Big Ten reigns as king of college sports: Conference stamps its mark in 2026 with championship dominance

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MisterGopher

MisterGopher

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https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...ge-sports-king-nil-era-michigan-indiana-ucla/

The Big Ten is the biggest winner in college sports.

With Michigan's victory over UConn in the NCAA Tournament national championship game on Monday, the conference became the first league in history to hold the D-1 men's basketball, women's basketball and football national championships. Michigan joined UCLA, which won the women's title on Sunday, and Indiana, which won the College Football Playoff in January, as three of the league's current national champions in their respective sports.

The conference's domination doesn't end there, either. Yes, Indiana won the national title in football -- the sport that stirs the drink -- but it was the third straight Big Ten team to do so. It followed in the footsteps of Ohio State and Michigan, which means the Wolverines have won a football and men's basketball title within three years of one another. Michigan is the first school to accomplish that since Florida won football titles in 2006 and 2008 while winning back-to-back basketball titles in 2006 and 2007.

More Big Ten domination coming in 2026?​

The Big Ten's run of success isn't limited to the three "big" sports, either. The league is winning damn near everything at the moment. Wisconsin's women's hockey team won a national title in March. The men's Frozen Four, which will take place later this week, mirrors the Final Four in that it includes two Big Ten teams. The only difference is that instead of those two being Michigan and Illinois, they're Michigan and Wisconsin. While the No. 1 seed Wolverines are far from a sure thing there, they are the current favorites to win.

And, in what could be one more cruel twist of the knife for the SEC, the league that has seen its football dominance give way to its great rival from the north, the Big Ten, may wrest away a championship in the other sport the league loves. UCLA, the home of projected No. 1 pick in this summer's MLB Draft, Roch Cholowsky, is currently the favorite at sportsbooks to win the College World Series.
 

Hopefully the revenue share that we get from this will help us take the next step up!
 


Are you proud when everyone on your street gets a promotion while your paycheck is getting eaten alive by inflation? Still happy to be able to live here I guess.
 

NateDawgUM said:
Are you proud when everyone on your street gets a promotion while your paycheck is getting eaten alive by inflation? Still happy to be able to live here I guess.
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This.

I've never understood the conference pride thing. I know the BT has a great brand, and aren't in jeopardy of becoming a mid-major. Therefore, I couldn't care less if a BT team wins, I never ever cheer for wisconsin or Iowa, I hate that Nebraska and Iowa had good basketball seasons, I want the Badgers to get crushed this weekend in hockey. Those teams recruit against us.

Go Gophers!!
 
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BleedGopher said:
This.

I've never understood the conference pride thing. I know the BT has a great brand, and aren't in jeopardy of becoming a mid-major. Therefore, I couldn't care less if a BT team wins, I never ever cheer for wisconsin or Iowa, I hate that Nebraska and Iowa had good basketball seasons, I want the Badgers to get crushed this weekend in hockey. Those teams recruit against us.

Go Gophers!!
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You got me with the statement in bold. Can't cheer for either sports program. Not a huge fan of Nebraska, but they do share my "Love" of Iowa sports.
 

I never cheer for the big ten.
Unless they’re playing someone from the sec.
Unless it’s Iowa.
Unless Iowa is playing Wisconsin.
 

I don’t “cheer” for anyone but the Gophers. But I absolutely pull for any and every B1G team playing out of conference. This topic comes up a lot. Someone always says “I’ve never understood the conference pride thing.” Each time, I post a long reply explaining exactly why I enjoy college sports more by being this way. Rinse repeat. It’s like Groundhog Day. Enough. To each their own.
 




BleedGopher said:
This.

I've never understood the conference pride thing. I know the BT has a great brand, and aren't in jeopardy of becoming a mid-major. Therefore, I couldn't care less if a BT team wins, I never ever cheer for wisconsin or Iowa, I hate that Nebraska and Iowa had good basketball seasons, I want the Badgers to get crushed this weekend in hockey. Those teams recruit against us.

Go Gophers!!
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I don't have the bizarre SEC cult obsession with our conference. But all things being equal, i generally prefer the B1G to win over other conferences because wherever we end up in our conference, thats more impressive if we are in the best conference.

Exceptions: I cheer against Wisconsin in every game they play, unless them winning has a direct and tangible effect on us (like if we needed them to win to keep us in the hunt for a berth on the B1G title game, and even then I will feel dirty).

I dislike the SEC so much that I will cheer against Iowa against the SEC. In other out of conference games, my desire to see the B1G succeed is roughly equal to my desire to see Iowa lose, so I dont have strong opinions in those games.
 



After taking away the SEC's previous advantage, cough paying players cough, it looks like they are the same as everyone else.
 




GophersInIowa said:
I think there is some benefit to be able to promote the success of the conference you're in when recruiting. If players can't play for the best, they want to play against the best.
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What did the Nature Boy used to say...To be the best, ya gotta beat the best...Woo!
 



If all 18 (just say that to make it easy) have so much money that they can each go out and buy all the players they need to win a natty, then great. It comes down then to who makes the best decisions on the players bring in and how well you coach them and make gameday playcalls & decisions.
 

Rising tide lifts all boats.
B1G winning is good for the Gophers.
 



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