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ESPN tabs 4 B1G squads among biggest underachievers of last 30 seasons
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While the list spans 1981-2020, Rittenberg’s criteria places a greater emphasis on the last 15-20 years.
Four B1G programs had the misfortune of receiving a place on this list, two of whom – Michigan and Nebraska – were likely guesses by fans of the conference.
“Although Michigan didn’t contend nationally as often as Miami did in the 1980s and early 1990s, the Wolverines still recorded eight AP top-eight finishes between 1983 and 1992, and they won or shared seven Big Ten titles between 1982 and 1992,” Rittenberg said of the Ann Arbor-based operation.
“Michigan won a national title in 1997 and have five top-10 finishes between 1997 and 2006. But the program has become increasingly less competitive nationally and even in the Big Ten, where it hasn’t won a championship since 2004.
“The Wolverines have dropped eight straight games to Ohio State and have beaten the Buckeyes just once since 2003.”
Entering the seventh season of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure, Michigan is looking to rebound from a 2-4 mark in 2020. The Wolverines will begin their slate on September 4 with a home date with the Western Michigan Broncos at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Cornhuskers’ last conference title came under Frank Solich in 1999, when they were still residing in the Big 12 North.
Since joining the B1G in 2011, the program has reached double-digit wins only once – a 10-4 mark in 2012 – and last played in a bowl game in 2016.
Fourth-year head coach Scott Frost is 12-20 (9-17 B1G) at the helm of his alma mater. Nebraska will begin their 2021 season on August 28 in Champaign against Illinois at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
Speaking of the Fighting Illini, they were one of the two other B1G teams to make Rittenberg’s list, along with Maryland.
Parting ways with Lovie Smith to bring in ex-Wisconsin head man Bret Bielema, Illinois has played in just one bowl game over the last six seasons – a Redbox Bowl loss to the Cal Golden Bears in 2019.
Like the Cornhuskers, Maryland’s last conference championship came in a different league, as the Terrapins last captured the ACC title in 2001 under Ralph Friedgen.
Embarking on their third year with Mike Locksley, Maryland will battle the West Virginia Mountaineers at home on September 4 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.