Where would Purdue fall in a ranking of B10 football programs

[Woodsa]

I see there is some discussion of the fairness of the divisions within the B10. Never mind the facts of the head-to-head results this year.

But it got me thinking, if you could rank all the schools' football program based on historical strength, where would Purdue fall?

My list is as follows:

1. OSU
2. UM
3. PSU
4. WIS
5. IOWA
6. MSU
7. NEB
8. PUR
9. ILL
10. NW
11. MIN
12. IU
13. MAR
14. RUT

 

[Woodsa]

As a follow-up, I don't care about the list as much as the numerical ranking. For example, Purdue is 6th. However, the list is interesting to me as I'm curious who your top and bottom 3-4 are.

 

[Purdue85]

I see there is some discussion of the fairness of the divisions within the B10. Never mind the facts of the head-to-head results this year.

But it got me thinking, if you could rank all the schools' football program based on historical strength, where would Purdue fall?

My list is as follows:

1. OSU
2. UM
3. PSU
4. WIS
5. IOWA
6. MSU
7. NEB
8. PUR
9. ILL
10. NW
11. MIN
12. IU
13. MAR
14. RUT

Just a gut reaction, but there's no way I put IU ahead of MD.

Can IU and RU be tied?

 

[SIBoiler2]

I believe IU and Rutgers are too highly placed on your list. More like tied for 20th.

 

[FirstDownB]

Nebraska is way way way too low. Everything else is pretty subjective and depends how you weigh recent versus distant history.

 

[Cleanface]

NEB is the #6 winningest program of all time w multiple Nattys. Ahead of Bama, OU, and PSU

They are #3 w PSU close at #4.

MINN ahead of NW. Might put MSU and WIS over IA.

NW, IU, MD, RUT at the bottom.

Actually, here's mine;

1. OSU
2. UM
3. NEB
4. PSU
5. MSU
6. WIS
7. IA
8. PU
9. MINN
10. ILL
11. MD
12. NW
13. IU
14. RUT

 

[Wolegib]

Nebraska is either 3 or 4. Historically UW was really bad in the 50's, 60's and almost every decade before that. Historically Northwestern has also been very bad.

 

[Gemini95]

NEB is the #6 winningest program of all time w multiple Nattys. Ahead of Bama, OU, and PSU

They are #3 w PSU close at #4.

MINN ahead of NW. Might put MSU and WIS over IA.

NW, IU, MD, RUT at the bottom.

Actually, here's mine;

1. OSU
2. UM
3. NEB
4. PSU
5. MSU
6. WIS
7. IA
8. PU
9. MINN
10. ILL
11. MD
12. NW
13. IU
14. RUT

I think historically I would keep Iowa ahead of Wisco. Close with MSU. Wisc was really bad for a long time. Everything else looks about right.

 

[sprince2015]

Rutgers is at the bottom. MIN and IU are close behind as they haven't sniffed a top tier bowl since the 60's. Everyone else in the conference has at least made a top tier bowl this century.

 

[SqueakyClean]

Nebraska 3rd. PSU 4th. Wisconsin is a Johnny-Come-Lately: They've been fantastic for 25 years but were kinda in the ballpark with Northwestern as one of the worst in the nation before that. I would actually put Minnesota above us. While historically they have been up and down, they had a decade where they dominated and won several National Championships in the late 30's and early 40's.

My list would probably be:

1. OSU
2. Mich
3. Neb
4. PSU
5. MSU
6. Minn.
7. IA
8. Illinois
9. PU
10. Maryland
11. Wisc.
12. IU
13. NW
14. RU

The biggest problem with these lists (besides Kool-Aid colored glasses), is that most of us put more emphasis on what we have seen lately. By those metrics, Wisconsin and NW are decently high and Illinois would be almost dead last. This is supposed to be an All-time list though, so even if Illinois has blown monkey chunks in that last three decades (and frankly, outside of a good 5 years, so have we), they still had some really dominant teams over the course of Big Ten history.

 

[SIBoiler2]

Nebraska 3rd. PSU 4th. Wisconsin is a Johnny-Come-Lately: They've been fantastic for 25 years but were kinda in the ballpark with Northwestern as one of the worst in the nation before that. I would actually put Minnesota above us. While historically they have been up and down, they had a decade where they dominated and won several National Championships in the late 30's and early 40's.

My list would probably be:

1. OSU
2. Mich
3. Neb
4. PSU
5. MSU
6. Minn.
7. IA
8. Illinois
9. PU
10. Maryland
11. Wisc.
12. IU
13. NW
14. RU

The biggest problem with these lists (besides Kool-Aid colored glasses), is that most of us put more emphasis on what we have seen lately. By those metrics, Wisconsin and NW are decently high and Illinois would be almost dead last. This is supposed to be an All-time list though, so even if Illinois has blown monkey chunks in that last three decades (and frankly, outside of a good 5 years, so have we), they still had some really dominant teams over the course of Big Ten history.

If we're giving credit to what the Illini and others have done in antiquity we should also factor in the ranking of the University of Chicago.

