Ranking Big Ten teams by all-time winning percentage
247Sports put out an article ranking the best college football teams by their winning percentage, but the list only used the top 50 teams in college. The list was used for wins and losses after the 2020 season, the 2021 season was not included.
While there were quite a few Big Ten teams located in the top 50, not all the teams in the conference were included in this list, so it made me wonder where all the Big Ten schools were located using their win percentage.
Since the following schools aren’t in the Big Ten, we can share with you who is in the top five. Alabama is second in win percentage with .731, Notre Dame is third with .730, and Boise State is in fifth — while it has half the wins that Oklahoma has in sixth — with .728.
You can now see below the order of the 14 Big Ten schools using all-time winning percentage.
List
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Indiana
Photo: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 122
All-time record: (499-696-44)
Winning percentage: .421
Notes: The Hoosiers first began playing football in 1884 and Indiana ranks 100th-overall with 499 all-time wins.
Northwestern
(AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Overall rank: 112
All-time record: (558-685-44)
Winning percentage: .451
Notes: The Wildcats began playing football in 1882, and Northwestern is ranked 80th with 558 all-time wins.
Rutgers
Photo: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 94
All-time record: (662-682-42)
Winning percentage: .493
Notes: The Scarlet Knights began organized football back in 1869 and Rutgers is ranked 41st with 662 all-time wins.
Illinois
Photo: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 88
All-time record: (619-613-50)
Winning percentage: .502
Notes: Illinois first began playing football in 1890 and the Fighting Illini is ranked 58th with 619 all-time wins in program history.
Maryland
Photo: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 79
All-time record: (661-614-43)
Winning percentage: .518
Notes: Maryland began playing football in 1892 when it went 0-3, and the Terps are ranked 42nd with 661 all-time wins.
Purdue
Photo: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 78
All-time record: (629-583-48)
Winning percentage: .518
Notes: Purdue gets the edge on Maryland since it has fewer all-time losses. The Boilermakers began playing football back in 1887 and are ranked 52nd with 629 all-time wins.
Iowa
Photo: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 67
All-time record: (677-567-39)
Winning percentage: .543
Notes: Iowa went 0-1 back in 1889 during its first year of football, and the Hawkeyes are ranked 38th with 677 all-time wins.
Minnesota
Photo: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 43
All-time record: (718-532-44)
Winning percentage: .572
Notes: The Gophers began playing football back in 1882 when they went 1-1, and Minnesota is ranked 28th with 718 all-time wins.
Wisconsin
Photo: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 33
All-time record: (728-506-53)
Winning percentage: .586
Notes: Wisconsin began playing football back in 1889 when it went 0-2, and the Badgers are ranked 25th with 728 all-time wins.
Michigan State
Photo: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 26
All-time record: (721-472-44)
Winning percentage: .601
Notes: The Spartans started organized football back in 1896 when they went 1-2-1 and MSU is ranked 26th with 721 all-time wins.
Nebraska
Photo: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 10
All-time record: (908-409-40)
Winning percentage: .684
Notes: Nebraska began 2-0 back in 1890 and the Huskers are ranked No. 8 with 908 all-time wins.
Penn State
Photo: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 9
All-time record: (909-404-42)
Winning percentage: .686
Notes: Penn State began 2-0 back in 1887, and the Nittany Lions are ranked No. 7 with 909 all-time wins.
Michigan
Dec 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Michigan Wolverines football helmet sits on the field prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Michigan Wolverines at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 4
All-time record: (976-352-36)
Winning percentage: .729
Notes: Michigan began football back in 1879 and the Wolverines are the winningest football program with 976 all-time wins.
Ohio State
Photo: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Overall rank: 1
All-time record: (942-329-53)
Winning percentage: .731
Notes: The Buckeyes started playing football back in 1889 and Ohio State is ranked third with 942 all-time wins.
