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Big Ten Conference
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| Formerly | Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives (officially, 1896–1987) Western Conference (1896–1899) Big Nine (1899–1917, 1946–1950) |
|---|---|
| Association | NCAA |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Commissioner | Tony Petitti (since 2023) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division I |
| Subdivision | FBS |
| No. of teams | 18 |
| Headquarters | Rosemont, Illinois, U.S. |
| Region | |
| Broadcasters | |
| Streaming partners | |
| Official website | bigten.org |
| Locations | |
 | |
The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference, among others) is a U.S. collegiate athletic conference. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives in 1896, it predates the founding of its regulating organization, the NCAA; it is the oldest NCAA Division I conference. It is based in Rosemont, Illinois. For many decades the conference consisted of ten prominent universities, which accounts for its name. On August 2, 2024, the conference expanded to 18 member institutions and two affiliate institutions.[1][2] The conference competes in the NCAA Division I and its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of NCAA competition in that sport.
Big Ten member institutions are major research universities with large financial endowments and strong academic reputations. A large student body is a hallmark of its universities, as 15 members enroll more than 30,000 students. They are all public universities except Northwestern University and the University of Southern California, both private universities. Collectively, Big Ten universities educate more than 520,000 total students and have 5.7 million living alumni.[1] The members engage in $9.3 billion in funded research each year;[2] 17 are members of the Association of American Universities (except Nebraska) and the Universities Research Association (except USC). All Big Ten universities are also members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, formerly the Committee on Institutional Cooperation.[3]
Although the Big Ten was primarily a Midwestern conference for nearly a century, the conference's geographic footprint has extended from the Mid-Atlantic to the Great Plains since 2014. In 2024, the conference gained a presence in the West Coast with the addition of four former Pac-12 Conference schools.[4]
Member universities
[edit]Full members
[edit]Notes:
- ^ The overall university administration is in Urbana; the athletic administration is in Champaign.
- ^ a b Athletic teams started competing in the conference effective with the 1900–01 school year.
- ^ In April 1907, Michigan was voted out of the conference for refusing to adhere to league rules limiting football teams to no more than five games and players to three years of eligibility. Consequently, its athletic teams were independent from 1907–08 to 1916–17.
- ^ Non-football teams started competing in the conference effective with the 1950-51 school year, while football joined in the 1953–54 school year.
- ^ The campus administration and most athletic facilities are in Minneapolis and have a mailing address in that city. The "St. Paul" portion of the campus is physically in the separate city of Falcon Heights, but both "St. Paul" and "Falcon Heights" are accepted as mailing addresses for that portion.
- ^ Most sports teams started competing in the conference in the 1991–92 school year; football started Big Ten play in 1993.
Membership map
[edit]
Affiliate members
[edit]| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Type | Enrollment (fall 2023)[5] |
Nickname | Colors | Big Ten sport(s) | Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland | 1876 | 2014 | Private not-for-profit (Non-sectarian) | 30,362 | Blue Jays | men's lacrosse[a] | Centennial[b] | |
| 2016 | women's lacrosse[c] | ||||||||
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | 1842 | 2017 | Private not-for-profit (Catholic) | 13,174 | Fighting Irish | men's ice hockey | ACC |
Notes
- ^ On July 1, 2014, Johns Hopkins University joined the conference as an affiliate member in men's lacrosse.
- ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
- ^ On July 1, 2016, Johns Hopkins University became an affiliate member in women's lacrosse.
Former member
[edit]The University of Chicago is the only full member to have permanently left the Big Ten Conference.[a]
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Left | Type | Enrollment (fall 2023)[5] |
Nickname | Colors | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 1890 | 1896 | 1946[b] | Private not-for-profit (Non-sectarian) | 18,339 | Maroons | UAA[c] |
- Notes
- ^ Lake Forest College attended the original 1895 meeting that led to the formation of the conference, but never participated in athletics or any other activities.
- ^ The University of Chicago was a co-founder of the conference. The school dropped football after the 1939 fall season (1939–40 school year), but remained a member in other sports until the end of the 1945–46 academic year.[9]
- ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
Membership timeline
[edit]
Full members Full members (non-football) Sport affiliate Other conference Other conference
History
[edit]1890s: The conference's founding
[edit]On January 11, 1895, Purdue University president James Henry Smart invited the presidents of the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Lake Forest College, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and University of Wisconsin to a meeting in Chicago, to create policies aimed at regulating intercollegiate athletics. The eligibility of student-athletes was one of the main topics of discussion, with it being decided that student-athletes must be full-time students in good standing. The conference was officially founded at a second meeting on February 8, 1896.[10] Lake Forest was not at the 1896 meeting and was replaced by the University of Michigan. Henceforth the seven attendees of this second meeting would be the founding members of the organization more commonly known as the Western Conference.[11]
The conference is one of the nation's oldest, predating the founding of the NCAA by a decade and was one of the first collegiate conferences to sponsor men's basketball. The first reference to the conference as the Big Nine was in 1899 after Iowa and Indiana had joined.
1900s: Becoming the Big Ten
[edit]Nebraska first petitioned to join the league in 1900 and again in 1911,[12] but was turned away both times. In 1905, the conference was officially incorporated as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives.[10]
In 1906, Michigan president James Burrill Angell called for a series of conference meetings to further regulate football, leading to new rules such as limiting football teams to no more than five games and players to three years of eligibility.[13] One of the new rules would require the football coach to be a full-time employee of the university, leading to Michigan's football head coach, Fielding Yost, to oppose the changes. Ultimately Yost won out and convinced Michigan's board to support him over Angell and against the conference.[14] In April 1907, Michigan was voted out of the conference for refusing to adhere to the new league rules.[15] Ohio State joined in 1912, and as a result could no longer play Michigan until the school rejoined the conference after a nine-year absence.[16] The first known references to the conference as the Big Ten were then made in December 1916 as a result.[17][18]
1940s: Chicago leaves and Michigan State joins
[edit]The conference was again known as the Big Nine after the University of Chicago decided to de-emphasize varsity athletics just after World War II. In 1939, UChicago President Robert Maynard Hutchins made the decision to abolish the football program, based on his negative views of big-time college football's excesses and associated problems of the time.[19] Chicago completely withdrew from the conference in 1946 after struggling to obtain victories in many conference matchups.[20]
Several schools sought to replace Chicago and obtained support from current members: Michigan State with support from Minnesota, Nebraska with support from Iowa, and Pittsburgh with support from Ohio State.[21] Ultimately, on December 12, 1948, it was announced that the conference had voted 9–0 to approve Michigan State's joining the conference, which would again be known as the Big Ten.[22] The school's non-football sports commenced conference play in 1950, with football joining three years later.[21] The Big Ten's membership would remain unchanged for the next 40 years. The conference's official name throughout this period remained the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives. It did not formally adopt the name Big Ten until 1987, when it was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation.
1990s: Penn State joins, Notre Dame declines
[edit]
In 1990, the Big Ten universities voted to expand the conference to 11 teams and extended an invitation to Atlantic 10 Conference member and football independent Pennsylvania State University, which accepted.[23] When Penn State joined in 1990, it was decided the conference would continue to be called the Big Ten, but its logo was modified to reflect the change; the number 11 was disguised in the negative space of the traditionally blue "Big Ten" lettering.
Missouri showed interest in Big Ten membership after Penn State joined.[24] Around 1993, the league explored adding Kansas, Missouri and Rutgers or other potential schools, to create a 14-team league with two football divisions.[25] These talks died when the Big Eight Conference merged with former Southwest Conference members to create the Big 12.
Following the addition of Penn State, efforts were made to encourage the University of Notre Dame, at that time the last remaining non-service academy independent, to join the league. In 1999, Notre Dame, then a member of the Big East Conference and football independent, and the Big Ten entered into private negotiations concerning a possible membership that would include Notre Dame. Although Notre Dame's faculty senate endorsed the idea with a near-unanimous vote, the school's board of trustees decided against joining the conference.[26] (In 1926, Notre Dame had briefly considered official entry into the Big Ten but chose to retain its independent status.[27]) Notre Dame subsequently joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports except football (and hockey), in which Notre Dame maintains its independent status as long as it plays at least five games per season against ACC opponents. This was believed to be the major stumbling block to Notre Dame joining the Big Ten, as Notre Dame wanted to retain its independent home game broadcasting contract with NBC Sports, while the Big Ten insisted upon a full membership with no special exemptions.
2010s: From 11 to 14
[edit]Nebraska joins
[edit]In December 2009, Big Ten Conference commissioner Jim Delany announced that the league was looking to expand in what would later be part of a nationwide trend as part of the 2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment.[28] On June 11, 2010, the University of Nebraska applied for membership in the Big Ten and was unanimously approved as the conference's 12th school, which became effective July 1, 2011.[29] The conference retained the name "Big Ten". This briefly led to the interesting and ironic result of the Big Ten consisting of twelve teams, and the Big 12 consisting of ten teams (with fellow former Big 12 member Colorado's move to the Pac-12 Conference). As part of the agreement to join the Big Ten, Nebraska would not receive a full share of the media revenue for the first six years of its membership, until fall 2017.[30]
Legends and Leaders divisions
[edit]
State
State
On September 1, 2010, Delany revealed the conference's football divisional split, but noted that the division names would be announced later. Those division names, as well as the conference's new logo, were made public on December 13, 2010. For its new logo, the conference replaced the "hidden 11" logo with one that uses the "B1G" character combination in its branding. Delany did not comment on the logo that day, but it was immediately evident that the new logo would "allow fans to see 'BIG' and '10' in a single word."[31]
For the new football division names, the Big Ten was unable to use geographic names, because they had rejected a geographic arrangement. Delany announced that the new divisions would be known as the "Legends Division" and "Leaders Division". In the Legends division were Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern. The Leaders division was composed of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Conference officials stated they had focused on creating competitive fairness rather than splitting by geographical location.[32] However, the new "Legends" and "Leaders" divisions were not met with enthusiasm. Some traditional rivals, including Ohio State and Michigan, were placed in separate divisions.[33]
For the football season, each team played the others in its division, one "cross-over" rivalry game, and two rotating cross-divisional games. At the end of the regular season the two division winners met in a new Big Ten Football Championship Game.[34] The Legends and Leaders divisional alignment was in effect for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 football seasons.
Maryland and Rutgers join
[edit]On November 19, 2012, the University of Maryland's Board of Regents voted to withdraw from the ACC and join the Big Ten as its 13th member effective on July 1, 2014.[35] The Big Ten's Council of Presidents approved the move later that day.[36] One day later, Rutgers University of the Big East also accepted an offer for membership from the Big Ten as its 14th member school.[37] Like Nebraska, both schools would not receive full shares of the media revenue until six years after they joined. However, both schools took loans from the conference, thus pushing back the date they would receive full shares.[30]
West and East divisions
[edit]State
State
On April 28, 2013, the Big Ten presidents and chancellors unanimously approved a football divisional realignment that went into effect when Maryland and Rutgers joined in 2014.[38] Under the new plan, the Legends and Leaders divisions were replaced with geographic divisions.[38] The West Division included Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin (of which all but Purdue are in the Central Time Zone), while the East Division included Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers (all of which are in the Eastern Time Zone). The final issue in determining the new divisions was which of the two Indiana schools would be sent to the West; Purdue was chosen because its West Lafayette campus is geographically west of Indiana's home city of Bloomington.[39] The divisional alignment permanently protected the cross-divisional football rivalry Indiana–Purdue.[38] As before, the two division winners played each other in the Big Ten Football Championship Game. The West and East divisional alignment was in effect for ten football seasons, from 2014 through 2023.
