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Big Ten History Vault
Big Ten champions by year
Key takeaways
- 12 different programs have won the Big Ten in the seasons on record (1953-2025).
- Ohio State leads current members with 24 titles.
- Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, Illinois and Indiana have each won it more than once.
- The title is decided by the Big Ten Championship Game between the top two teams in the standings.
24 Most titles Ohio State
2025 Reigning champion Indiana (16-0)
12 Different champions 1953-2025
Big Ten titles by program
| Team | Titles | Years won |
|---|---|---|
 Ohio State Buckeyes | 24 | 1954, 1955, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
 Michigan Wolverines | 17 | 1964, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2003, 2004, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
 Michigan State Spartans | 9 | 1953, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987, 1997, 2010, 2013, 2015 |
 Wisconsin Badgers | 6 | 1959, 1962, 1993, 1999, 2011, 2012 |
 Iowa Hawkeyes | 4 | 1956, 1958, 1985, 1990 |
 Penn State Nittany Lions | 4 | 1994, 2005, 2008, 2016 |
 Illinois Fighting Illini | 3 | 1963, 1983, 2001 |
 Indiana Hoosiers | 2 | 1967, 2025 |
 Minnesota Golden Gophers | 1 | 1960 |
 Northwestern Wildcats | 1 | 1995 |
 Oregon Ducks | 1 | 2024 |
 Purdue Boilermakers | 1 | 2000 |
 Maryland Terrapins | 0 | - |
 Nebraska Cornhuskers | 0 | - |
 Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 0 | - |
 UCLA Bruins | 0 | - |
 USC Trojans | 0 | - |
 Washington Huskies | 0 | - |
Every Big Ten champion, year by year
Source: CollegeFootballData via the CFB Data Hub, retrieved 2026-10-07. The current season is tracked live on the standings.
How this year's race is shaping up
The two teams at the top of the final conference standings meet in the Big Ten Championship Game, and the winner takes the title. See who leads now on the Big Ten standings, model the finish with the title race calculator, or read how the conference's national championships are split.
Across the 73 Big Ten seasons on record (1953-2025), Ohio State has won the conference most often among current members, with 24 titles. Michigan has 17 titles. The most recent champion is Indiana (2025).
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Frequently asked questions
Who has won the Big Ten the most?
Among current members, Ohio State, with 24 Big Ten titles in the seasons on record (1953-2025).
Who won the most recent Big Ten title?
Indiana won the Big Ten in 2025 at 16-0.
How is the Big Ten champion decided?
The top two teams in the final Big Ten standings meet in the Big Ten Championship Game, and the winner is the conference champion.