 

[SuPurduePer]

I think historically I would keep Iowa ahead of Wisco. Close with MSU. Wisc was really bad for a long time. Everything else looks about right.

A bit surprised with Iowa particularly versus our Boilers . . . We have a better head-to-head all-time record including beating them 20 consecutive years.

 

[IronChefBBQ]

If we're giving credit to what the Illini and others have done in antiquity we should also factor in the ranking of the University of Chicago.

Good point since they’d be ahead of us...

 

[indyogb]

NEB is the #6 winningest program of all time w multiple Nattys. Ahead of Bama, OU, and PSU

They are #3 w PSU close at #4.

MINN ahead of NW. Might put MSU and WIS over IA.

NW, IU, MD, RUT at the bottom.

Actually, here's mine;

1. OSU
2. UM
3. NEB
4. PSU
5. MSU
6. WIS
7. IA
8. PU
9. MINN
10. ILL
11. MD
12. NW
13. IU
14. RUT

I agree with this list with one exception; I would flip OSU and Michigan (but apparently that's not the consensus here ).

 

[Purdue85]

Good point since they’d be ahead of us...

Well, considering they were coached by the legendary Amos Alonzo Stagg, and the fact they had the first "Heisman" winner (wasn't called that at the time), won 7 Big Ten titles in 25 years to go with 2 national titles, yeah ... they were a REALLY big deal.

 

[rezzerfly]

Nebraska 3rd. PSU 4th. Wisconsin is a Johnny-Come-Lately: They've been fantastic for 25 years but were kinda in the ballpark with Northwestern as one of the worst in the nation before that. I would actually put Minnesota above us. While historically they have been up and down, they had a decade where they dominated and won several National Championships in the late 30's and early 40's.

My list would probably be:

1. OSU
2. Mich
3. Neb
4. PSU
5. MSU
6. Minn.
7. IA
8. Illinois
9. PU
10. Maryland
11. Wisc.
12. IU
13. NW
14. RU

The biggest problem with these lists (besides Kool-Aid colored glasses), is that most of us put more emphasis on what we have seen lately. By those metrics, Wisconsin and NW are decently high and Illinois would be almost dead last. This is supposed to be an All-time list though, so even if Illinois has blown monkey chunks in that last three decades (and frankly, outside of a good 5 years, so have we), they still had some really dominant teams over the course of Big Ten history.

Agree on Minny...lotta old history and titles that are recognized. Plus the show Coach was supposed to feature them but ended up making up Minnesota State (which later ended up becoming a real thing). Great show.

 

[PogeyKahn]

Rutgers is at the bottom. MIN and IU are close behind as they haven't sniffed a top tier bowl since the 60's. Everyone else in the conference has at least made a top tier bowl this century.

I know Northwestern made to the Rose Bowl in the last century, but what top tier bowl have they been to under Fitzgerald in this century? I am too lazy to look it up, but I do not think they went to anything better than Minnesota has been to the last few years. (Citrus, Holiday)

 

[Chi-Boiler]

Fitz has taken them to the Outback twice and Gator once. Amongst others but those are probably the best.

 

[Chi-Boiler]

My list would probably be:

1A. Michigan
1B. Ohio State
3A. Penn State
3B. Nebraska
5. Michigan State
6. Minnesota
7. Purdue
8. Iowa
9. Illinois
10. Wisconsin
11. Northwestern
12. Indiana
13. Maryland
14. Rutgers

 

[Chi-Boiler]

I just looked at the all-time standings and found that Wisconsin has about 100 more wins than Purdue. That surprised me but I guess the last 25 years is a long time.

 

[arcb102000]

I would rank 1. OSU, 2. Michigan, 3. Penn State *, 4. Wisconsin, 5. MSU 6. Purdue, Iowa (tied), 8. Minnesota, 9. Illinois, 10. Northwestern, 11. Indiana.

I did not rank Nebraska, Maryland or Rutgers because their history in the conference is so new and their W/L record is essentially acquired outside the conference.

* Penn State has been in enough to be considered but also recognize that a lot of the record is achieved outside.

 

[GABoilermakers]

I see there is some discussion of the fairness of the divisions within the B10. Never mind the facts of the head-to-head results this year.

But it got me thinking, if you could rank all the schools' football program based on historical strength, where would Purdue fall?

My list is as follows:

1. OSU
2. UM
3. PSU
4. WIS
5. IOWA
6. MSU
7. NEB
8. PUR
9. ILL
10. NW
11. MIN
12. IU
13. MAR
14. RUT

Nebraska 7?!?! Da faq?

Michigan/OSU then Nebraska/PSU. After that it’s a large drop, historically, to Iowa/Wisconsin/MSU. Next level Purdue/Illinois followed by Minnesota, Maryland, Northwestern, IU, Rutgers.

 

[destewart]

I know Northwestern made to the Rose Bowl in the last century, but what top tier bowl have they been to under Fitzgerald in this century? I am too lazy to look it up, but I do not think they went to anything better than Minnesota has been to the last few years. (Citrus, Holiday)

Northwestern and Purdue both bave been to two Rose Bowls and both are 1-1.