Being ranked in college football’s top ten or reaching college basketball’s Sweet Sixteen alone are feats that any athletic department would celebrate. It’s a sign that you’re program is headed in the right direction, or, that it’s reached a level of consistency that’s hard to maintain these days.

And, for many programs, it’s either one or the other. Either your football program is pulling its weight, or the basketball team is a competitive out in March. Rarely is it both.

Unless, of course, you’re from the B1G.

This year, the B1G has three teams advancing to the Sweet Sixteen – Purdue, Wisconsin and Michigan. What’s even more impressive, though, is that the Badgers and Wolverines also finished the year ranked in the AP top 10 on the gridiron.

Those are the only two programs to accomplish that task this year.

So that got us wondering about some of the most successful seasons for football and basketball in the same academic year.

Since there’s so much information out there, and differences in tournaments, ranking systems, etc. throughout history, we decided to narrow our search down to the 21st century. And we still were able to find some really, really good combinations.

RELATED: B1G’s Best Basketball/Football Combo of the 21st Century

We know that this month is all about the Final Four, but we decided to keep our countdown list at five.

Here are the five best football/basketball school years since 2000:

5. Illinois (2001-2002)

Football: 10-2 (7-1 B1G) – B1G champions – Sugar Bowl appearance

Basketball: 26-9 (11-5 B1G) – B1G champions – Sweet Sixteen appearance

Considering the current state of Illinois’ football and basketball programs, it’s hard to imagine their was a time that both were at the top of the B1G. But in 2001-2002, the Illini were conference champions both on the field and the court.

Thanks to wins over Ohio State in Columbus, and a last-minute comeback against Penn State, the Illini clinched their only B1G football title and 10-win year of the 21st century:

Over in Assembly Hall, Bill Self had produced a second-straight conference championship. The Illini were led by Frank Williams and Brian Cook, who played a major role in the team’s 26-9 record and third-consecutive NCAA tournament bid.

Illinois cruised past San Diego State and Creighton in the first two rounds before falling to Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen.

Though neither postseason ended as desired – Illinois also lost its Sugar Bowl game against LSU – it was still a big year for the campus. It’s certainly a place current athletic director Josh Whitman would like to return to sometime soon.

4. Michigan State (2014-2015)

Football: 11-2 (7-1 B1G) – Cotton Bowl win

Basketball: 27-12 (12-6 B1G) – Final Four appearance

Had the Spartans been able to fend off Ohio State in East Lansing in November, it would’ve been a really good year for Michigan State’s athletic department.

Both teams had pretty good regular seasons in 2014-2015, but  it was really the postseason magic that made this year so memorable.

Trailing 41-21 entering the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl against Baylor, the Spartans rallied and scored 21 unanswered points to knock off the Bears 42-41. It clinched the team’s 11th win of the year and Michigan State rounded out the season ranked No. 5 nationally.

The basketball team surprised everyone, too.

As a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament, the Spartans managed to knock off Gonzaga in the opening round, then proceeded to beat a two-seed (Virginia), three-seed (Oklahoma) and four-seed (Louisville) to get to the Final Four in Indianapolis.  Michigan State then fell 81-61 to Duke in the national semi-final game.

Though there were no B1G titles or national titles that year, both teams still had great regular seasons, capped by amazing postseason performances.

3. Michigan State (2013-2014)

Football: 13-1 (8-0 B1G) – B1G champions – Rose Bowl win

Basketball: 29-9 (12-6 B1G) – B1G Tournament champions – Elite Eight appearance

Mark Dantonio and Tom Izzo might be the best football/basketball coaching duo in all of college sports. And that’s why Michigan State is on this list twice.

This year just edges out the 2014-15 season because the Spartans were able to claim a few titles along the way.

Despite a strong 7-1 start on the gridiron, Michigan State wasn’t taken seriously as a B1G contender. But with an 8-0 record in the conference and beating Ohio State in the conference title game proved the Spartans were the real deal.

To emphasize that point, Dantonio’s bunch took care of Stanford in the Rose Bowl to finish the year 13-1, the school’s highest win-total ever.

Izzo’s team didn’t have the same success at the end of the regular season – losing seven of the final 12 games – but “Mr, March” had his team ready to play come tournament time.

Michigan State won the B1G tournament and carried that success over to the NCAA tournament. The Spartans knocked off top-seeded Virginia in the Sweet Sixteen to come within one win of another Final Four berth.

The road ended after a 60-54 loss to UConn.

But a B1G football title and conference tournament title, along with some strong postseason showings, is still a really good year.

2. Wisconsin (2014-2015)

Football: 11-3 (7-1 B1G) – B1G West champions – Outback Bowl win

Basketball: 36-4 (16-2 B1G) – B1G champions – B1G Tournament champions – National championship appearance

Not only was this a spectacular year for both programs, each team had an outstanding individual that earned national recognition.

Wisconsin lost just two regular season games in 2014, thanks in large part to the legs of Melvin Gordon. The prolific back rushed for an NCAA-best 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns. The Badgers took the West division and competed for a conference title against Ohio State.

After a disappointing loss in Indianapolis, Wisconsin was able to knock off Auburn in the Outback Bowl to get its 11th win of the year.

Wisconsin had a star on the floor, too, in the form of seven-footer Frank Kamisky. He led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists and had become one of the toughest players in college basketball to defend.

The Badgers won the B1G regular season title as well as the tournament championship on their way to a second-straight Final Four appearance. In the national semifinal game, Wisconsin was pitted against undefeated Kentucky, a rematch from the year before.

And the Badgers got revenge.

After pulling off the upset and ending a potential perfect season, it looked like Wisconsin might add a national title to its impressive list. But the Badgers fell short against Duke in the championship game 68-63.

If the team accomplishments weren’t enough, both Gordon and Kamisky received some of the highest honors at the end of their respective season.

Kamisky was named the Naismith College Player of the Year, awarded to the nation’s top basketball player. While Gordon didn’t bring the award back to Madison, he was a finalist in the Heisman Trophy ballot.

1. Ohio State (2006-2007)

Football: 12-1 (8-0 B1G) – B1G champions – BCS Championship appearance

Basketball: 35-4 (15-1 B1G) – B1G champions – B1G tourney champions – National championship appearance

The only thing better than playing in a national championship game in football and basketball in the academic year, is winning a national championship in football and basketball in the academic year.

Ohio State had been ranked No. 1 in both sports at points throughout the year, an impressive accomplishment for any athletic department.

On the field, the Buckeyes made it through the entire regular season unscathed, winning by an average of nearly 26 points per game. They were led by Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith at quarterback and were loaded with NFL talent. Ohio State didn’t face many challenges, except for the season-finale against arch-rival, and No. 2-ranked, Michigan.

But the Buckeyes survived with a 42-39 win and punched their ticket to the BCS Championship. Their opponent for a national title was Florida.

In Value City Arena, Ohio State was running all over the conference, too. With Greg Oden and Mike Conley, Jr. on the roster, the Buckeyes were 30-3 entering the NCAA tournament with a B1G regular season title and tournament title in hand.

After several close match-ups throughout March Madness, the Buckeyes were able to reach the national title game. Their opponent, once again, was Florida.

Ohio State came out on the wrong end of both of those title bouts. Florida took the BCS title with a 41-14 win, and then followed it up with an 84-75 victory on the hardwood. It wasn’t an ideal finish for such successful seasons in Columbus.

Still, Ohio State had plenty to celebrate with its B1G titles, a Heisman Trophy winner and one of the top college basketball players in the country. Even if Florida had the best year of any school in the country, this is still the best season any B1G program has had in the 21st century.