The Big Ten Conference has been at the vanguard of change in college football since the league's inception, so history is always a topic of interest for Big Ten football.
For more recent history, RotoWire.com continues its college football betting insight by looking back at the past quarter of a century to choose the top Big Ten players since 2000. These selections are subjective, based on awards, accolades, statistics and overall impact while these players were at their schools. Players had to have played in the Big Ten from 2000 to 2024.
All-Big Ten Team From The Past 25 Years (2000-2024)
Offense
Position | Player | Team | Years |
QB | C.J. Stroud | Ohio State | 2020-2022 |
RB | Jonathan Taylor | Wisconsin | 2017-2019 |
RB | Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2015-2017 |
WR | Marvin Harrison Jr. | Ohio State | 2021-2023 |
WR | Braylon Edwards | Michigan | 2001-2004 |
WR | Charles Rogers | Michigan State | 2000-2001 |
TE | T.J. Hockenson | Iowa | 2016-2018 |
OT | Joe Thomas | Wisconsin | 2003-2006 |
OG | Wyatt Davis | Ohio State | 2018-2020 |
C | Greg Eslinger | Minnesota | 2002-2005 |
OG | Dan Feeney | Indiana | 2012-2016 |
OT | Jake Long | Michigan | 2003-2007 |
Defense
Position | Player | Team | Years |
DE | Chase Young | Ohio State | 2017-2019 |
DT | Johnny Newton | Illinois | 2020-2023 |
DT | Kawaan Short | Purdue | 2009-2012 |
DE | Aidan Hutchinson | Michigan | 2018-2021 |
LB | James Laurinaitis | Ohio State | 2005-2008 |
LB | Paul Posluszny | Penn State | 2003-2006 |
LB | Greg Jones | Michigan State | 2007-2010 |
CB | Darqueze Dennard | Michigan State | 2010-2013 |
S | Mike Doss | Ohio State | 2000-2002 |
S | Jim Leonhard | Wisconsin | 2002-2004 |
CB | Desmond King | Iowa | 2013-2016 |
Special Teams
Position | Player | Team | Years |
K | Mike Nugent | Ohio State | 2001-2004 |
P | Tory Taylor | Iowa | 2020-2023 |
Returner | Ted Ginn Jr. | Ohio State | 2004-2006 |
Head Coach
Coach | Team | Years |
Jim Tressel | Ohio State | 2001-2010 |
This list is exclusive to RotoWire.com, where you can find the best sportsbook promo codes all season.
Who's Our Pick For Top Big Ten QB Of Quarter Century?
The most recent Heisman Trophy winner to come out of the Big Ten was Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith in 2006 (Oregon and USC have produced Heisman winners since, but those schools played in the Pac-12 at the time so we're not counting them here).
But Smith was aced out by another Buckeye for the starting quarterback spot on our list of the best Big Ten players of the past quarter century.
C.J. Stroud starred at OSU in 2021 and 2022, earning the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award in both seasons. In 2021, Stroud led the league in passing yards (4,435), yards per attempt (10.1), passing touchdowns (44) and pass efficiency rating (186.6), then followed that in 2022 by leading the NCAA in pass efficiency with a 177.7 rating.
Stroud also set OSU's single-game passing record with 573 yards in a 48-45 victory over Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl. He was third in Heisman Trophy voting in '22 and fourth the year before.
Now a member of the Houston Texans, Stroud should be a popular U.S. online sportsbooks wagering prop for his performances in the 2025-26 NFL season.
Ohio State Dominates Big Team Selections Since 2000
As one might expect from a program that has won or shared 12 conference championships and captured three national titles since 2000, Ohio State leads the pack in selections for the RotoWire Big 10 all-quarter century team.
In all, OSU accounts for a third of the selections on our list, nine out of 27, including a spot for Jim Tressel as the league's top head coach over the past 25 years. Here's a breakdown from your home for top college football betting sites:
- Ohio State 9
- Iowa 3
- Michigan 3
- Michigan State 3
- Wisconsin 3
- Penn State 2
- Illinois 1
- Indiana 1
- Minnesota 1
- Purdue 1
Other Buckeyes on our list include All Americans such as wide receiver Marvin Harrison (pictured above with Stroud), defensive end Chase Young and safety Mike Doss, a standout from OSU's 2002 national championship team.
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Hawkeyes, Wolverines, Spartans and Badgers Land Three Each
Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin each earned three selections on our list.
For the Hawkeyes, tight end T.J. Hockenson and cornerback Desmond King are joined by punter Tory Taylor on our list. The Wolverines can boast record-setting receiver Braylon Edwards, offensive tackle Jake Long and DE Aidan Hutchinson. Running back Jonathan Taylor, OT Joe Thomas and S Jim Leonhard all were standouts for the Badgers before starring in the NFL. WR Charles Rogers, linebacker Greg Jones and cornerback Darqueze Dennard represent the Spartans.
Odds For 2025 College Football Season
College football odds for the upcoming season have Ohio State as the favorite to win the Big Ten – remember, the Buckeyes won the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff last season but didn't even make the league championship game. As of July 29, OSU has +190 odds to win the conference with several operators. The Buckeyes are followed by the two teams that played in the 2024 Big Ten title game, Penn State (with odds between +210 and +240) and Oregon (from +300 to +350 odds with the sportsbooks we sampled).
As for the CFP winner in January 2026, the Buckeyes are either the first or second choice at leading sports betting apps, jockeying with Texas for the role as preseason wagering favorite.
