Figuring out which B1G school has had the best basketball/football combination this century

Last week, my wife and I were watching Duke and North Carolina in the ACC Tournament. Obviously those are a couple of basketball blue bloods. Nobody thinks “football” when they think of either of those programs.

In fact, the same can be said for many of the other college basketball powers. Arizona, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova and UCLA are just a few of the dominant basketball programs that are considered a bit one-sided. And on the flip side, places like Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Stanford and USC are football schools with basketball programs.

After pointing that out, my wife asked a question many college sports fans have.

“Are any schools good at both basketball and football? Which ones are the best?”

Naturally, the B1G schools came to mind. Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin all are among the best. Michigan should be in that discussion as well. When you think about it, the B1G might have three of the five or six best combo schools in the country.

So I thought of a way to try and answer my wife’s question, at least within the B1G. I came up with the Basketball Football Combo (BFC) Index. It’s meant to equally weigh success in both basketball and football to determine which program has the best combination. You can’t just add up total wins because teams play three times as many basketball games as football games.

To maintain some relevance, I stayed within the timeframe of the 21st century. Let me back up. I started at the beginning of the 2000-01 school year. Sorry, Michigan State fans. That means your NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament title from 2000 won’t count towards your BFC Index.

Why? Well, if I included that, I would’ve had to include only games from half of that season. It also would’ve made only certain football bowl games eligible based on whether or not they played after Jan. 1, 2000.

I also did not include Maryland, Nebraska and Rutgers in this ranking. Considering all three programs played non-B1G competition for at least 11 years of this timeframe, I didn’t think it was fair to include them.

With that in mind, here’s how the 11 B1G schools ranked using the BFC Index.

KEY

BASKETBALL (from 2000-01 through 2016-17)

0.5 points per win
2 points per B1G regular season title
2 points per B1G Tournament Championship win
2 points per NCAA Tournament win
4 points per Final Four appearance
6 points per National Championship appearance
10 points per National Championship victory

FOOTBALL (from 2000-01 through 2016-17)

1 point per win
2 points per B1G regular season title (pre-division era)
2 points per B1G Championship Game win
2 points per BCS/NY6/CFP appearance
3 points per BCS/NY6/CFP victory
4 points per National Championship appearance
5 points per National Championship victory
Multiply total football score by 1.5

Basketball score + Football score = Total/10 = BFC Index

11. NORTHWESTERN

Basketball

Total wins = 241 x 0.5 = 120.5
B1G regular season titles = 0
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 0
NCAA Tournament wins = 0
Final Four appearances = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 111
B1G regular season titles = 1 x 2 = 2
B1G Championship Game wins = 0
BCS/NY6CFP appearances = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 113 x 1.5 = 169.5

Basketball score (120.5) + Football score (169.5) = Total(290)/10 = 29.00 BFC Index

10. INDIANA

Basketball

Total wins = 327 x 0.5 = 163.5
B1G regular season titles = 3 x 2 = 6
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 0
NCAA Tournament wins = 15 x 2 = 30
Final Four appearances = 1 x 4 = 4
National Championship appearances = 1 x 6 = 6
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 70
B1G regular season titles = 0
B1G Championship Game wins = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP game appearances = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 70 x 1.5 = 105

Basketball score (209.5) + Football score (105) = Total(314.5)/10 = 31.45 BFC Index

9. MINNESOTA

Basketball

Total wins = 311 x 0.5 = 155.5
B1G regular season titles = 0
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 0
NCAA Tournament wins = 1 x 2 = 2
Final Four appearances = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 105
B1G regular season titles = 0
B1G Championship Game wins = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP appearances = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 210

Basketball score (157.5) + Football score (157.5) = Total(315)/10 = 31.50 BFC Index

8. PURDUE

Basketball

Total wins = 336 x 0.5 = 168
B1G regular season titles = 2 x 2 = 4
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 1 x 2 = 2
NCAA Tournament wins = 9 x 2 = 18
Final Four appearances = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 93
B1G regular season titles = 1 x 2 = 2
B1G Championship Game wins = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP appearances = 1 x 2 = 2
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 97 x 1.5 = 145.5

Basketball score (192) + Football score (145.5) = Total(337.5)/10 = 33.75 BFC Index

7. PENN STATE

Basketball

Total wins = 235 x 0.5 = 117.5
B1G regular season titles = 0
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 0
NCAA Tournament wins = 2 x 2 = 4
Final Four appearances = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 133
B1G regular season titles = 2 x 2 = 4
B1G Championship Game wins = 1 x 2 = 2
BCS/NY6/CFP appearances = 3 x 2 = 6
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 1 x 3 = 3
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 148 x 1.5 = 222

Basketball score (121.5) + Football score (222) = Total(343.5)/10 = 34.35 BFC Index

6. ILLINOIS

Basketball

Total wins = 383 x 0.5 = 191.5
B1G regular season titles = 4 x 2 = 8
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 2 x 2 = 4
NCAA Tournament wins = 16 x 2 = 32
Final Four appearances = 1 x 4 = 4
National Championship appearances = 1 x 6 = 6
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 79
B1G regular season titles = 1 x 2 = 2
B1G Championship Game wins = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP game appearances = 2 x 2 = 4
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 85 x 1.5 = 127.5

Basketball score (245.5) + Football score (127.5) = Total(373)/10 = 37.30 BFC Index