Affiliate members join
[edit]On June 3, 2013, the Big Ten announced the sponsorship of men's and women's lacrosse. For any conference to qualify for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, at least six member schools must play the sport. In women's lacrosse, the addition of Maryland and Rutgers to the Big Ten brought the conference up to the requisite six participants, joining programs at Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State and Penn State.[40] In men's lacrosse, Ohio State and Penn State were the only existing participants. Coincident with the addition of Maryland and Rutgers, Michigan agreed to upgrade its successful club team to varsity status, giving the Big Ten five sponsoring schools, one short of the minimum six for an automatic bid. Johns Hopkins University opted to join the conference as its first affiliate member beginning in 2014. Johns Hopkins had been independent in men's lacrosse for 130 years, claiming 44 national championships.[41] As long-time independents joined conferences (for example, Syracuse joining the Atlantic Coast Conference), other schools competing as independents in some cases concluded that the inability to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament was becoming a more serious competitive disadvantage in scheduling and recruiting.
On March 23, 2016, the Big Ten Conference and Notre Dame announced the Fighting Irish would become a men's ice hockey affiliate beginning with the 2017–18 season.[42] Notre Dame had been a member of Hockey East, and the move would save travel time and renew rivalries with former CCHA and WCHA members.
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In 2013, the conference moved its headquarters from its location in Park Ridge, Illinois to neighboring Rosemont. The office building is situated within Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District (then named MB Financial Park Entertainment District), alongside Interstate 294.[43][44][45]
2020s: Pacific expansion
[edit]On June 30, 2022, UCLA and USC announced that they would be joining the Big Ten Conference effective August 2, 2024, enabling both schools to remain in the Pac-12 Conference for the duration of the Pac-12's existing media rights agreements.[46][47] Unlike the prior expansion with Nebraska, Rutgers, and Maryland, USC and UCLA would join with a full share of the media revenue from the start of their Big Ten tenure.[30]
In August 2022, the conference reached new media rights deals with CBS, Fox, and NBC totaled at an estimated $7 billion.[48][49][50][51]
On August 4, 2023, Oregon and Washington announced that they would join the Big Ten Conference alongside UCLA and USC.[52] Unlike UCLA and USC, the two schools would receive a reduced media revenue share of $30 million each, with the share increasing by $1 million for each school each year, through the 2029–30 season. Rather than reducing the other conference members' revenue shares, Fox would contribute the necessary money.[53] The schools will receive a full share with the next media deal.[54]
Football: the return of no divisions
[edit]
State
State
In June 2023 – after UCLA and USC were confirmed as incoming members but before Oregon and Washington were added – the conference announced that starting in 2024, the East and West divisions for football would be eliminated. Each team would play nine conference games and three non-conference games, as before. Within a four-year period, each team would play at least two games against every other team – one at home and one away. This plan called for 11 protected matchups to take place every year; these included Michigan–Ohio State and ten other regional rivalries. At the end of each season, the top two teams in the conference standings would oppose each other in the Big Ten Football Championship Game.[55]
The addition of Oregon and Washington added one more protected matchup to this count, bringing the total to 12 protected matchups: Illinois–Northwestern, Illinois–Purdue, Indiana–Purdue, Iowa–Minnesota, Iowa–Nebraska, Iowa–Wisconsin, Maryland–Rutgers, Michigan–Michigan State, Michigan–Ohio State, Minnesota–Wisconsin, Oregon–Washington and UCLA–USC, leaving Penn State as the lone school with no protected matchups. The schedule was also updated so that teams will play every other conference opponent at least twice – once home and once away – and will play rotating opponents no more than three times in a five-year period.[56]
Academics
[edit]All current members of the Big Ten are doctorate-granting universities.
Former conference commissioner Jim Delany said in 2010 that membership in the Association of American Universities is "an important part of who we are."[57] All current members of the Big Ten, other than the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, are members of the AAU. Nebraska was a member of the AAU when it was admitted to the Big Ten, but lost this status shortly afterwards.[57]
The following table shows National University rank by U.S. News & World Report as of 2025[update].[58]
Also indicated is membership in the Association of American Universities.[59]
| Institution | National university rank | AAU member |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | 6 | Yes |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 15 | Yes |
| University of Michigan | 21 | Yes |
| University of Southern California | 27 | Yes |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 33 | Yes |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | 39 | Yes |
| Ohio State University | 41 | Yes |
| Rutgers University | 41 | Yes |
| University of Maryland, College Park | 44 | Yes |
| Purdue University | 46 | Yes |
| University of Washington | 46 | Yes |
| University of Minnesota | 54 | Yes |
| Michigan State University | 63 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania State University | 63 | Yes |
| Indiana University Bloomington | 73 | Yes |
| University of Iowa | 98 | Yes |
| University of Oregon | 109 | Yes |
| University of Nebraska–Lincoln | 152 | No |
Commissioners
[edit]The office of the commissioner of athletics was created in 1922 "to study athletic problems of the various member universities and assist in enforcing the eligibility rules which govern Big Ten athletics."[10]
| Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| John L. Griffith | 1922–1944 | Died in office |
| Kenneth L. "Tug" Wilson | 1945–1961 | Retired |
| William R. Reed | 1961–1971 | Died in office |
| Wayne Duke | 1971–1989 | Retired |
| Jim Delany | 1989–2020 | Retired |
| Kevin Warren | 2020–2023 | Resigned to become president of the Chicago Bears |
| Tony Petitti | 2023–present |
All Big Ten members are members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, formerly known as the Committee on Institutional Cooperation.[60][61][62] The University of Chicago, a former Big Ten Conference member, was a member of the CIC from 1958 to June 29, 2016.[63][64][65][66]
Athletic department revenue by school
[edit]Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights and licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, concessions, and novelties.
Total expenses includes coach and staff salaries, scholarships, buildings and grounds, maintenance, utilities and rental fees, recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues, and insurance.
The following table shows institutional reporting to the United States Department of Education as shown on the DOE Equity in Athletics website for the 2023–24 academic year.[67]
| Institution | 2023–24 Grand Total Revenues | 2023–24 Grand Total Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | $262,172,467 | $262,172,467 |
| USC | $242,378,198 | $242,378,198 |
| Michigan | $221,371,145 | $220,814,081 |
| Penn State | $220,283,390 | $199,046,216 |
| Nebraska | $211,778,141 | $175,438,100 |
| Washington | $187,686,516 | $187,686,516 |
| Wisconsin | $183,762,847 | $172,873,023 |
| Iowa | $173,213,951 | $150,493,777 |
| UCLA | $170,897,220 | $170,897,220 |
| Indiana | $164,249,955 | $164,249,955 |
| Michigan State | $164,109,191 | $164,109,191 |
| Rutgers | $155,852,426 | $155,852,426 |
| Oregon | $150,908,401 | $148,961,287 |
| Illinois | $149,390,875 | $149,390,875 |
| Minnesota | $144,816,418 | $138,599,675 |
| Purdue | $134,863,232 | $116,766,603 |
| Maryland | $132,764,504 | $132,764,504 |
| Northwestern | $124,080,838 | $124,080,838 |
The following table shows revenue specifically from NCAA / Conference Distributions, Media Rights, and Post-Season Football reported by the Knight Commission for the 2021–22 academic year.[68]
| Institution | 2021–22 Distribution (Millions of dollars) |
|---|---|
| Ohio State | $71.92 |
| Michigan State | $64.86 |
| Iowa | $64.60 |
| Illinois | $63.97 |
| Indiana | $63.88 |
| Minnesota | $63.37 |
| Michigan | $62.97 |
| Wisconsin | $62.78 |
| Purdue | $62.25 |
| Penn State | $56.62 |
| Maryland | $52.25 |
| Nebraska | $56.50 |
| Rutgers | $49.21 |
| Northwestern | Not Reported |
Key personnel
[edit]Broadcasting and media rights
[edit]Fall 2007–Spring 2017
[edit]Commissioner Jim Delany began to explore the formation of a Big Ten-specific channel in 2004 after a failed attempt to seek a significantly larger rights fee from ESPN to renew its existing agreements. This came to fruition in 2006, when the conference announced the formation of a dedicated cable network, Big Ten Network, in a 20-year partnership with Fox Sports, which would officially launch in 2007.[10] The network carries coverage of Big Ten athletics (including events not carried by the Big Ten's other media partners), studio shows, as well as other original programs and documentaries profiling the conference and its members.[70] The impact of Big Ten Network influenced the conference's expansion in the 2010s, with some of its newer members being located in proximity to major media markets such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C. (Maryland), and the New York metropolitan area (Rutgers).[71][72]
Accompanying the new network announcement was a new ten-year media rights agreement beginning with the 2007–08 season and ending with the 2016–17 season that would split Big Ten coverage among the ESPN networks, CBS Sports, and Big Ten Network, thus ending Comcast Chicago's regional coverage of the conference.[73][74]
- ABC Sports:
- 17 football games per season
- ESPN/ESPN2:
- 24 football games per season
- 43 men's basketball games per season
- Rights to the first three rounds of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament, to be shared with Big Ten Network
- 5 women's basketball games per season
- ESPN Other (U,360):
- 13 men's basketball games per season
- CBS Sports:
- 15 men's basketball games per-season
- Rights to the semi-finals and championship game of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament
- 2 women's basketball games per-season
- 15 men's basketball games per-season
- Big Ten Network:
- 35 football games per season
- 105 men's basketball games per season
- Rights to the first three rounds of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament, to be shared with ESPN/ESPN2
- 55 women's basketball games per season
- Coverage of Olympic sports events
In 2010, the Big Ten announced the creation of the Big Ten Football Championship game starting with the 2011 season and signed a broadcast deal with Fox to broadcast the game from 2011 through 2016.[75]
Fall 2017–Spring 2023
[edit]In 2016, the conference announced a new six-year media rights deal worth $2.64 billion with Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and ESPN to take effect with the start of the 2017–18 season and ending with the 2022–23 season. The size of the deal translated to a near tripling of the per-school media revenue share.[76]
The new deal would see regular season Big Ten football games airing on Fox and Fox Sports 1 for the first time. As part of the deal, Fox would retain its coverage of the Big Ten Championship as well as obtain priority over ESPN when drafting regular season football games prior to each season. It would also put an end to ESPN's coverage of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament.
Fall 2023–Spring 2030
[edit]On August 18, 2022, the Big Ten announced that it had reached seven-year broadcast rights deals with Fox, CBS, and for the first time, NBC Sports, beginning in the 2023–24 academic year, ending an association between the conference and ESPN dating back to the 1980s. A major goal for the new contracts was to establish specific broadcast windows for Big Ten football games across its three partners, with Fox, CBS, and NBC primarily holding rights to Noon ET, 3:30 p.m. ET, and primetime games, respectively,[49][50][51] and the three broadcasters alternating first pick of games.[77] The contracts were estimated to be worth at least $7 billion,[49][78] but also reportedly includes an "escalator clause" that will raise the value of the contracts if the Notre Dame Fighting Irish specifically were to join the Big Ten.[79]
- Fox Sports:
- 24 to 32 football games per season:
- Will primarily air in a Noon ET window (Big Noon Saturday), but with the option for games in other windows after the West Coast schools join in 2024.
- Rights to the Big Ten championship game in 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029.
- At least 45 men's basketball games per-season on Fox and FS1.
- Selected women's basketball games and Olympic sport events.
