Winningest senior class at top half of Big Ten school programs

Submitted by Human Torpedo on

This year's seniors currently 28 wins. Should they get 14 or more (need to at least get to title game to probably do that), they will have 42 wins overall which would surpass 1997-2000 and 1971-74 as our winningest senior class since our program-record 44 wins from 1902-05. To get an idea of where that stands let's look at the top half of the conference in this category and where it ranks:

1. Ohio State: 50 wins, 2012-15

2. Nebraska: 49 wins, 1994-97

3. Minnesota: 46 wins, 1902-05

4. Wisconsin: 45 wins, 2014-17

5. Michigan: 44 wins, 1902-05

6. Michigan State: 43 wins, 2012-15

7. Penn State: 43 wins, 1971-74

CLion

August 20th, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^

Is this based off entry year and not 5th years? Incoming freshmen this year should have a good chance at obliterating our record.

M-GO-Beek

August 20th, 2018 at 5:00 PM ^

Not to be too negative, but I think its a little sad that we 110 years removed from our best senior class. No one else is more than than 50 (Minnesota doesn't count, cause they have always sucked). This is especially true given how many more games are now compared to back then.

lilpenny1316

August 20th, 2018 at 7:41 PM ^

The Bo teams from the 70s would have surpassed the current mark if they played 12 regular season games, plus a bowl game.  Also, we won/shared five straight titles in the late 80s/early 90s.  I would think that's more impressive than piling up wins against Youngstown St and directional Michigan.

Jimmyisgod

August 20th, 2018 at 5:13 PM ^

We go 15-0 this year and we’d yor MSU with 43, 15-0 also next year and we’d be at 48. So just win the next two nattys in a row and we’d be right in the mix. Sigh. 

Blue Durham

August 20th, 2018 at 5:28 PM ^

I saw this and thought it was on the current senior classes of each team.  So I compiled it:

  1. Ohio State  35
  2. Wisconsin  34
  3. Penn State  29
  4. (tie) Michigan  28
  5. (tie) Iowa  28
  6. Northwestern 27
  7. Michigan State  25
  8. Minnesota  20
  9. Nebraska  19
  10. Indiana  17
  11. Maryland  13
  12. Purdue  12
  13. Rutgers and Illinois  10

Nothing really surprising here.  (I don't know how to fix numbering with the tie with Michigan and Iowa)

Gucci Mane

August 20th, 2018 at 5:49 PM ^

1902-05 Michigan would probably be pushing 60 wins with todays schedule. 

 

EDIT: after really looking into this that 1905 season really stings....we were undefeated and had not allowed a single point against all year. Then we lose 2-0 to Chicago. The Maroons 7-2-2 defense completely stopped us. :(

Wolverine Devotee

August 20th, 2018 at 6:02 PM ^

It was a safety on a punt taken out of the endzone where the returner was tackled inside the endzone after reversing field. William Denison Clark. Later tragically committed suicide. 

ak47

August 20th, 2018 at 11:29 PM ^

According to wikipedia Michigan was actually the dirty recruiting team of that period. Just goes to show, recruiting has always been the primary key to success in college football. 

Before the start of the 1903 season, Michigan became involved in controversy over amateurism in college football. In April 1903, David Starr Jordan, the president of Stanford University, accused Michigan coach Fielding Yost of sinning against the spirit of amateur athletics.[4] Jordan's accusations focused on two players, George W. Gregory and Willie Heston, both of whom had come to Michigan from California with Coach Yost in 1901. The Detroit Free Press reported in early September 1903 that the two might opt not to return to the University of Michigan when classes resumed.[5]

A report issued by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in April 1903 advocated stricter regulation to protect the amateur nature of the games. Although the report contained only passing references to the University of Michigan, the Chicago Record-Heralddevoted much of its coverage to attacks on amateurism at the University of Michigan.[6] The Michigan Alumnus expressed concern that football posed a danger "to the minds and morals of the players and their fellow-students."[6] It published an open letter to Coach Yost on the evils of recruiting in college football.

kurpit

August 20th, 2018 at 6:46 PM ^

They don't play the same number of games per year over different eras so you're comparing apples to oranges. Do winning percentage and come back.

Leaders And Best

August 20th, 2018 at 10:05 PM ^

I'm trying to do my best not to be critical, but this is not how you would go about comparing winningest or most successful. With expanded schedules, no bowl game limitations (Big Ten didn't change its one team bowl policy until 1974), and conference championships games & playoff, you can't compare eras by total games won. I would start with winning percentage and work from there. Some of these won't change, but some will and how they rank.

Leaders And Best

August 21st, 2018 at 12:14 AM ^

And we needed this thread to prove that? Is there anyone making that claim? 2007-2015 was one of the darkest stretches in Michigan football. And the decline had started in 2001. College football moved to 12-game regular seasons in 2002, added a B1G championship game in 2011, and the CFP in 2014. That is a lot new potential games per season added during a period when Michigan has not been good.

What is elite and who defines how long the period should be? Not sure why were are looking at 4-year periods as it seems kind of short to define program success. A good 4-year run could be the result of a couple good classes, but it doesn't establish a great program or era.

Hold This L

August 20th, 2018 at 11:21 PM ^

Being that Boise is the only other team I root for/follow, I don’t care what people say, the Boise state, kellen Moore senior class is the winningest all time. OSU played more games and won 50, one of kellen Moore’s three losses was by one point, and the other two were because of missed field goals with no time left. I hate when OSU puts them self up there with that Boise state class. Boise could have easily been 53-0. OSU was lucky to get to 50.