Big Ten dominance of college sports is stunning and complete
Is there any sport the Big Ten isn't dominating right now? The Michigan men, UCLA women, and Indiana football are national champs, and that's not all
Michigan men's basketball won the national championship on Monday night, snapping the Big Ten's 26-year drought at the Final Four. Michigan State in 2000 was the last Big Ten men's basketball team to cut down the nets. It happened in Indianapolis.
Over a quarter of a century later, Michigan did the same in Indy to complete the circle. The Michigan story is impressive in its own right, but it's part of a larger story of Big Ten dominance in college sports. Let's unpack the details: Indiana football The Hoosiers gave the Big Ten three straight national championships in college football: Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024, IU in 2025.
Indiana dominance Indiana won both the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal and Peach Bowl semifinal in blowout fashion, beating Alabama by 35 points and Oregon by 34. Michigan basketball dominance Before Monday's grinding, difficult championship game against UConn, Michigan basketball won five straight NCAA Tournament games by double figures, scoring at least 90 points in each game. No team had ever previously done that in March Madness history.
UCLA women's basketball dominance The UCLA women added to the Big Ten's trophy haul by winning the school's first national championship in women's hoops. UCLA lost only one game all season. It held both of its Final Four opponents under 52 points.