- 24 to 32 football games per season:
- CBS Sports:
- 14 to 15 football games per season on CBS and Paramount+:
- Will primarily air in a 3:30 p.m. ET window beginning in 2024, once CBS's contract with the SEC expires (CBS will air seven games in other timeslots during the 2023 season).
- Includes one Friday afternoon game on Thanksgiving weekend.
- Rights to the Big Ten championship game in 2024 and 2028.
- Up to 15 men's basketball games per-season:
- Rights to the semi-finals and championship game of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament
- Rights to the championship game of the Big Ten women's basketball tournament
- 14 to 15 football games per season on CBS and Paramount+:
- NBC Sports:
- 14 to 16 football games per season on NBC and Peacock:
- Games will primarily air in a primetime window on NBC
- Eight games will stream exclusively on Peacock, including four intraconference games.
- Rights to the Big Ten championship game in 2026
- Up to 77 basketball games per-season on Peacock (NBC games added in 2024–25[80]):
- Up to 47 men's basketball games, including 32 intraconference games.
- Up to 30 women's basketball games, including 20 intraconference games.
- Rights to the opening night doubleheaders of the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
- Up to 40 live Olympic sports events per-season on Peacock.
- 14 to 16 football games per season on NBC and Peacock:
- Big Ten Network:
- Up to 50 football games per season
- At least 126 men's basketball games per season
- Second round and quarter-final games of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament
- At least 40 women's basketball games per season
- Coverage of the Big Ten women's basketball tournament (outside of the first round and championship game)
- Coverage of Olympic sports events
Following the deal's signing, it was later revealed that several schools had issues with playing football games at night in November, with some having formal clauses allowing them to veto games in that timeslot.[81] The conference would also have to compensate Fox $40 million for the 2026 Big Ten championship game, as the conference did not actually have the right to offer the game to NBC. Instead, under the terms of the agreement regarding the operation of Big Ten Network, the channel officially owns the conference's media rights and then sublicenses them out to other channels, thus Fox has a stake in any content BTN sublicenses.[82][83][81]
Sports
[edit]The Big Ten Conference sponsors championship competition in 14 men's and 14 women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[84]
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 17 | – |
| Basketball | 18 | 18 |
| Cross country | 15 | 18 |
| Field hockey | – | 9 |
| Football | 18 | – |
| Golf | 18 | 18 |
| Gymnastics | 5 | 12 |
| Ice hockey | 7 | – |
| Lacrosse | 6 | 9 |
| Rowing | – | 11 |
| Soccer | 11 | 18 |
| Softball | – | 17 |
| Swimming & diving | 9 | 14 |
| Tennis | 14 | 18 |
| Track and field (indoor) | 15 | 17 |
| Track and field (outdoor) | 17 | 17 |
| Volleyball | – | 18 |
| Wrestling | 14 | – |
Men's sponsored sports by school
[edit]| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Football | Golf | Gymnastics | Ice hockey | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Wrestling | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Michigan State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Minnesota | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Northwestern | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | 8 |
| Ohio State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 8 |
| Penn State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Purdue | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Rutgers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| UCLA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 9 |
| USC | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 8 |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 9 |
| Wisconsin | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Totals | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 6+1* | 5+1° | 11 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 148+2 |
| Affiliate Members | |||||||||||||||
| Johns Hopkins | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Notre Dame | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||||
Notes:
- Notre Dame joined the Big Ten in the 2017–18 school year as an affiliate member in men's ice hockey.[85] It continues to field its other sports in the ACC except in football where it will continue to compete as an independent.
- Johns Hopkins joined the Big Ten in 2014 as an affiliate member in men's lacrosse, with women's lacrosse following in 2016. It continues to field its other sports in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference.[86]
| School | Fencing | Pistol[a] | Rifle[b] | Rowing[c] | Volleyball | Water Polo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | Independent | Independent | PRC | No | MIVA | No |
| Penn State | Independent | No | No | No | EIVA | No |
| Rutgers | No | No | No | No[d] | No | No |
| UCLA | No | No | No | No | MPSF | MPSF |
| USC | No | No | No | No | MPSF | MPSF |
| Washington | No | No | No | MPSF | No | No |
| Wisconsin | No | No | No | EARC | No | No |
- ^ Unlike rifle, pistol is not an NCAA-governed sport. It is fully coeducational.
- ^ Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. Ohio State fields a coed team.
- ^ Men's rowing at the varsity level, whether heavyweight or lightweight, is not governed by the NCAA, but instead by the Intercollegiate Rowing Association.
- ^ Rutgers downgraded its men's rowing program from varsity to club status in 2008; it now competes as a member of the American Collegiate Rowing Association.
Women's sponsored sports by school
[edit]| School | Basketball | Cross Country | Field Hockey | Golf | Gymnastics | Lacrosse | Rowing | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Volleyball | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13 |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Michigan State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 |
| Minnesota | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Northwestern | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | 10 |
| Ohio State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Penn State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13 |
| Purdue | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| Rutgers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| UCLA | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 12 |
| USC | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
| Totals | 18 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 12 | 8+1[c 1] | 11 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 172+1 |
| Affiliate Members | |||||||||||||||
| Johns Hopkins | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||||
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big Ten Conference that are played by Big Ten schools
| School | Acrobatics & Tumbling[a] | Bowling | Fencing | Ice Hockey | Lightweight Rowing[b] | Pistol[c] | Rifle[d] | Synchronized Swimming[e] | Water Polo | Beach Volleyball | Wrestling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | MPSF | No | No |
| Iowa | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Independent |
| Michigan | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | CWPA | No | No |
| Minnesota | No | No | No | WCHA | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Nebraska | No | C-USA | No | No | No | No | PRC | No | No | Independent | No |
| Northwestern | No | No | Central Collegiate Fencing Conference | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Ohio State | No | No | Central Collegiate Fencing Conference | WCHA | No | Independent | PRC | Independent | No | No | No |
| Oregon | Independent | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | MPSF | No |
| Penn State | No | No | Independent | AHA | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Rutgers | No | No | No | No | EARC | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| UCLA | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | MPSF | MPSF | No |
| USC | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | MPSF | MPSF | No |
| Washington | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | MPSF | No |
| Wisconsin | No | No | No | WCHA | EARC | No | No | No | No | No | No |
- ^ Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program; expected to become an official championship sport in 2026–27. NCAA-recognized competition is governed by the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association.
- ^ The only category of rowing that the NCAA governs is women's heavyweight rowing. Women's lightweight rowing, as with all men's rowing, is governed by the Intercollegiate Rowing Association.
- ^ Unlike rifle, pistol is not an NCAA-governed sport. It is fully coeducational.
- ^ Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. Nebraska fields a women-only team, and Ohio State fields a coed team.
- ^ Synchronized swimming is not governed by the NCAA. Collegiate competition is governed by United States Synchronized Swimming, the sport's national governing body.
Rivalries
[edit]Intra-conference football rivalries
[edit]The members of the Big Ten have longstanding rivalries with each other, especially on the football field. Each school, except Maryland and Rutgers, has at least one traveling trophy at stake. The following is a list of active rivalries in the Big Ten Conference with totals & records through the completion of the 2024 season.
| Team | Team | Rivalry Name | Trophy | Meetings | Record | Series Leader | Current Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Indiana | Illinois–Indiana rivalry | — | 73 | 46–25–2 | Illinois | Illinois won 1 |
| Illinois | Michigan | Illinois–Michigan football rivalry | — | 98 | 72–24–2 | Michigan | Illinois won 1 |
| Illinois | Northwestern | Illinois–Northwestern football rivalry | Land of Lincoln Trophy | 118 | 58–55–5 | Illinois | Illinois won 1 |
| Illinois | Ohio State | Illinois–Ohio State football rivalry | Illibuck Trophy | 103 | 68–30–4 | Ohio State | Ohio State won 8 |
| Illinois | Purdue | Illinois–Purdue football rivalry | Purdue Cannon | 100 | 48–46–6 | Purdue | Illinois won 1 |
| Indiana | Michigan State | Indiana–Michigan State football rivalry | Old Brass Spittoon | 71 | 50–19–2 | Michigan State | Indiana won 1 |
| Indiana | Purdue | Indiana–Purdue football rivalry | Old Oaken Bucket | 126 | 77–43–6 | Purdue | Indiana won 1 |
| Iowa | Minnesota | Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry | Floyd of Rosedale | 118 | 63–53–2 | Minnesota | Iowa won 1 |
| Iowa | Nebraska | Iowa–Nebraska football rivalry | Heroes Trophy | 55 | 30–22–3 | Nebraska | Iowa won 2 |
| Iowa | Wisconsin | Iowa–Wisconsin football rivalry | Heartland Trophy | 98 | 49–47–2 | Wisconsin | Iowa won 3 |
| Maryland | Penn State | Maryland–Penn State football rivalry | — | 48 | 44–3–1 | Penn State | Penn State won 4 |
| Maryland | Rutgers | Maryland–Rutgers football rivalry | — | 20 | 12–8 | Maryland | Rutgers won 1 |
| Michigan | Michigan State | Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry | Paul Bunyan Trophy | 117 | 74–38–5 | Michigan | Michigan won 3 |
| Michigan | Minnesota | Michigan–Minnesota football rivalry | Little Brown Jug | 106 | 78–25–3 | Michigan | Michigan won 5 |
| Michigan | Northwestern | Michigan–Northwestern football rivalry | George Jewett Trophy | 77 | 60–15–2 | Michigan | Michigan won 8 |
| Michigan | Ohio State | The Game | — | 120 | 62–51–6 | Michigan | Michigan won 4 |
| Michigan | Penn State | Michigan–Penn State football rivalry | — | 27 | 17–10 | Michigan | Michigan won 3 |
| Michigan State | Penn State | Michigan State–Penn State football rivalry | Land Grant Trophy | 38 | 19–18–1 | Penn State | Penn State won 2 |
| Minnesota | Nebraska | Minnesota–Nebraska football rivalry | $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy | 64 | 37–25–2 | Minnesota | Minnesota won 5 |
| Minnesota | Penn State | Minnesota–Penn State football rivalry | Governor's Victory Bell | 17 | 11–6 | Penn State | Penn State won 2 |
| Minnesota | Wisconsin | Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry | Paul Bunyan's Axe | 134 | 63–63–8 | Tie | Minnesota won 1 |
| Nebraska | Wisconsin | Nebraska–Wisconsin football rivalry | Freedom Trophy | 18 | 13–5 | Wisconsin | Nebraska won 1 |
| Ohio State | Penn State | Ohio State–Penn State football rivalry | — | 40 | 25–14 | Ohio State | Ohio State won 8 |
| Oregon | Washington | Oregon–Washington football rivalry | — | 117 | 63–49–5 | Washington | Oregon won 1 |
| UCLA | USC | UCLA–USC football rivalry | Victory Bell | 94 | 51–34–7 | USC | USC won 1 |
Extra-conference football rivalries
[edit]Protected matchups
[edit]Beginning in 2024, the conference will eliminate divisions but will protect certain matchups. The following are the conference's 12 protected matchups.[87]
- Illinois: Northwestern, Purdue
- Indiana: Purdue
- Iowa: Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin
- Maryland: Rutgers
- Michigan: Michigan State, Ohio State
- Michigan State: Michigan
- Minnesota: Iowa, Wisconsin
- Nebraska: Iowa
- Northwestern: Illinois
- Ohio State: Michigan
- Oregon: Washington
- Purdue: Illinois, Indiana
- Rutgers: Maryland
- UCLA: USC
- USC: UCLA
- Washington: Oregon
- Wisconsin: Minnesota, Iowa
From 1993 through 2010, the Big Ten football schedule was set up with each team having two permanent matches within the conference, with the other eight teams in the conference rotating out of the schedule in pairs for two-year stints. Permanent matches were as follows:[citation needed]
- Illinois: Indiana, Northwestern
- Indiana: Illinois, Purdue
- Iowa: Minnesota, Wisconsin
- Michigan: Michigan State, Ohio State
- Michigan State: Michigan, Penn State
- Minnesota: Iowa, Wisconsin
- Northwestern: Illinois, Purdue
- Ohio State: Michigan, Penn State
- Penn State: Michigan State, Ohio State
- Purdue: Indiana, Northwestern
- Wisconsin: Iowa, Minnesota
This system was discontinued after the 2010 season, as teams became grouped into two divisions, and would play all teams in their division once, with one protected cross-over game, and two games rotating against the other five opponents from the opposing division.
