USC is a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Trojans are watching the Big Ten demolish the competition in college sports. They are part of the nation’s power center in collegiate athletics. The only problem: They’re not the team doing the work.
It is remarkable how thoroughly the Big Ten has owned the landscape in college sports. Indiana football won the 2025-2026 national championship. Michigan men’s basketball just won the national title. UCLA women’s basketball won the national crown as well. UCLA baseball is 29-2 and ranked No. 1 in the country, with USC in the top 15 and potentially being a factor later this spring in the NCAA Tournament. Big Ten hockey is also thriving, with Michigan and Wisconsin both in the Frozen Four national semifinals this week.
The Big Ten realistically could win nearly every major team-sport championship: football, both men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer (Washington), baseball, and hockey, all in the same college sports cycle (fall of one year through winter and spring of the next year). It is staggering to contemplate, and it is the ultimate tribute to what the Big Ten is achieving across the board.
Now, if only USC athletics can become part of this team-sport parade of excellence. That would be great.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Big Ten success in college sports has been staggering and extensive
Reporting by Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
