Big Ten: ten years with Nebraska and division play

[cidsports]

1. Ohio State has finished undefeated five B1G times, since division play arrived in 2011, but 9-0 only once. Last losing season in B1G was ten years ago at 3-5, when Luke Fickel was interim.
2. Wisconsin has finished .500 or better over past 10 B1G seasons. Finished 9-0 once, under Paul Chryst. Won B1G in 2012, with 4-4 B1G mark, due to sanctions at OSU and PSU. Badgers have played in 6 B1G Championship games, winning first two.
3. Iowa has finished higher in ESPN FPI every year, since 2014, when the West began. Hawkeyes finished 8-0 once in the B1G, compared to the Buckeyes three times, but spoiled OSU undefeated run in 2017. Last sub-B1G season was 2017, when Nate Stanley was a first year starter. C.J. was 6-3 his senior year, so where will Spencer Petras take Iowa in 2021?
4. Michigan State finished 8-0 the final year of the Legends and won against Iowa in 2015 for their second B1G title, but Mel Tucker lead Spartans to third losing B1G season in ten years.
5. Penn State has won the B1G once under James Franklin at 8-1, and Nittany Lions have finished .500 or better 8 out of the last 10 years.
6. Northwestern under Pat Fitzgerald has won the West 2 out of the last 3 seasons, but have finished below .500, 40% of the time.
7. Nebraska is seven team with a B1G title game appearance at 7-1 in 2012. Huskers had B1G winning seasons in first 5 of 6 seasons in conferences, but no more than 3 wins once in past 6 seasons.
8. Indiana is coming off 6-1 last year, under Tom Allen, after 5-4 in '19. Hoosiers. Only one no-win season back in 2011, but all eight previous seasons more losses than wins.
9. Michigan was 8-1 in 2018, but three losing seasons in 10 years, including 2-4 last year.
10. Minnesota finished 7-2 in 2019, but returned to sub-.500 for the 6th time over the decade.
11. Purdue has one over .500 finish in 10 seasons (2018), when they beat Ohio State to spoil their undefeated B1G season. Boilers have Hawkeyes number lately in West, like Northwestern.
12. Maryland opened B1G play with a .500 season the lone time they hosted Iowa and won (2014).
13. Illinois has not had a B1G winning season over 10 years and two non-winning seasons in 2012 and 2017.
14. Rutgers has 3 non-winning seasons, since joining the B1G in 2014 at 3-5. Good season at 3-6 last year.

Will an eighth B1G team join the seven other programs who have made a trip to Indianapolis?

Two straight seasons, Indiana and Minnesota were in the hunt and conversation. The Hawkeyes host both opponents at home in 2021.