Most of the above permanent rivalries were maintained. By virtue of the new alignment, a handful of new permanent divisional opponents were created, as all pairs of teams within the same division would face off each season. Furthermore, three new permanent inter-divisional matches resulted from the realignment: Purdue–Iowa, Michigan State–Indiana, and Penn State–Nebraska. The following past permanent matches were maintained across divisions: Minnesota–Wisconsin, Michigan–Ohio State, and Illinois–Northwestern.
The new alignment, however, caused some of the above permanent rivalries to be discontinued. These were: Iowa–Wisconsin, Northwestern–Purdue, and Michigan State–Penn State. These matchups would continue to be played, but only twice every five years on average. More rivalries were disrupted, and some resumed on a yearly basis, when the league realigned into East and West Divisions for the 2014 season with the addition of Maryland and Rutgers. The two new schools were placed in the new East Division with Penn State, and the two Indiana schools were divided (Indiana to the East and Purdue to the West). With the move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2016, all cross-division games will be held at least once in a four-year cycle except for Indiana–Purdue, which is the only protected cross-division game.[38] The conference later announced that once the new scheduling format takes effect in 2016, members will be prohibited from playing FCS teams, and required to play at least one non-conference game against a team in the Power Five conferences (ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC; presumably, this would also allow for non-conference games against Big Ten opponents that are not on the conference schedule). Games against independents Notre Dame (an ACC member in non-football sports) also count toward the Power Five requirement, as did games against BYU before it joined the Big 12 in 2023.[88]
Intra-conference basketball rivalries
[edit]- Illinois: Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern
- Indiana: Illinois, Purdue
- Iowa: Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin
- Maryland: Penn State
- Michigan: Michigan State, Ohio State
- Michigan State: Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin
- Minnesota: Iowa, Wisconsin
- Northwestern: Illinois
- Ohio State: Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State
- Oregon: Washington
- Penn State: Maryland, Ohio State
- Purdue: Indiana
- UCLA: USC
- USC: UCLA
- Washington: Oregon
- Wisconsin: Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota
Extra-conference basketball rivalries
[edit]- Illinois: Missouri
- Indiana: Kentucky
- Iowa: Iowa State, Iowa Big Four
- Maryland: Duke, Georgetown, Virginia
- Michigan: Duke
- Michigan State: Duke, Oakland
- Nebraska: Creighton
- Penn State: Bucknell, Pittsburgh
- Oregon: Oregon State
- Rutgers: Princeton, Seton Hall
- UCLA: Arizona, Notre Dame
- Washington: Gonzaga, Washington State
- Wisconsin: Green Bay, Marquette, Milwaukee
Other sports
[edit] |
Men's ice hockey
[edit]- Michigan-Michigan State
- Minnesota-Wisconsin
- Minnesota-North Dakota
- Minnesota-Minnesota Duluth
- Minnesota-St. Cloud State
- Michigan-Notre Dame
Men's lacrosse
[edit]- Maryland-Johns Hopkins
- Penn State-Bucknell
- Rutgers-Princeton
Men's soccer
[edit]- Michigan-Michigan State (Big Bear Trophy)
Wrestling
[edit]- Penn State–Lehigh
- Iowa-Penn State
- Iowa–Iowa State
- Iowa-Oklahoma State
- Rutgers-Princeton
Extra-conference rivalries
[edit]Four Big Ten teams-Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan State and Michigan-had rivalries in football with Notre Dame. After the University of Southern California with 35 wins (including a vacated 2005 win), the Michigan State Spartans have the most wins against the Irish, with 28. The Purdue Boilermakers follow with 26, and Michigan ranks fourth all-time with 24. Northwestern and Notre Dame had a yearly contest, with the winner taking home a shillelagh, much like the winner of the USC–Notre Dame and Purdue–Notre Dame contests now receive. The Northwestern–Notre Dame shillelagh was largely forgotten by the early 1960s and is now solely an element of college football's storied past.[89]
Penn State has a longstanding rivalry with Pittsburgh of the ACC, but the two schools did not meet from 2000 until renewing the rivalry with an alternating home-and-home series from 2016 to 2019. Penn State also has long histories with independent Notre Dame; Temple of The American; Syracuse, and Boston College of the ACC; and West Virginia, of the Big 12 Conference. Additionally, Penn State maintains strong intrastate rivalries with Patriot League universities Bucknell in men's basketball and men's lacrosse, and Lehigh in wrestling. Most of these rivalries were cultivated while Penn State operated independent of conference affiliation; the constraints of playing a full conference schedule, especially in football, have reduced the number of meetings between Penn State and its non-Big Ten rivals.
Iowa has an in-state rivalry with Iowa State of the Big 12, with the winner getting the Cy-Hawk Trophy in football. Iowa and Iowa State also compete annually in the Cy-Hawk Series sponsored by Hy-Vee (as of 2011 this series is now sponsored by The Iowa Corngrowers Association), the competition includes all head-to-head regular season competitions in all sports. Iowa also holds rivalries in basketball with the state's other two Division I programs, Drake and Northern Iowa.
Indiana has an out-of-conference rivalry with Kentucky of the SEC (see Indiana–Kentucky rivalry). While the two schools played in football for many years, the rivalry was rooted in their decades of national success in men's basketball. The two no longer play one another in football, but their basketball rivalry continued until a dispute about game sites ended the series after 2011. In the last season of the rivalry (2011–12), the teams played twice. During the regular season, then-unranked Indiana defeated then-#1 ranked Kentucky 73–72 at Assembly Hall. The Wildcats avenged the loss in the NCAA tournament, defeating Indiana 102–90 in the South Regional final in Atlanta on their way to a national title. The teams next played in the 2016 NCAA tournament, with Indiana winning.
Illinois has a longstanding basketball rivalry with the SEC's Missouri Tigers, with the two men's teams squaring off annually in the "Braggin' Rights" game. It has been held in St. Louis since 1980, first at the St. Louis Arena and since 1994 at the Enterprise Center. This rivalry has been carried over into football as "The Arch Rivalry" with games played at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis in 2002 and 2003 and four games in 2007 through 2010.St. Louis Sports Commission: Mizzou and Illinois Agree to Four-Year Football Series in St. Louis
Wisconsin has a long-standing in-state basketball rivalry with Marquette. The series has intensified as of late with both teams having made the Final Four in recent years. The schools also played an annual football game before Marquette abandoned its football program in 1961. The school also has minor rivalries in basketball with the two other Division I members of the University of Wisconsin System, which include the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
Similarly, Nebraska has an in-state rivalry with another Big East school in Creighton, mostly in basketball and baseball.
Minnesota men's ice hockey has a prolific and fierce border rivalry with the University of North Dakota. The two teams played annually between 1948 and 2013 as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association prior to the inception of the Big Ten Conference. The rivalry resumed in 2016 in non-conference action.
Maryland has many rivalries outside of the conference, most notably Duke, Virginia, West Virginia, and Navy. Maryland left the Duke and Virginia rivalries behind in the ACC when it joined the Big Ten.
In the early days of the Big Ten, the Chicago–Michigan game was played on Thanksgiving, usually with conference championship implications. It was considered one of the first major rivalries of the conference.
Facilities
[edit]Three Big Ten football stadiums seat over 100,000 spectators: Michigan Stadium (Michigan), Beaver Stadium (Penn State), and Ohio Stadium (Ohio State). Only five other college football stadiums have a capacity over 100,000 (as of the 2024 season, all in the Southeastern Conference (SEC)).[90] Michigan Stadium and Beaver Stadium, respectively, are the two largest American football stadiums by capacity in the United States,[90][91] and all three of the Big Ten's largest venues rank among the ten largest sports stadiums in the world. UCLA plays in the Rose Bowl as its home stadium, which is the location of the Rose Bowl Game for the Big Ten champion. USC plays in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a publicly owned stadium that is managed and operated by the university, which has hosted two summer Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984, and will again in 2028.
Big Ten schools also play in two of the 10 largest on-campus basketball arenas in the country: Ohio State's Value City Arena and Maryland's Xfinity Center. Additionally, arenas at Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Penn State rank among the 20 largest on-campus basketball facilities in the United States. As of the upcoming 2024–25 season, the Big Ten Conference has the most on-campus basketball arenas with seating capacities of 15,000 or more of any NCAA conference, with seven. (Of the other so-called power conferences in men's basketball, the ACC has two such arenas, the Big East none, the Big 12 four, and the SEC five. Outside of these conferences, the Mountain West Conference has four such arenas.)
Football, basketball, baseball, and soccer facilities
[edit]- Notes
- ^ Temporary stadium until the new Ryan Field is completed in 2026.
Ice hockey arenas
[edit]| School | Men's arena | Capacity | Women's arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Yost Ice Arena | 5,800 | No varsity team | |
| Michigan State | Clarence L. Munn Ice Arena | 6,114 | ||
| Minnesota | 3M Arena at Mariucci | 10,257 | Ridder Arena | 3,400 |
| Notre Dame | Compton Family Ice Arena | 5,022 | No varsity team | |
| Ohio State | Value City Arena | 17,500 | OSU Ice Rink | 1,415 |
| Penn State | Pegula Ice Arena | 6,014 | Pegula Ice Arena | 6,014 |
| Wisconsin | Kohl Center | 15,359 | LaBahn Arena | 2,273 |
Football
[edit]When Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, the division names were changed to "East" and "West", with Purdue and the six schools in the Central Time Zone in the West and Indiana joining the remaining six Eastern Time Zone schools in the East. The only protected cross-division game is Indiana–Purdue. Beginning in 2016, the Big Ten adopted a nine-game conference schedule.[39][94] All teams have one cross-division opponent they play annually that changes every six years except for Indiana and Purdue, whose crossover is permanent. The other six opponents are played every three years during that cycle. For 2016–2021, the pairings are Maryland–Minnesota, Michigan-Wisconsin, Michigan State–Northwestern, Ohio State-Nebraska, Penn State–Iowa, and Rutgers–Illinois, and for 2022–2023 the pairings are Maryland–Northwestern, Michigan–Nebraska, Michigan State–Minnesota, Ohio State–Wisconsin, Penn State–Illinois, and Rutgers–Iowa.[95] In 2016, the Big Ten no longer allowed its members to play Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams and also requires at least one non-conference game against a school in the Power Five conferences (ACC, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC). Contracts for future games already scheduled against FCS teams would be honored. However, in 2017, the Big Ten started to allow teams to schedule an FCS opponent during years in which they only have four conference home games (odd-numbered years for East division teams, even-numbered years for West division teams).[96] At the time this policy was first announced, games against FBS independents Notre Dame and BYU would count toward the Power Five requirement.[88] ESPN, citing a Big Ten executive, reported in 2015 that the Big Ten would allow exceptions to the Power Five rule on a case-by-case basis, and also that the other FBS independent at that time, Army, had been added to the list of non-Power Five schools that would be counted as Power Five opponents.[97]
In 2024, the addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington expanded the Big Ten to 18 teams, resulting in the elimination of football divisions. A schedule consisting of nine conference games and three non-conference games was maintained. At the end of the season, the top two teams in the conference standings will play each other in the Big Ten Football Championship Game. For at least 2024 and 2025, the conference was to adopt what it called the "Flex Protect Plus" model, which called for each conference member to play all the others at home and away at least once during a four-year cycle. Initially, the 11 "protected" matchups were to be played each season. The announcement was made before Oregon and Washington were announced as incoming members.[98][99] After the expansion to 18 teams was announced, the scheduling model was tweaked into the "Flex Protect XVIII" model, which will maintain the original 11 protected rivalries while adding Oregon–Washington. This model is planned to operate from 2024 to 2028.[100]
- Illinois–Northwestern
- Illinois–Purdue
- Indiana–Purdue
- Iowa–Minnesota
- Iowa–Nebraska
- Iowa–Wisconsin
- Maryland–Rutgers
- Michigan–Michigan State
- Michigan–Ohio State
- Minnesota–Wisconsin
- Oregon–Washington
- UCLA–USC
All-time school records
[edit]This list goes through January 20, 2025. The number of claimed national championships, as well as win–loss–tie records, include all seasons played, regardless of conference membership.
