Iowa is just one of four Big Ten football programs to have never faced NCAA probation

This is pandering to you Iowa fans, but facts are facts.

Of the 12 Big Ten members, the only four with football programs that have never been under NCAA probation are Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue and ... Iowa.

In this wonderfully detailed report from Sportsdelve.com, we learn only two programs that have won NCAA Division I football championships have never been under NCAA sanctions. They are Penn State and BYU.

Illinois has had five separate probation periods, Wisconsin 4, Michigan State 3, Indiana 2, Minnesota 2, Ohio State 2 (soon to be 3), Michigan 1, Nebraska 1.

Michigan State has spent 10 years on probation, Illinois and Wisconsin 9.

Iowa State has one probation period in its history, from 1986-1988, courtesy of the Jim Criner era.

Missouri is the only Big 12 program never to have been put on probation.