5. IOWA

Basketball

Total wins = 312 x 0.5 = 156
B1G regular season titles = 0
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 2 x 2 = 4
NCAA Tournament wins = 3 x 2 = 6
Final Four appearances = 0
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 134
B1G regular season titles = 2 x 2 = 4
B1G Championship Game wins = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP game appearances = 3 x 2 = 6
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 1 x 3 = 3
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 147 x 1.5 = 220.5

Basketball score (166) + Football score (220.5) = Total (386.5)/10 = 38.65 BFC Index

4. MICHIGAN

Basketball

Total wins = 332 x 0.5 = 166
B1G regular season titles = 2 x 2 = 4
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 1 x 2 = 2
NCAA Tournament wins = 11 x 2 = 22
Final Four appearances = 1 x 4 = 4
National Championship appearances = 1 x 6 = 6
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 139
B1G regular season titles = 3 x 2 = 6
B1G Championship Game wins = 0
BCS/NY6/CFP appearances = 4 x 2 = 8
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 1 x 3 = 3
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 156 x 1.5 = 234

Basketball score (204) + Football score (234) = Total(438)/10 = 43.80 BFC Index

3. MICHIGAN STATE

Basketball

Total wins = 423 x 0.5 = 211.5
B1G regular season titles = 4 x 2 = 8
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 4 x 2 = 8
NCAA Tournament wins = 35 x 2 = 70
Final Four appearances = 5 x 4 = 20
National Championship appearances = 1 x 6 = 6
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 128
B1G regular season titles = 1 x 2 = 2
B1G Championship Game wins = 2 x 2 = 4
BCS/NY6/CFP appearances = 3 x 2 = 6
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 2 x 3 = 6
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 146 x 1.5 = 219

Basketball score (323.5) + Football score (219) = Total (542.5)/10 = 54.25 BFC Index

2. WISCONSIN

Basketball

Total wins = 422 x 0.5 = 211
B1G regular season titles = 4 x 2 = 8
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 3 x 2 = 6
NCAA Tournament wins = 27 x 2 = 54
Final Four appearances = 2 x 4 = 8
National Championship appearances = 1 x 6 = 6
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 157
B1G regular season titles = 1 x 2 = 2
B1G Championship Game wins = 2 x 2 = 4
BCS/NY6/CFP appearances = 4 x 2 = 8
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 1 x 3 = 3
National Championship appearances = 0
National Championship victories = 0
Score X 1.5 = 174 x 1.5 = 261

Basketball score (293) + Football score (261) = Total (554)/10 = 55.40 BFC Index

1. OHIO STATE

Basketball

Total wins = 408 x 0.5 = 204
B1G regular season titles = 6 x 2 = 12
B1G Tournament Championship wins = 5 x 2 = 10
NCAA Tournament wins = 19 x 2 = 38
Final Four appearances = 2 x 4 = 8
National Championship appearances = 1 x 6 = 6
National Championship victories = 0

Football

Total wins = 181
B1G regular season titles = 7 x 2 = 14
B1G Championship Game wins = 1 x 2 = 2
BCS/NY6/CFP appearances = 13 x 2 = 26
BCS/NY6/CFP victories = 8 x 3 = 24
National Championship appearances = 4 x 4 = 16
National Championship victories = 2 x 5 = 10
Score X 1.5 = 273 x 1.5 = 409.5

Basketball score (278) + Football score (409.5) = Total (687.5)/10 = 68.75 BFC Index

B1G BFC Index Rankings

11. Northwestern (29.00)

10. Indiana (31.45)

9. Minnesota (31.50)

8. Purdue (33.75)

7. Penn State (34.35)

6. Illinois (37.30)

5. Iowa (38.65)

4. Michigan (43.80)

3. Michigan State (54.25)

2. Wisconsin (55.40)

1. Ohio State (68.75)

In case you were wondering, Florida, a program with multiple national championships in both basketball and football, got a 65.0 BFC Index. Also, I included every program’s vacated wins because whether the NCAA wants us to believe it or not, those games actually happened.

And yes, I know, Wisconsin fans. The Badgers earned a bowl berth and an NCAA Tournament berth in 15 straight years. No other B1G school even comes close to that. If you want to scrap BFC Index and use that as your argument, by all means.

Not a fan of the BFC Index? Want another system?

If you do, it probably isn’t fair to consider NCAA Tournament appearances the same as bowl appearances. After all, it takes a lot more than a .500 record to get into the NCAA Tournament. You essentially have to win roughly two-thirds of your games (a loose number, yes) to get into the field. In college football terms, that’s like having an eight-win season.

So you could just add up every 8-win football season and every NCAA Tournament appearance. Here’s what that would look like:

11. Northwestern — 5 + 1 = 6

T9. Indiana — 0 + 10 = 10

T9. Minnesota — 5 + 5 = 10

8. Penn State — 9 + 2 = 11

7. Illinois — 2 + 10 = 12

T5. Purdue — 4 + 10 = 14

T5. Iowa — 8 + 6 = 14

4. Michigan — 11 + 7 = 18

3. Michigan State — 7 + 17 = 24

2. Ohio State — 15 + 11 = 26

1. Wisconsin — 14 + 17 = 31

Pretty much anyway you draw it up, the top two B1G programs in that category are going to be Ohio State and Wisconsin. If you want to say which B1G program has the best combination right now, that argument probably goes to Wisconsin. Nationally, you’d be hard-pressed to find two programs that rank better in both metrics than Ohio State and Wisconsin.

It took a lot of math to prove that.