| # | Team | Won | Loss | Tied | Win % | Division Championships |
Big Ten Championships |
Claimed National Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 977 | 335 | 53 | .735 | 10 | 39† | 9 |
| 2 | Michigan | 1,011 | 358 | 36 | .732 | 4 | 45 | 12 |
| 3 | USC†† | 881 | 374 | 54 | .694 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 4 | Penn State | 940 | 410 | 41 | .691 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 5 | Nebraska†† | 924 | 430 | 40 | .677 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Washington†† | 778 | 468 | 50 | .620 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Michigan State | 733 | 490 | 44 | .596 | 3 | 9 | 6 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 745 | 524 | 53 | .584 | 5 | 14 | 0 |
| 9 | UCLA†† | 638 | 446 | 37 | .586 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Oregon†† | 720 | 511 | 46 | .582 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Minnesota | 744 | 549 | 44 | .573 | 1 | 18 | 7 |
| 12 | Iowa | 702 | 580 | 39 | .546 | 2 | 11 | 5 |
| 13 | Maryland†† | 682 | 627 | 43 | .520 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Purdue | 642 | 608 | 48 | .513 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 15 | Illinois | 644 | 625 | 50 | .507 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| 16 | Rutgers†† | 676 | 791 | 42 | .491 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Northwestern | 561 | 703 | 44 | .448 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| 18 | Indiana | 506 | 704 | 45 | .421 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- † Ohio State vacated 12 wins and its Big Ten title in 2010 due to NCAA sanctions.
- †† Numbers of division and conference championships shown reflect Big Ten history only and do not include division and conference championships in former conferences. Washington, Oregon, USC and UCLA joined the Big Ten in 2024, Maryland and Rutgers joined in 2014, and Nebraska joined in 2011.
Conference record in the College Football Playoff
[edit]| Team | Won | Loss | Pct. | App. | QF | SF | RU | NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 7 | 4 | .636 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan | 2 | 2 | .500 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Penn State | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan State | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon† | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Indiana | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 10 | .524 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 3 |
- † Does not include record prior to joining the conference in 2024.
Big Ten Conference champions
[edit]Bowl games
[edit]Since 1946, the Big Ten champion has had a tie-in with the Rose Bowl game. Michigan appeared in the first bowl game, the 1902 Rose Bowl. After that, the Big Ten only allowed one other team to participate in the Rose Bowl (the 1920 Ohio State Buckeyes football team), until the agreement struck with the Pacific Coast Conference for the 1947 Rose Bowl. The spread of civilian air travel plus the fact that the US military had publicly encouraged college football during World War II were primary causes of the Big Ten finally allowing the Rose Bowl.[101] From 1946 through 1971, the Big Ten did not allow the same team to represent the conference in consecutive years in the Rose Bowl with an exception made after the 1961 season in which Minnesota played in the 1962 Rose Bowl after playing in the 1961 Rose Bowl due to Ohio State declining the bid because of Ohio State faculty concerns about academics.
It was not until the 1975 season that the Big Ten allowed teams to play in bowl games other than the Rose Bowl. Michigan, which had been shut out of the postseason the previous three years, was the first beneficiary of the new rule when it played in the Orange Bowl vs. Oklahoma. Due to the pre-1975 rules, Big Ten teams such as Michigan and Ohio State have lower numbers of all-time bowl appearances than powerhouse teams from the Big 12 Conference (previously Big Eight and Southwest Conferences) and Southeastern Conference, which always placed multiple teams in bowl games every year.
2026 Bowl Tie-ins
[edit]| Name[102] | Location | Opposing Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus Bowl | Orlando, Florida | SEC |
| ReliaQuest Bowl[103] | Tampa, Florida | |
| Las Vegas Bowl | Paradise, Nevada | Former Pac-12 |
| Music City Bowl[103] | Nashville, Tennessee | SEC |
| Pinstripe Bowl[103] | New York City | ACC |
| Rate Bowl[103] | Phoenix, Arizona | Big 12 |
| GameAbove Sports Bowl[103] | Detroit, Michigan | MAC |
Bowl selection procedures
[edit]Although the pick order usually corresponds to the conference standings, the bowls are not required to make their choices strictly according to the win–loss records; many factors influence bowl selections, especially the likely turnout of the team's fans. Picks are made after CFP selections; the bowl with the #2 pick will have the first pick of the remaining teams in the conference.
For all non-College Football Playoff partners, the bowl partner will request a Big Ten team. The Big Ten will approve or assign another team based on internal selection parameters.
When not hosting a semifinal, the Orange Bowl will select the highest-ranked team from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame to face an ACC opponent. (However, in an 8-game cycle [12 years due to not counting when the Orange Bowl is a semifinal], the Big Ten must be selected at least three times and no more than four times; the SEC similarly will be selected between three and four times while Notre Dame may be selected up to two times.)[104] The Big Ten Champion cannot play in the Orange Bowl. If a Big Ten team is not selected by the Orange Bowl, the Citrus Bowl will submit a request for a Big Ten team.
Head Coach Compensation
[edit]Guaranteed compensation is due to the coaches regardless of performance. Though most of the pay is directed from the university, some also comes in the form of guaranteed endorsements and other income streams. Most coaches also have performance-based bonuses that can significantly raise their salaries.[105]
In 2025, three Big Ten member schools—Northwestern and USC, private institutions, and Penn State, exempt from most open records laws due to its status as what Pennsylvania calls a "state-related" institution—are not obligated to provide salary information for their head coaches. Both Penn State and Northwestern typically choose to provide this information, although Northwestern has not announced the salary of its current coach.
| Institution | Head coach | 2025 guaranteed pay |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | Ryan Day | $9,960,000 |
| Oregon | Dan Lanning | $8,000,000 |
| Nebraska | Matt Rhule | $7,800,000 |
| Washington | Jedd Fisch | $7,750,000 |
| Wisconsin | Luke Fickell | $7,500,000 |
| Penn State | James Franklin[a] | $7,500,000 |
| Iowa | Kirk Ferentz | $7,000,000 |
| Michigan | Sherrone Moore | $6,000,000 |
| Michigan State | Jonathan Smith | $6,000,000 |
| Illinois | Bret Bielema | $6,000,000 |
| Purdue | Barry Odom | $6,000,000 |
| Minnesota | P. J. Fleck | $5,100,000 |
| Indiana | Curt Cignetti | $4,000,000 |
| Rutgers | Greg Schiano | $4,000,000 |
| Maryland | Mike Locksley | $4,000,000 |
| UCLA | DeShaun Foster[a] | $3,100,000 |
| Northwestern | David Braun | N/A |
| USC | Lincoln Riley | N/A |
Marching bands
[edit]All Big Ten member schools have marching bands which perform regularly during the football season. Eleven of the member schools have won the Sudler Trophy,[106] generally considered the most prestigious honor a collegiate marching band can receive.[107] Ten of the 11 have won the award while Big Ten members; the other is UCLA, which received the award when it was in the Pac-12 Conference. The first three Sudler trophies were awarded to Big Ten marching bands—Michigan (1982), Illinois (1983) and Ohio State (1984).[106] The Big Ten has more Sudler Trophy recipients than any other collegiate athletic conference.[106]
Conference individual honors
[edit]Coaches and media of the Big Ten Conference award individual honors at the end of each football season.
Men's basketball
[edit]The Big Ten has participated in basketball since 1904, and has led the nation in attendance every season since 1978.[108] Although, they have slightly higher average capacity basketball venues, the attendance edge is largely because Big Ten Conference fans fill a higher percentage of seats than other conferences.[109] It has been a national powerhouse in men's basketball, having multiple championship winners and often sending four or more teams to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Previous NCAA champions include Indiana with five titles, Michigan State with two, and Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State with one each. Maryland, which joined the Big Ten in 2014, won one NCAA championship as a member of the ACC.[110][111] Ohio State played in the first NCAA tournament national championship game in 1939, losing to Oregon. Despite this, Jimmy Hull of Ohio State was the first NCAA tournament MVP. The first three tournament MVPs came from the Big Ten (Marv Huffman of Indiana in 1940 and John Katz of Wisconsin in 1941).
Big Ten teams have also experienced success in the postseason National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Since 1974, 13 Big Ten teams have played in the championship game, winning nine championships. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Minnesota have won two NIT championships, while Indiana and Purdue have won one each. Two other members, Maryland and Nebraska, won NIT titles before they joined the Big Ten. In addition, in 1943 the defunct Helms Athletic Foundation retrospectively awarded national titles to Northwestern for 1931 and Purdue for 1932; then in 1957, it selected Illinois for 1915, Minnesota for 1902 and 1919, and Wisconsin for 1912, 1914 and 1916.[112] Former member Chicago won a post-season national championship series in 1908.
Conference Challenges
[edit]From 1999 to 2022, the Big Ten took part in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC held a 13–8–3 record against the Big Ten; Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, and Wisconsin are the only Big Ten schools without losing records in the challenge.
From 2015 to 2023, the Big Ten took part in the Gavitt Tipoff Games with the Big East Conference. The Big Ten did well in the challenge, holding a 3–1–4 record against the Big East, only losing the challenge in 2021.
All-time school records
[edit]This list is updated through March 1, 2022 and is listed by win percentage in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
| # | Big Ten | Overall record |
Pct. | Big Ten Tournament Championships |
Big Ten Regular Season Championships |
NCAA National Championships |
Claimed Pre-Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCLA | 1968–888 | .689 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 2 | Purdue | 1855–1045 | .640 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Illinois | 1833–1031 | .640 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Indiana | 1865–1080 | .635 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 1810–1138 | .614 | 4† | 20† | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Michigan State | 1754–1114 | .612 | 6 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | Michigan | 1659–1060 | .610 | 2† | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Maryland | 1604–1056 | .603 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Washington | 1812–1203 | .601 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Iowa | 1695–1193–1 | .587 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | USC | 1701–1241 | .578 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Minnesota | 1677–1248–2 | .573 | 0 | 8† | 0 | 3† |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 1653–1237 | .572 | 3 | 20 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Penn State | 1508–1211–1 | .555 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Oregon | 1753–1408 | .554 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1529–1410 | .520 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Rutgers | 1276–1235 | .508 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Northwestern | 1105–1557–1 | .415 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
† Minnesota vacated its 1997 Big Ten Conference regular season title, Michigan vacated its 1998 Big Ten tournament title, and Ohio State vacated its 2002 Big Ten tournament, as well as 2000 and 2002 regular season titles, due to NCAA sanctions. Minnesota was the champion for both the Premo-Porretta Power Poll and the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1902, but was only the Premo-Porretta champion in 1903 and only the Helms champion in 1919.
