Last year, ESPN released its “Position U” rankings, providing a list of the 10-best programs at each position throughout the history of college football. This year, the four-letter network has updated its rankings with a “2.0” version.

Only one B1G team earned top honors at any position, with Ohio State being named as “Defensive Back U.” The Buckeyes were also included on several other top 10 lists across the different position, but this was the conference’s only No. 1 ranking among the eight position groups that were included.

ESPN explains why it selected Ohio State as the No. 1 school for DBs:

Perhaps no position starts an argument more quickly than defensive back, where Ohio State, LSU, Florida, Florida State, Texas and Virginia Tech routinely tout the DBU moniker. Indeed, the margin between Ohio State and LSU is virtually zero, but the Buckeyes certainly deserve their ever-so-slight edge. Ohio State had two DBs taken in the first round this year — Jeff Okudah at No. 9 and Damon Arnette at No. 19 — bringing its total to eight first-round DBs in just the past seven drafts. The Buckeyes have a whopping 30 All-Big Ten performers during the Position U era and seven All-Americans (though LSU has more at 10). Shaun Wade will almost certainly add to that total in the 2021 draft, though LSU could still push ahead next year thanks to the dominance of rising sophomore Derek Stingley Jr.

Throughout the “Position U” rankings, five of the 14 programs in the B1G received recognition. The conference was most prominent in the “Offensive Line U” category, landing four teams inside the top 10. The conference also had multiple selections for “Tight End U,” “Defensive Line U,” and “Linebacker U.”

Here’s where B1G programs stacked up for each position group:

Sports Betting in Big Ten Country

There is big news coming to the upcoming 2022-23 Big Ten football season (and NFL season). Ohio online sports betting and Maryland sports betting are on the way.

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

QB U

  • No. 10: Ohio State

RB U

  • No. 2: Wisconsin

WR U

  • No. 4: Ohio State

TE U

  • No. 2: Iowa
  • No. 7: Wisconsin
  • No. 8: Michigan

OL U

  • No. 2: Wisconsin
  • No. 4: Ohio State
  • No. 5: Michigan
  • No. 9: Iowa

DL U

  • No. 3: Ohio State
  • No. 5: Penn State

LB U

  • No. 3: Ohio State
  • No. 5: Penn State
  • No. 7: Michigan

DB U

  • No. 1: Ohio State

You can view ESPN’s complete list here.