten football programs.