National championships, Final Fours, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]Big Ten Conference basketball programs have combined to win 10 NCAA men's basketball championships as Big Ten members, with another current member having won a national championship before joining the conference. UCLA has won eleven, Indiana has won five, Michigan State has won two, while Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin have won one national championship each as Big Ten members. Maryland won one national championship while a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and Oregon won the first NCAA tournament in 1939. Fifteen teams have advanced to the Final Four at least once in their history. Ten Big Ten schools (Indiana, Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue, Ohio State, Maryland, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, and UCLA) are among the national top 50 in all-time NCAA tournament appearances.
| School | Men's NCAA Championships | Men's NCAA Runner-Up |
Men's NCAA Final Fours |
Men's NCAA Elite Eights |
Men's NCAA Sweet Sixteens |
Men's NCAA Tournament Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 (2005) |
5 (1949, 1951, 1952, 1989, 2005) |
10 (1942, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1984, 1989, 2001, 2005, 2024) |
12 (1951, 1952, 1963, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2024) |
35 (1942, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1981, 1983–90, 1993–95, 1997, 1998, 2000–07, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2021–25) | |
| Indiana | 5 (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987) |
1 (2002) |
8 (1940, 1953, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992, 2002) |
11 (1940, 1953, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993, 2002) |
22 (1953, 1954, 1958, 1967, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991–94, 2002, 2012, 2013, 2016) |
41 (1940, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1967, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980–84, 1986–2003, 2006–08, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023) |
| Iowa | 1 (1956) |
3 (1955, 1956, 1980) |
4 (1955, 1956, 1980, 1987) |
8 (1955, 1956, 1970, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1999) |
29 (1955, 1956, 1970, 1979–83, 1985–89, 1991–93, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2014–16, 2019, 2021–23) | |
| Maryland | 1 (2002) |
2 (2001, 2002) |
4 (1973, 1975, 2001, 2002) |
15 (1958, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001–03, 2016, 2025) |
30 (1958, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1983–86, 1994–2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015–17, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025) | |
| Michigan | 1 (1989) |
4 (1965, 1976, 2013, 2018) |
6 (1964, 1965, 1976, 1989, 2013, 2018) |
14 (1948, 1964–66, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2021) |
18 (1964–66, 1974, 1976–77, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2013, 2014, 2017–19, 2021, 2022, 2025) |
29 (1948, 1964–66, 1974–77, 1985–90, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2009, 2011–14, 2016–19, 2021, 2022, 2025) |
| Michigan State | 2 (1979, 2000) |
1 (2009) |
10 (1957, 1979, 1999–01, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019) |
15 (1957, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1999–01, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2025) |
22 (1957, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1990, 1998–2001, 2003, 2005, 2008–10, 2012–15, 2019, 2023, 2025) |
38 (1957, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1990–92, 1994, 1995, 1998–2019, 2021–2025) |
| Minnesota | 1 (1990) |
3 (1982, 1989, 1990) |
10 (1982, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019) | |||
| Nebraska | 7 (1986, 1991–94, 1998, 2014) | |||||
| Northwestern | 2 (2017, 2023) | |||||
| Ohio State | 1 (1960) |
4 (1939, 1961, 1962, 2007) |
10 (1939, 1944–46, 1960–62, 1968, 2007, 2012) |
14 (1939, 1944–46, 1950, 1960–62, 1968, 1971, 1992, 2007, 2012, 2013) |
14 (1960–62, 1968, 1971, 1980, 1983, 1991, 1992, 2007, 2010–13) |
31 (1939, 1944–46, 1950, 1960–62, 1968, 1971, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990–92, 2006, 2007, 2009–15, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) |
| Oregon | 1 (1939) |
2 (1939, 2017) |
7 (1939, 1945, 1960, 2002, 2007, 2016, 2017) |
8 (1960, 2002, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021) |
19 (1939, 1945, 1960, 1961, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2013–2017, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025) | |
| Penn State | 1 (1954) |
2 (1942, 1954) |
4 (1952, 1954, 1955, 2001) |
10 (1942, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1965, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2011, 2023) | ||
| Purdue | 2 (1969, 2024) |
3 (1969, 1980, 2024) |
6 (1969, 1980, 1994, 2000, 2019, 2024) |
15 (1969, 1980, 1988, 1994, 1998–2000, 2009, 2010, 2017–19, 2022, 2024, 2025) |
35 (1969, 1977, 1980, 1983–88, 1990, 1991, 1993–95, 1997–2000, 2003, 2007–12, 2015–19, 2021–25) | |
| Rutgers | 1 (1976) |
1 (1976) |
2 (1976, 1979) |
8 (1975, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1989, 1991, 2021, 2022) | ||
| UCLA | 11 (1964–, 1965, 1967–73, 1975, 1995) |
1 (2006) |
18 (1962, 1964, 1965, 1967–76, 1976, 1995, 2006–08, 2021) |
22 (1950, 1962, 1964–65, 1967–76, 1979, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2006–08, 2021) |
36 (1952, 1956, 1962–65, 1967–79, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000–02, 2006–08, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021–23) |
51 (1950, 1952, 1956, 1962–65, 1967–81, 1983, 1987, 1989–2002, 2005–09, 2011, 2013–15, 2017, 2018, 2021–23, 2025) |
| USC | 2 (1940, 1954) |
4 (1940, 1954, 2001, 2021) |
4 (1954, 1961, 2001, 2021) |
20 (1940, 1954, 1960–1961, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1991–1992, 1997, 2001–2002, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016–2017, 2021–2022, 2023) | ||
| Washington | 1 (1953) |
4 (1943, 1948, 1951, 1953) |
6 (1951, 1953, 1984, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2010) |
17 (1943, 1948, 1951, 1953, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019) | ||
| Wisconsin | 1 (1941) |
1 (2015) |
4 (1941, 2000, 2014, 2015) |
6 (1941, 1947, 2000, 2005, 2014, 2015) |
10 (2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014–17) |
28 (1941, 1947, 1994, 1997, 1999–2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) |
Seasons are listed by the calendar years in which they ended. Italics indicate honors earned before the school competed in the Big Ten.
Big Ten NCAA tournament champions, runners-up and locations
[edit]† denotes overtime games. Multiple †'s indicate more than one overtime.
Teams in bold represented the Big Ten at the time of their appearance. Those in bold italics made appearances before joining the conference.
- ^ The count of host cities refers to the number of times each city has hosted, not each specific venue.
- ^ a b Participation vacated due to major NCAA violations.
- ^ a b Participation vacated due to major NCAA violations.
- ^ Participation and title vacated due to major NCAA violations.
Big Ten Post-season NIT championships and runners-up
[edit]| Year | Champion | Runner-up | MVP | Venue and city | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Maryland | 100 | Niagara | 69 | Tom McMillen, Maryland | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1974 | Purdue | 87 | Utah | 81 | Mike Sojourner, Utah | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1979 | Indiana | 53 | Purdue | 52 | Butch Carter and Ray Tolbert, Indiana | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1980 | Virginia | 58 | Minnesota | 55 | Ralph Sampson, Virginia | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1982 | Bradley | 68 | Purdue | 61 | Mitchell Anderson, Bradley | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1984 | Michigan | 83 | Notre Dame | 63 | Tim McCormick, Michigan | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1985 | UCLA | 65 | Indiana | 62 | Reggie Miller, UCLA | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1986 | Ohio State | 73 | Wyoming | 63 | Brad Sellers, Ohio State | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1988 | UConn[b 1] | 72 | Ohio State | 67 | Phil Gamble, UConn | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1993 | Minnesota | 62 | Georgetown | 61 | Voshon Lenard, Minnesota | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1996 | Nebraska | 60 | Saint Joseph's | 56 | Erick Strickland, Nebraska | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1997 | Michigan[b 2] | 82 | Florida State | 73 | Robert Traylor, Michigan | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 1998 | Minnesota[b 3] | 79 | Penn State | 72 | Kevin Clark, Minnesota | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 2004 | Michigan | 62 | Rutgers | 55 | Daniel Horton, Michigan | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 2006 | South Carolina | 76 | Michigan | 64 | Renaldo Balkman, South Carolina | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 2008 | Ohio State | 92 | UMass | 85 | Kosta Koufos, Ohio State | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 2009 | Penn State | 69 | Baylor | 63 | Jamelle Cornley, Penn State | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 2012 | Stanford | 75 | Minnesota | 51 | Aaron Bright, Stanford | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 2013 | Baylor | 74 | Iowa | 54 | Pierre Jackson, Baylor | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 2014 | Minnesota | 65 | SMU | 63 | Austin Hollins, Minnesota | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
| 2018 | Penn State | 82 | Utah | 66 | Lamar Stevens, Penn State | Madison Square Garden | New York City |
- ^ Then known athletically as Connecticut.
- ^ Participation and title vacated due to major NCAA violations.
- ^ Participation and title vacated due to major NCAA violations.
- ^ Affiliate member: Johns Hopkins
Head coach compensation
[edit]Guaranteed compensation is due to the coaches regardless of performance. Though most of the pay is directed from the university, some also comes in the form of guaranteed endorsements and other income streams. Most coaches also have performance-based bonuses that can significantly raise their salaries.[105]
In 2024, three Big Ten member schools—Northwestern and USC, private institutions, and Penn State, exempt from most open records laws due to its status as what Pennsylvania calls a "state-related" institution—are not obligated to provide salary information for their head coaches. Despite this, both Penn State and Northwestern typically choose to provide this information.
| Institution | Head coach | 2023–2024 guaranteed pay |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | Tom Izzo | $6,200,000 |
| Illinois | Brad Underwood | $4,600,000 |
| Indiana | Mike Woodson | $4,200,000 |
| UCLA | Mick Cronin | $4,100,000 |
| Maryland | Kevin Willard | $4,000,000 |
| Oregon | Dana Altman | $3,775,000 |
| Purdue | Matt Painter | $3,550,000 |
| Wisconsin | Greg Gard | $3,550,000 |
| Ohio State | Jake Diebler | $2,500,000 |
| Michigan | Dusty May | $3,750,000 |
| Rutgers | Steve Pikiell | $3,250,000 |
| Nebraska | Fred Hoiberg | $3,250,000 |
| Iowa | Fran McCaffery | $3,200,000 |
| Washington | Danny Sprinkle | $3,600,000 |
| Penn State | Mike Rhoades | $2,900,000 |
| Minnesota | Ben Johnson | $1,950,000 |
| Northwestern | Chris Collins | $2,893,064 |
| USC | Eric Musselman | N/A |
Women's basketball
[edit]Big Ten women's basketball teams have played a total of 17 championship games of the three most prominent national postseason tournaments—six in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament (since 1982), one in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (since 2024), and 10 in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (since 1998). Three other championship game appearances (two in the NCAA, one in the WNIT) were made by current Big Ten members before they joined the conference, and the 2024 arrivals have combined for five championship game appearances (three in the NCAA and two in the WNIT). Purdue is the only Big Ten member to have won the NCAA women's basketball national title while a member of the conference. Both schools that joined in 2014, Maryland and Rutgers, won national titles before joining the Big Ten—Rutgers won the final AIAW championship in 1982, when it was a member of the Eastern 8, and Maryland won the NCAA title in 2006 as a member of the ACC. Big Ten women's basketball led conference attendance from 1993 to 1999.[113]
Like the men's teams, the women's basketball teams in the Big Ten participated in the Big Ten–ACC Women's Challenge, which was founded in 2007 and ended in 2022. The Big Ten's record in the challenge was 1–11–3, with Indiana, Maryland, and Michigan being the only Big Ten teams without a losing record in the challenge.
