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Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier this week, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer took place in the All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game during Major League Baseball’s All-Star week.
The six-inning game at Great American Ball Park featured numerous well-known celebrities, including former Ohio State quarterback and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
This got me thinking about the top celebrities – whether it be fans, coaches or alumni – for every Big Ten school.
Around this time last year, I put together a list of the top celebrity fan from every Big Ten university, but there were so many good names that I had to leave off the list. So, what if we went ahead and took it to another level?
I did some research and came up with a celebrity “starting 5” for all 14 Big Ten schools. See the picks below.
Editor’s note: The celebrities did not have to graduate from the Big Ten school they support; they just need to be someone who people associate with a school, for one reason or another.
ILLINOIS
Bill Murray: Award-winning actor and comedian.
Dick Butkus: Former NFL linebacker who played college football at Illinois and is a member of the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Ang Lee: Award-winning film director, screenwriter and producer.
Jesse Jackson: American civil rights activist and Baptist minister.
Hugh Hefner: Businessman and founder of Playboy enterprises.
***
INDIANA
Mark Cuban: Businessman, investor, film producer, and owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
John Mellencamp: Award-winning musician, singer and songwriter.
Tony Stewart: 3x Sprint Cup Series champion, and the only driver in history to win a championship in both IndyCar and NASCAR.
Isiah Thomas: Former Indiana basketball player who was a 12-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Sage Steele: Sports television anchor for both ESPN and ABC.
***
IOWA
Ashton Kutcher: Award-winning actor and producer.
Tom Arnold: Actor, comedian and television host.
Tom Brokaw: Television journalist and author, best known for his time spent as the news anchor for NBC Nightly News.
Bob Stoops: Head football coach at Oklahoma and former All-Big Ten selection at Iowa.
Zach Johnson: 11x PGA Tour champion.
***
MARYLAND
Kevin Plank: CEO and founder of Under Armour.
Scott Van Pelt: ESPN sportscaster and talk show host.
Connie Chung: News anchor and reporter.
Larry David: Actor, comedian, writer and television producer.
Sergey Brin: Co-founder and creator of Google.
***
MICHIGAN
Madonna: Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress
Kate Upton: American model and actress
Russell Crowe: Award-winning actor and film producer.
Michael Phelps: Most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time.
Tom Brady: 4x Super Bowl champion and former Michigan quarterback.
@LukeC2493 Kate Upton is a Michigan fan #checkmate pic.twitter.com/2X1RPNIDol
***
MICHIGAN STATE
Magic Johnson: Led Michigan State to 1979 national championship, 5x NBA champion, 3x NBA Finals MVP, 3x NBA MVP, part owner of Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kid Rock: Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and actor.
Gerard Butler: Award-winning actor and producer.
Rashad Evans: Considered one of the top fighters in UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).
James Caan: American actor, best known for his role in the Godfather.
***
MINNESOTA
Tony Dungy: Former NFL player and Super Bowl-winning coach who played at Minnesota from 1973-1977.
Yanni: Award-winning composer, keyboardist, pianist and music producer.
Bob Dylan: Award-winning singer and songwriter.
Dave Winfield: Member of the MLB and College Baseball Hall of Fames, 1992 World Series champion, 12x All-Star and 7x Gold Glove winner.
Paul Molitor: MLB Hall of Famer, 1993 World Series champion and MVP, 7x All-Star and current Minnesota Twins manager.
Dave Winfield pitching for Minnesota at CWS. pic.twitter.com/OhYAqDqzA8
***
NEBRASKA
Larry the Cable Guy: Stand-up comedian, actor and former radio personality.
Warren Buffett: Well-known business investor who is considered to be the most successful investor of the 20th century.
Rush Limbaugh: Radio talk show host and conservative political commentator.
Andy Roddick: Former No. 1 men’s tennis player, owner of 32 career titles.
Shelley Smith: ESPN sports reporter.
***
NORTHWESTERN
Stephen Colbert: Comedian, writer, producer, actor and television host on The Colbert Report.
Seth Meyers: Comedian, writer, actor and TV host on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Michael Wilbon: Sports analyst, host and commentator at ESPN.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Award-winning Actress, comedian and producer.
Cindy Crawford: Model, actress, television personalty.
Photographic evidence of the missed PAT ball that I caught and snuck out of Notre Dame Stadium in ’95 pic.twitter.com/HHoxxUkNOn
***
OHIO STATE
LeBron James: 2x NBA champion, 4x NBA MVP.
John Legend: Award-winning singer, songwriter and actor.
Urban Meyer: The lone personality on the list who is currently employed by his school, Meyer is a three-time national champion and owner of a 36-0 Big Ten record.
Jack Nicklaus: 73x PGA Tour champion, including a record 18 major championships.
Cris Carter: NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst.
***
PENN STATE
Ryan Seacrest: Television host, radio personality and producer.
Lisa Salters: Sports reporter for ESPN and ABC.
Franco Harris: 4x Super Bowl champion and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Lara Spencer: TV journalist who is a co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America.
Terry Pegula: Multi-billionaire who is the owner of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
***
PURDUE
Drew Brees: Former Big Ten Player of the Year, Super Bowl XLIV champion and MVP, and 2x NFC MVP.
Jim Gaffigan: Stand-up comedian, actor and author.
Ryan Newman: 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year, 2003 Driver of the Year.
Herman Cain: Author, business executive, radio host, columnist and candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.
Rick Mount: 2x consensus first-team All-American.
***
RUTGERS
Mario Batali: Chef, writer, restaurateur and media personality.
Natalie Morales: Journalist who is a news anchor for NBC News Today.
Becky Quick: Television newscaster for CNBC.
David Stern: Former commissioner of the NBA.
Bill Bellamy: Actor and standup comedian.
Who is @RUAthletics‘ top celebrity fan? @BTNSean says @Mariobatali. Agree? http://t.co/rdnwNFBPlN pic.twitter.com/GaZK6deYKY
***
WISCONSIN
Andy North: Former professional golfer, two-time U.S. Open champion and current ESPN analyst.
J.J. Watt: Former Wisconsin football standout, 2x AP Defensive Player of the Year and 2014 MVP runner-up
Steve Stricker: 12x PGA Tour winner.
Dick Cheney: American politician who was the 46th Vice President of the United States.
Aaron Rogers: Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, 2x NFL MVP and 2010 Super Bowl winner.
@stevestricker just missed the target during halftime of the @UWBadgers football game pic.twitter.com/nG4jh0BaCz” http://t.co/Nu0CjcyurA
BTN.com web editor Sean Merriman covers football and men’s basketball and provides original content for BTN.com. You can follow him on Twitter @BTNSean.
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