As we all know, Northwestern and Ohio State will be playing for the B1G Championship on Saturday night.
Northwestern will be attempting to win their ninth conference title and first since 2000. Northwestern's last two (2000 and 1996) and six of their eight were co-championships which are, of course, no longer possible.
Currently, Northwestern is tied with Purdue for eighth in all-time league titles. With a win Saturday night they would move out of that tie and into a tie with Michigan State for seventh.
Ohio State will be attempting to win their 37th conference title and first back-to-back titles since 2008-09. Ohio State's last back-to-back outright titles were in 2006-2007.
Currently, Ohio State is second in all-time league titles and tied for first since joining the league in 1913.
Michigan holds the lead in all-time titles but Ohio State has been whittling away at their lead since Michigan's most recent title back in 2004. At that time Michigan was 13 titles ahead of second place Ohio State and actually farther ahead of Ohio State than Ohio State was ahead of third place Minnesota.
All time title leaders through the years:
- Wisconsin won the first two league titles (1896 and 1897) and held the lead until Michigan tied them in 1902 and passed them in 1903.
- Michigan held the lead until Minnesota tied them in 1910 and passed them in 1911 (Incidentally, Michigan was out of the league at the time. They left after the 1906 season and were out for 10 seasons from 1907 through 1916.)
- Minnesota held the lead until Michigan tied them in 1922 and passed them in 1923.
- Michigan held the lead until Minnesota tied them in 1940 and passed them in 1941.
- Minnesota held the lead until Michigan tied them in 1943 and passed them in 1947.
- Michigan has held the lead since 1947.
Michigan's current six-title lead over #2 is the smallest that it has been since prior to the 1973 season when they led Minnesota 24-18. If Ohio State wins on Saturday, Michigan's lead will be down to five titles which would be the smallest their lead has been since prior to the 1972 season when they led Minnesota 23-18.
Since Penn State joined (1993-2017):
- 11 titles: Ohio State
- 6 titles: Wisconsin
- 5 titles: Michigan
- 4 titles: Penn State
- 3 titles: Northwestern
- (tie) 3 titles: Michigan State
- 2 titles: Iowa
- 1 title: Illinois
- (tie) 1 title: Purdue
Since Michigan State joined (1953-20017):
- 28 titles: Ohio State
- 22 titles: Michigan
- 9 titles: Michigan State
- 8 titles: Wisconsin
- (tie) 8 titles: Iowa
- 5 titles: Illinois
- 4 titles: Penn State
- 3 titles: Northwestern
- 2 titles: Purdue
- (tie) 2 titles: Minnesota
- 1 title: Indiana
Since Michigan rejoined the conference (1917-2017):
- 36 titles: Michigan
- 35 titles: Ohio State
- 12 titles: Illinois
- 10 titles: Iowa
- (tie) 10 titles: Minnesota
- 9 titles: Wisconsin
- (tie) 9 titles: Michigan State
- 8 titles: Purdue
- 7 titles: Northwestern
- 4 titles: Penn State
- 2 titles: Indiana
- (tie) 2 titles: Chicago
Since Ohio State joined the conference (1913-2017):
- 36 titles: Ohio State
- (tie) 36 titles: Michigan
- 14 titles: Illinois
- 11 titles: Minnesota
- 10 titles: Iowa
- 9 titles: Wisconsin
- (tie) 9 titles: Michigan State
- 8 titles: Purdue
- 7 titles: Northwestern
- 4 titles: Penn State
- 3 titles: Chicago
- 2 titles: Indiana
All-time (1896-2017):
- 42 titles: Michigan (2004 last)
- 36 titles: Ohio State (2017 last)
- 18 titles: Minnesota (1967 last)
- 15 titles: Illinois (2001 last)
- 14 titles: Wisconsin (2012 last)
- 11 titles: Iowa (2004 last)
- 9 titles: Michigan State (2015 last)
- 8 titles: Northwestern (2000 last, 1996 before that)
- 8 titles: Purdue (2000 last, 1967 before that)
- 7 titles: Chicago (1924 last)
- 4 titles: Penn State (2016 last)
- 2 titles: Indiana (1967 last)
Source,
B1G Media Guide.