National championships, Final Fours, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]Seasons are listed by the calendar years in which they ended. Italics indicate seasons before the school competed in the Big Ten.
| School | Women's AIAW/NCAA Championships |
Women's AIAW/NCAA Final Fours |
Women's AIAW/NCAA Elite Eights |
Women's AIAW/NCAA Sweet Sixteens |
Women's AIAW/NCAA Tournament Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2 (1997, 1998) |
10 (1982, 1986, 1987, 1997–2000, 2003, 2023, 2025) | |||
| Indiana | 1 (1973) |
3 (1972, 1974, 2021) |
3 (2021, 2022, 2024) |
11 (1983, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2016, 2019, 2021–25) | |
| Iowa | 3 (1993, 2023, 2024) |
6 (1987, 1988, 1993, 2019, 2023, 2024) |
10 (1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1996, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) |
31 (1986–94, 1996–98, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008–15, 2018–19, 2021–25) | |
| Maryland | 1 (2006) |
6 (1978, 1982, 1989, 2006, 2014, 2015) |
15 (1978–82, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2023) |
21 (1978–83, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012–14, 2015, 2017, 2021–23, 2025) |
36 (1978–84, 1986, 1988–93, 1997, 2001, 2004–09, 2011–14, 2015–19, 2021–25) |
| Michigan | 1 (2022) |
2 (2021, 2022) |
13 (1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2021–25) | ||
| Michigan State | 1 (2005) |
1 (2005) |
3 (2005, 2006, 2009) |
21 (1977, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2003–07, 2009–14, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025) | |
| Minnesota | 1 (2004) |
1 (2004) |
4 (1977, 2003, 2004, 2005) |
13 (1977, 1981, 1982, 1994, 2002–06, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2018) | |
| Nebraska | 2 (2010, 2013) |
17 (1988, 1993, 1996, 1998–2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012–15, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025) | |||
| Northwestern | 11 (1979–82, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2015, 2021) | ||||
| Ohio State | 1 (1993) |
5 (1975, 1985, 1987, 1993, 2023) |
12 (1985–89, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2022, 2023) |
28 (1975, 1978, 1984–90, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2003–12, 2015, 2016, 2022–25) | |
| Oregon | 1 (2019) |
3 (2017–19) |
5 (1981, 2017–19, 2021) |
20 (1980–82, 1984, 1987, 1994–2001, 2005, 2017–19, 2021, 2022, 2025) | |
| Penn State | 1 (2000) |
4 (1983, 1994, 2000, 2004) |
13 (1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002–04, 2012, 2014) |
26 (1976, 1982–88, 1990, 1991, 1992–96, 1999–2005, 2011–14) | |
| Purdue | 1 (1999) |
3 (1994, 1999, 2001) |
8 (1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009) |
12 (1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009) |
27 (1989–92, 1994–2009, 2011–14, 2016, 2017, 2023) |
| Rutgers | 1 (1982) |
3 (1982, 2000, 2007) |
7 (1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008) |
11 (1986–88, 1998–2000, 2005–09) |
30 (1979–82, 1986–94, 1998–2001, 2003–12, 2015, 2019, 2021) |
| UCLA | 1 (1978) |
3 (1978, 1979, 2025) |
5 (1978, 1979, 1999, 2018, 2025) |
12 (1978, 1979, 1985, 1992, 1999, 2016–19, 2023, 2024, 2025) |
23 (1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1998–2000, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016–19, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025) |
| USC | 2 (1983, 1984) |
4 (1981, 1983, 1984, 1986) |
9 (1981–84, 1986, 1992, 1994, 2024, 2025) |
13 (1981–88, 1992–94, 2024, 2025) |
21 (1980–88, 1991–95, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2014, 2023, 2024, 2025) |
| Washington | 1 (2016) |
3 (1990, 2001, 2016) |
7 (1988, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2001, 2016, 2017) |
21 (1978, 1985–91, 1993–95, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2015–17, 2025) | |
| Wisconsin | 1 (1982) |
8 (1982, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010) |
Big Ten NCAA tournament champions, runners-up and locations
[edit]Bold type indicates teams that competed as Big Ten members. Bold italics indicates teams that later became Big Ten members.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Venue and city | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | USC | 69 | Louisiana Tech | 67 | Norfolk Scope | Norfolk, Virginia |
| 1984 | USC | 72 | Tennessee | 61 | Pauley Pavilion | Los Angeles, California |
| 1986 | Texas | 97 | USC | 81 | Rupp Arena | Lexington, Kentucky |
| 1993 | Texas Tech | 84 | Ohio State | 82 | The Omni | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1999 | Purdue | 62 | Duke | 45 | San Jose Arena | San Jose, California |
| 2001 | Notre Dame | 68 | Purdue | 66 | Savvis Center | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 2005 | Baylor | 84 | Michigan State | 62 | RCA Dome | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 2006 | Maryland | 78 | Duke | 75 | TD Banknorth Garden | Boston, Massachusetts |
| 2007 | Tennessee | 59 | Rutgers | 46 | Quicken Loans Arena | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 2023 | LSU | 102 | Iowa | 85 | American Airlines Center | Dallas, Texas |
| 2024 | South Carolina | 87 | Iowa | 75 | Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse | Cleveland, Ohio |
Big Ten Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament championship games
[edit]| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Venue | City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Illinois | 71 | Villanova | 57 | Hinkle Fieldhouse | Indianapolis |
Big Ten Women's National Invitation Tournament championship games
[edit]Bold type indicates teams that competed as Big Ten members. Bold italics indicates teams that later became Big Ten members.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Venue | City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Penn State | 59 | Baylor | 56 | Ferrell Center | Waco, Texas |
| 1999 | Arkansas | 67 | Wisconsin | 64 | Bud Walton Arena | Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| 2000 | Wisconsin | 75 | Florida | 74 | Kohl Center | Madison, Wisconsin |
| 2001 | Ohio State | 62 | New Mexico | 61 | University Arena | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 2007 | Wyoming | 72 | Wisconsin | 56 | Arena-Auditorium | Laramie, Wyoming |
| 2008 | Marquette | 81 | Michigan State | 66 | Breslin Center | East Lansing, Michigan |
| 2014 | Rutgers | 56 | UTEP | 54 | Don Haskins Center | El Paso, Texas |
| 2017 | Michigan | 89 | Georgia Tech | 79 | Calihan Hall | Detroit, Michigan |
| 2018 | Indiana | 65 | Virginia Tech | 57 | Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall | Bloomington, Indiana |
| 2019 | Arizona | 56 | Northwestern | 42 | McKale Center | Tucson, Arizona |
| 2024 | Saint Louis | 56 | Minnesota | 42 | Vadalabene Center | Edwardsville, Illinois |
Volleyball
[edit]National championships, Final Fours, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]Seasons are listed by the calendar years in which they ended. Italics indicate seasons before the school competed in the Big Ten.
| School | AIAW/NCAA Championships |
AIAW/NCAA Runner-Up |
AIAW/NCAA Semifinals |
AIAW/NCAA Regional Finals |
AIAW/NCAA Regional Semifinals |
AIAW/NCAA Tournament Appearances |
Conference Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 (2011) |
4 (1987, 1988, 2011, 2018) |
7 (1986–89, 1992, 2011, 2018) |
19 (1985–89, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2008–11, 2013–15, 2017, 2018, 2021) |
30 (1977, 1980, 1985–95, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008–11, 2013–15, 2017–19, 2021, 2024) |
4 (1986, 1987, 1988, 1992) | |
| Indiana | 1 (2010) |
5 (1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2010) |
|||||
| Iowa | 2 (1989, 1994) |
||||||
| Maryland | 7 (1990, 1995–97, 2003–05) |
5 (1990, 1996, 2003–05) | |||||
| Michigan | 1 (2012) |
2 (2009, 2012) |
7 (2007–09, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018) |
21 (1981, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002–04, 2006–13, 2015–19, 2021) |
1 (1981) | ||
| Michigan State | 1 (1995) |
3 (1995, 1996, 2017) |
7 (1995, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2017) |
22 (1975, 1976, 1994–2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011–17) |
4 (1975, 1976, 1995, 1996) | ||
| Minnesota | 1 (2004) |
6 (2003, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2019) |
9 (2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021) |
21 (1989, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2002–04, 2006, 2009–13, 2015–22) |
29 (1989, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999–2013, 2015–24) |
3 (2002, 2015, 2018) | |
| Nebraska | 5 (1995, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2017) |
6 (1986, 1989, 2005, 2018, 2021, 2023) |
18 (1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2015–18, 2021, 2023, 2024) |
33 (1984–87, 1989–91, 1994–98, 2000–02, 2004–09 2012–21, 2023, 2024) |
40 (1982, 1984–92, 1994–2010 2012–24) |
49 (1975–80, 1982–2010, 2011–24) |
36 (1976–92, 1994–96, 1998–2002, 2004–08, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024) |
| Northwestern | 1 (1981) |
8 (1981–84, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2010) |
2 (1983, 1984) | ||||
| Ohio State | 2 (1991, 1994) |
4 (1991, 1994, 2004, 2022) |
19 (1989, 1991, 1993–97, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2014–16, 2020–22) |
35 (1972–81, 1989–98, 2001, 2002, 2004–06, 2009–12, 2014–16, 2020–22) |
3 (1989, 1991, 1994) | ||
| Oregon | 1 (2012) |
1 (2012) |
4 (2012, 2018, 2022, 2023) |
10 (1984, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
29 (1973–80, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 2006–09, 2011–18, 2020–23, 2024) |
||
| Penn State | 8 (1999, 2007–10, 2013, 2014, 2024) |
3 (1993, 1997, 1998) |
14 (1993, 1994, 1997–99, 2007–10, 2012–14, 2017, 2024) |
21 (1990, 1993, 1994, 1996–2000, 2003, 2006–10, 2012–14, 2017–19, 2024) |
36 (1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991–2000, 2003–20, 2022–24) |
45 (1980–90, 1991–2024) |
26 (1983–90, 1992, 1993, 1996–99, 2003–10, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2024) |
| Purdue | 5 (1982, 2010, 2013, 2020, 2021) |
16 (1981–83, 1985, 1987, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010–13, 2019–21, 2023) |
27 (1978, 1979, 1981–85, 1987, 1990, 2004–08, 2010–13, 2015–23) |
2 (1982, 1985) | |||
| Rutgers | 1 (1982) |
1 (1982) | |||||
| UCLA | 7 (1972, 1974, 1975, 1984, 1990, 1991, 2011) |
7 (1970, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1992, 1994) |
17 (1972–73, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983–85, 1988–92, 1994, 2006, 2011) |
22 (1981–85, 1988–95, 1999–2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2016) |
29 (1981–85, 1987–95, 1999–2001, 2003–08, 2011, 2014–17, 2021) |
49 (1970, 1972, 1972–73, 1973–95, 1997–2009, 2011, 2012, 2014–17, 2019–2021) |
7 (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1999) |
| USC | 6 (1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 2002, 2003) |
1 (1982) |
13 (1976, 1977, 1980–82, 1985, 2000, 2002–04, 2007, 2010, 2011) |
17 (1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1994, 2000–04, 2007, 2010–13, 2015, 2017) |
24 (1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994–98, 2000–04, 2006, 2007, 2010–13, 2015, 2017) |
42 (1970, 1976–78, 1980–85, 1987–89, 1991–93, 1995–2019, 2022) |
5 (2000, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2015) |
| Washington | 1 (2005) |
5 (2004–06, 2013, 2020) |
12 (1988, 2003–06, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020) |
18 (1979, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2003–06, 2008, 2010, 2012–16, 2018–20) |
30 (1979, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002–22, 2024) |
7 (1980, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020) | |
| Wisconsin | 1 (2021) |
3 (2000, 2013, 2019) |
6 (2000, 2013, 2019–21, 2023) |
15 (1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018–24) |
22 (1990, 1991, 1996–98, 2000, 2001, 2004–06, 2013–24) |
28 (1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996–2007, 2013–24) |
9 (1990, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2014, 2019–22) |
NCAA volleyball champions, runners-up, and scores
[edit]Note: Teams in bold are current Big Ten members who advanced to the championship while in the conference. Teams in bold italics are current Big Ten members who were either in another conference or an independent at the time of their appearance.
