It has been 26 years since the Big Ten hosted the biggest prize in college basketball. That team was the Michigan State Spartans , as they were led by Tom Izzo to the 2000 National Championship over Florida. There have been plenty of almosts, including some National Championship runner-up finishes in Michigan (twice), Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, and MSU. Yet the Big Ten has failed time and again to get the job done. That could easily change this season.
More like it needs to happen. There appear to be five major contenders out of the Big Ten this season who could make the Sweet 16 at least. If they can do that, plus maybe get four of the eight spots in the Elite 8, things could really fall in place for the conference. Let’s take a closer look at those teams and see which has the best chance of snapping the title drought.
Why the Big Ten NCAA Championship Drought Must End This Year
Hello, Michigan, This is 1989 Calling
The Wolverines of Michigan won their lone basketball championship in 1989. They have reached the title game twice in the last 13 years, falling in 2013 in a championship game that Louisville later vacated. Their return to the Big Game in 2018 wasn’t any better as they lost to a stacked Villanova squad. The 2025-26 Michigan team is stacked.
While Glen Rice was the star in 1989, when Michigan last had a start to a campaign like this, this year’s group has plenty of leaders. It all starts with their tough and gritty defensive game plan. Dusty May is getting a lot out of their three-headed post lineup. Yaxel Lendeborg continues to be a driving force all over the court, while Aday Mara is a true rim protector. Pair that up with how clutch point guard Elliot Cadeau has been, and things are looking great for the No. 3-ranked Wolverines.
Their lone loss this season, against a somewhat questionable Wisconsin team, doesn’t look that great. But they are coming off two massively impressive top-10 wins, including a road win against Michigan State. It certainly looks like the Wolverines are the Big Ten’s best chance of ending the drought this year.
Don’t Look Now, It’s Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini have had plenty of obstacles to overcome. Injuries have been one of those hurdles, but even with Kylan Boswell out of the lineup, the Illini continue to rattle off wins. That has been the DNA for Coach Brad Underwood. Along with impactful freshman. Keaton Wagler has been exactly that. His 46-point performance in a win at Purdue has helped the team regain its confidence.
The Illini reached the National Championship Game way back in 2005, behind a team full of pros. They have had a lot of pros lately as well, but have only been to one Elite 8 since that runner-up finish. This year’s team sits tied with Michigan atop the Big Ten, and their upcoming clash could decide the conference, not to mention which team could be the best in the country.
Never Count out Tom Izzo and the Spartans
To think the photo above was the last time a Big Ten team won the college basketball National Championship. Not only that, but the coach in the center, Tom Izzo, is now 71 years old and in his 31st season at the helm in East Lansing. For a Hall of Fame coach trying his hardest to still get a second championship. This year’s Spartans have been pretty good at 19-2 (9-2). Even though Michigan State’s recent loss to rival Michigan stings, this team has the experience and leaders to overcome that and make a run.
Jeremy Fears Jr is playing at an All-American caliber level, as he continues to lead the way for Tom Izzo, much like Mateen Cleaves did to the National Championship 26 years ago. They have a great duo of senior big men in Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler . Add in their freshmen who are starting to find their footing, especially Jordan Scott .
Izzo and company are never a team to count out. He’s sometimes called “Mr. March” for a reason.
Purdue is Due
Arguably, the best program of the 2020s for the Big Ten has been the Purdue Boilermakers. They are the most recent team from the conference to play for a National Championship. It wasn’t enough in a 75-60 loss to UConn in 2024. Senior point guard Braden Smith is trying to get Purdue back to that stage. They recently went on a three-game slide, but maybe that’s exactly what the team needed.
Between Smith’s leadership and the other two seniors who have won a lot of games for Purdue, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer , it just seems like Purdue is due to make a run at the National Championship. They did start the season as the favorite. The only concern is if they do get back to a Final Four, Loyer cannot have a repeat of that 2024 Final. He went scoreless and only attempted one three-pointer.
Does the Glass Slipper Fit for Nebraska?
It’s been a Cinderella start for Nebraska basketball in 2025-26. Obviously, they just lost two massive games, but the fact that they started the season 20-0 was simply magical. Before their losses to Michigan and Illinois, the Huskers were getting talked about as a potential contender to make a run at the NCAA title. There are a lot of games still to be played.
The biggest issue arising for this group is health. Braden Frager had been dealing with an ankle injury after he proved to be an important piece as a freshman this season. Then, you had their senior leader in the post, Rienk Mas t, dealing with illness this past week. Guards Jamarques Lawrence and Sam Hoiberg have provided some big moments in their absence, but things may have fallen a bit back to earth for Nebraska.
Still, they could be the team from the Big Ten, for which the glass slipper fits. Honestly, any one of these five teams could cut the nets in early April. The Big Ten needs it; 26 years is too long to not get it done.
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