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The Big Ten has had some historic and memorable moments all made by some of the game’s most legendary players. Some of those players in the heartland were so good that they made it all the way to the College Football Hall of Fame.

But which Big Ten programs have led the way when it comes to putting guys into the Hall of Fame, and which ones have struggled to get the top-end athlete necessary to be enshrined?

We decided to do a little research and put together a ranking of all the Big Ten teams and list them by number of players that are forever a part of the College Football Hall of Fame down in Atlanta. Some of the volumes by certain programs may surprise you. We go from the least amount to the most.

No. 14 – Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Sep 28, 2019; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights mascot Henry looks on during the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

3

Last Inductee

Alexander Kroll – 1997

No. 13 – Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana’s Anthony Thompson runs around South Carolina’s Robert Robinson Wednesday night, December 29, 1988 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. (AP Photo)

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

6

Last Inductee

Anthony Thompson – 2007

No. 12 – Purdue Boilermakers

Oct 19, 1985; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Rod Woodson (26) in action against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

8

Last Inductee

Rod Woodson – 2016

No. 11 – Iowa Hawkeyes

Dec 27, 2019; San Diego, California, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes mascot Herky the Hawk gestures in the first half against the Southern California Trojans during the Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

9

Last Inductee

Lawrence Station – 2009

No. 8 (tie) – Northwestern Wildcats

1 Jan 1996: Linebacker Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats looks on during the Rose Bowl against the Southern California Trojans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. USC won the game, 41-32. Mandatory Credit: J.D. Cuban /Allsport

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

10

Last Inductee

Pat Fitzgerald – 2008

No. 8 (tie) – Michigan State Spartans

Sep 7,1987; E. Landsing,. MI, USA FILE PHOTO; Michigan State Spartans running back Lorenzo White (34) carries the ball against the Southern California Trojans at Spartans Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

10

Last Inductee

Lorenzo White – 2019

No. 8 (tie) – Maryland Terrapins

ATLANTA – DECEMBER 31: Head coach Ralph Friedgen of the University of Maryland Terrapins celebrates with his linebacker E.J. Henderson #42 after Maryland defeated the University of Tennessee Volunteers in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia. Maryland won 30-3. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

10

Last Inductee

E.J. Henderson – 2020

No. 7 – Wisconsin Badgers

November 4, 2006; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman (72) Joe Thomas warms up before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camp Randall Stadium. Credit: Photo By Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2006 Jeff Hanisch

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

12

Last Inductee

Joe Thomas – 2019

No. 6 – Illinois Fighting Illini

10 OCT 1992: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LINEBACKER DANA HOWARD DURING THE FIGHTING ILLINI 18-16 WIN OVER OHIO STATE. Mandatory Credit: Chris Covatta/ALLSPORT

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

15

Last Inductee

Dana Howard – 2018

No. 5 – Penn State Nittany Lions

Oct 16, 1993; State College, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Kerry Collins in action against the Michigan Wolverines at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

18

Last Inductee

Kerry Collins – 2018

No. 4 – Minnesota Golden Gophers

Sep 8, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers mascot Goldy pumps up the crowd right before kickoff against Fresno State Bulldogs at TCF Bank Stadium. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

19

Last Inductee

Bob Stein – 2020

No. 3 – Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch carries the ball against Miami in the 88th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002. There was no gain on the play. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

20

Last Inductee

Eric Crouch – 2020

No. 2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Big Ten football: Top ten rushing touchdown leaders of all timeBig Ten football: Top ten rushing touchdown leaders of all time

Big Ten football: Top ten rushing touchdown leaders of all time

Sep 15, 1984; Columbus, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Keith Byars (41) in action against the Washington State Cougars at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes beat the Cougars 44-0. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

26

Last Inductee

Keith Byars – 2020

No. 1 – Michigan Wolverines

Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson, races ahead of Ohio State’s Scott Fulton during Woodson’s second quarter punt return for a touchdown against OSU on Saturday, Nov 22, at Michigan Stadium. Michigan went on to beat OSU 20-14 and earn a trip to the Rose Bowl and the Big Ten Championship. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

No. of College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

31

Last Inductee

Jumbo Elliott – 2020 [listicle id=52417] Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

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