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Ohio State Football: The state of Big Ten football, ranking the programs

By Frank Teriaca

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after winning the Big Ten Championship against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after winning the Big Ten Championship against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Tanner Morgan #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates after winning the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Auburn Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Tanner Morgan #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates after winning the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Auburn Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

No. 6 University of Minnesota

This is a program poised to make a run to join the next tier of good programs in the Big Ten. PJ Fleck has installed a winning culture as the Golden Gophers finished 11-2 and second in the Big Ten West in 2019.

While the recruiting numbers are still on the bottom half of the Big Ten, Minnesota is poised to make a leap with good facilities and one of the biggest cities in the Midwest in its backyard.

No. 7 Michigan State University

This is where programs start becoming jumbled, but Michigan State is a program that has seen good success the past decade. Mark Dantonio is a very good football coach who recruits the Midwest well, although their 2020 class dipped to No.44 overall.

The Spartans need a good season to bounce back and keep their foothold as a top half of the conference team.

No. 8 Northwestern University

Even though the Wildcats finished 3-9 in 2019, Northwestern is only one season removed from being in the Big Ten Championship game. And with Pat Fitzgerald still at head coach this is still a well run program that should see its fair share of success as long as he is in Evanston.

No. 9 Nebraska University

This ranking has everything to do with potential versus what we have seen on the field the past few years. Coach Scott Frost is a very good coach and recruiter who should be able to build a good program if given the opportunity. The Cornhuskers finished with the No.4 overall recruiting class in the Big Ten for 2020.

No. 10 Indiana University

The Hoosiers are starting to see some success under head coach Tom Allen, who by all accounts has been an excellent recruiter for them. After an 8-5 season and a trip to the TaxSlayer Bowl, Indiana looks to build on last seasons success in 2020.

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