Why Ohio State is so far ahead of everyone else in the Big Ten

Ohio State has been dominating the Big Ten for the last few years. Why has no one been able to truly challenge them for the conference crown?

Ohio State has been the class of the Big Ten conference for a long time. In the last six years, they have won the conference four times, including the last three years. No one has threatened them for that crown. Why has no one been able to challenge them?

Recruiting is obviously a big reason why the Buckeyes have been able to dominate the rest of the conference. They are the premier program in terms of sending players to the NFL, so that helps with their recruiting pitch. It’s a lot easier for a team to win when they have elite players.

But Ohio State’s domination goes deeper than just recruiting. It also has to do with coaching. Ohio State has had elite coaching over that period, first with Urban Meyer and now with Ryan Day. They have been able to win at a staggering rate because of their coaching.

Other coaches around the league have gotten close, to winning big games against Ohio State, but they haven’t been able to. Only Penn State, Iowa, and Purdue have beaten Ohio State in Big Ten play over the last four years. But even when PSU happened, the Buckeyes still made the CFP.

Perhaps what’s most notable about that stat is who hasn’t been able to beat the Buckeyes. That would be Michigan. TTUN hasn’t beaten Ohio State in 9 years and it doesn’t look like this will be the year either. The gap between the two programs has never looked larger.

Close games are when you find out just how good your team is. The Buckeyes have been able to win those close games within the Big Ten.