Field hockey
[edit]Big Ten field hockey programs have won 12 NCAA Championships, although only four of these titles were won by schools as Big Ten members. Maryland won eight national championships as a member of the ACC, second most in the sport all-time. Penn State also has two AIAW championships won before it became a Big Ten member and before the NCAA sponsored women's sports.
National championships, Final Fours, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]Seasons are listed by the calendar years in which they ended. Italics indicate seasons before the school competed in the Big Ten.
| School | NCAA National Championships | NCAA Runner-ups | NCAA Final Fours | NCAA Quarterfinals | NCAA Tournament appearances | Conference Championships | Conference Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 (2005) |
2 (2005, 2009) |
|||||
| Iowa | 1 (1986) |
3 (1984, 1988, 1992) |
12 (1984, 1986–90, 1992–94, 1999, 2008, 2020) |
21 (1982–96, 1999, 2008, 2019–22) |
28 (1982–96, 1999, 2004, 2006–08, 2011, 2012, 2018–23) |
16 (1981–83, 1985–87, 1989–92, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2019, 2021) |
6 (1981, 1994, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2019) |
| Maryland | 8 (1987, 1993, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011) |
5 (1995, 2001, 2009, 2017, 2018) |
21 (1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999–2001, 2003–06, 2008–13, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) |
32 (1985, 1987, 1991–93, 1995–2013, 2014, 2016–19, 2021–23) |
36 (1985, 1987, 1988, 1990–93, 1995–2013, 2014–19, 2021–24) |
6 (2014–16, 2018, 2019, 2022) |
12 (1992, 1998–2001, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2018) |
| Michigan | 1 (2001) |
2 (1999, 2020) |
5 (1999, 2001, 2003, 2017, 2020) |
13 (1999–2001, 2003–05, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021) |
20 (1999–2005, 2007, 2010–12, 2015–22, 2024) |
11 (1997, 2000, 2002–04, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2020) |
9 (1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024) |
| Michigan State | 2 (2002, 2004) |
7 (2001–04, 2008, 2009, 2013) |
9 (2001–04, 2007–10, 2013) |
4 (2001, 2003, 2004, 2009) |
4 (2002, 2003, 2009, 2013) | ||
| Northwestern | 2 (2021, 2024) |
2 (2022, 2023) |
8 (1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, 2021–24) |
17 (1983–90, 1993, 1994, 2017, 2020–24) |
20 (1983–91, 1993, 1994, 2014, 2017, 2019–24) |
8 (1983–85, 1988, 1994, 2013, 2023, 2024) |
2 (2014, 2023) |
| Ohio State | 1 (2010) |
2 (2006, 2010) |
7 (1994, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009–11) |
3 (2001, 2006, 2010) |
1 (2001) | ||
| Penn State | 2 (2002, 2007) |
8 (1982, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2007, 2022) |
21 (1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991–95, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2022) |
35 (1982–1990, 1991–2000, 2002, 2003, 2005–08, 2010–14, 2016–18, 2021, 2022) |
11 (1988–90, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2022) |
9 (1989, 1990, 1995–98, 2011, 2012, 2016) | |
| Rutgers | 3 (1984, 1986, 2021) |
5 (1984, 1986, 2018, 2021, 2023) |
1 (2021) |
NCAA field hockey champions, runners-up, and scores
[edit]Note: Teams in bold are current Big Ten members who advanced to the championship while in the conference. Teams in bold italics are current Big Ten members who were either in another conference or an independent at the time of their appearance.
Men's gymnastics
[edit]The Big Ten fields five of the remaining 13 Division I men's gymnastics teams. In 2014, Michigan edged out Oklahoma for their 6th NCAA men's gymnastics championship, the school's third in five years.[114]
NCAA championships and runners-up
[edit]| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Chicago† | Illinois | Chicago |
| 1939 | Illinois | Army | Chicago |
| 1940 | Illinois | Navy/Temple | Chicago |
| 1941 | Illinois | Minnesota††† | Chicago |
| 1942 | Illinois | Penn State†† | Navy |
| 1948 | Penn State†† | Temple | Chicago |
| 1949 | Temple | Minnesota††† | California |
| 1950 | Illinois | Temple | Army |
| 1951 | Florida State | Illinois/Southern Cal | Michigan |
| 1953 | Penn State†† | Illinois | Syracuse |
| 1954 | Penn State†† | Illinois | Illinois |
| 1955 | Illinois | Penn State†† | UCLA |
| 1956 | Illinois | Penn State†† | North Carolina |
| 1957 | Penn State†† | Illinois | Navy |
| 1958 | Michigan State†††/Illinois | Michigan State | |
| 1959 | Penn State†† | Illinois | California |
| 1960 | Penn State†† | Southern Cal | Penn State |
| 1961 | Penn State†† | Southern Illinois | Illinois |
| 1963 | Michigan | Southern Illinois | Pittsburgh |
| 1965 | Penn State†† | Washington | Southern Illinois |
| 1967 | Southern Illinois | Michigan | Southern Illinois |
| 1969 | Iowa††† | Penn State††/Colorado State | Washington |
| 1970 | Michigan | Iowa State/New Mexico state | Temple |
| 1973 | Iowa State | Penn State†† | Oregon |
| 1976 | Penn State†† | LSU | Temple |
| 1979 | Nebraska†† | Oklahoma | LSU |
| 1980 | Nebraska†† | Iowa State | Nebraska |
| 1981 | Nebraska†† | Oklahoma | Nebraska |
| 1982 | Nebraska†† | UCLA | Nebraska |
| 1983 | Nebraska†† | UCLA | Penn State |
| 1984 | UCLA | Penn State†† | UCLA |
| 1985 | Ohio State | Nebraska†† | Nebraska |
| 1986 | Arizona State | Nebraska†† | Nebraska |
| 1987 | UCLA | Nebraska†† | UCLA |
| 1988 | Nebraska†† | Illinois | Nebraska |
| 1989 | Illinois | Nebraska†† | Nebraska |
| 1990 | Nebraska†† | Minnesota††† | Minnesota |
| 1991 | Oklahoma | Penn State†† | Penn State |
| 1992 | Stanford | Nebraska†† | Nebraska |
| 1993 | Stanford | Nebraska†† | New Mexico |
| 1994 | Nebraska†† | Stanford | Nebraska |
| 1995 | Stanford | Nebraska†† | Ohio State |
| 1996 | Ohio State | California | Stanford |
| 1998 | California | Iowa††† | Penn State |
| 1999 | Michigan | Ohio State | Nebraska |
| 2000 | Penn State | Michigan | Iowa |
| 2001 | Ohio State | Oklahoma | Ohio State |
| 2002 | Oklahoma | Ohio State | Oklahoma |
| 2003 | Oklahoma | Ohio State | Temple |
| 2004 | Penn State | Oklahoma | Illinois |
| 2005 | Oklahoma | Ohio State | Army |
| 2006 | Oklahoma | Illinois | Oklahoma |
| 2007 | Penn State | Oklahoma | Penn State |
| 2009 | Stanford | Michigan | Minnesota |
| 2010 | Michigan | Stanford | Army |
| 2012 | Illinois | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| 2013 | Michigan | Oklahoma | Penn State |
| 2014 | Michigan | Oklahoma | Michigan |
| 2017 | Oklahoma | Ohio State | Army |
| 2018 | Oklahoma | Minnesota††† | UIC |
| 2023 | Stanford | Michigan | Penn State |
| 2024 | Stanford | Michigan | Ohio State |
| 2025 | Michigan | Stanford | Michigan |
†–Chicago left the Big Ten in 1946.
††–Finishes prior to Penn State and Nebraska joining the Big Ten.
†††–Iowa, Michigan State and Minnesota no longer competes in men's gymnastics.
Men's ice hockey
[edit]The Big Ten began sponsoring men's ice hockey in the 2013–14 season, the only Power Five conference to do so.[115][116] The inaugural season included six schools: Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State joined from the then disbanded (revived in the 2021–22 season) CCHA; Minnesota and Wisconsin joined from the WCHA (men's division disbanded after the 2020–21 season); and Penn State joined after playing its first NCAA Division I season (2012–13) as an independent.[115][116] Notre Dame joined the league as an affiliate member beginning with the 2017–18 season.[117] Arizona State had a scheduling agreement with the conference for the 2020–21 season as an all-away game team, playing all seven Big Ten squads four times, but was not part of the conference and therefore was ineligible for the conference tournament or associated NCAA tournament automatic berth.[118] ASU joined the National Collegiate Hockey Conference effective in 2024–25.[119]
Championships, Frozen Fours, and NCAA Tournament Appearances
[edit]| School | NCAA Championships |
NCAA Runner-Up |
NCAA Frozen Fours |
NCAA Tournament Appearances |
Conference Championships |
Conference Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 9 (1948, 1951–53, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998) |
3 (1957, 1977, 2011) |
28 (1948–57, 1962, 1964, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995–98, 2001–03, 2008, 2011, 2018, 2022–24) |
41 (1948–57, 1962, 1964, 1977, 1991–2012, 2016, 2018, 2021–24) |
14 (1953, 1956, 1964, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011) |
10 (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2022, 2023) |
| Michigan State | 3 (1966, 1986, 2007) |
2 (1959, 1987) |
11 (1959, 1966, 1967, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2007) |
29 (1959, 1966, 1967, 1982–90, 1992, 1994–2002, 2004, 2006–08, 2012, 2024, 2025) |
15 (1966, 1967, 1982–85, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2024, 2025) |
9 (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2024, 2025) |
| Minnesota | 5 (1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003) |
8 (1953, 1954, 1971, 1975, 1981, 1989, 2014, 2023) |
23 (1953, 1954, 1961, 1971, 1974–76, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986–89, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2012, 2014, 2022, 2023) |
42 (1953, 1954, 1961, 1971, 1974–76, 1979–81, 1983, 1985–97, 2001–08, 2012–15, 2017, 2021–25) |
21 (1953, 1954, 1970, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2012–17, 2022, 2023, 2025) |
16 (1961, 1971, 1974–76, 1979–81, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2015, 2021) |
| Notre Dame | 2 (2008, 2018) |
4 (2008, 2011, 2017, 2018) |
13 (2004, 2007–09, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016–19, 2021, 2022) |
3 (2007, 2009, 2018) |
5 (2007, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2019) | |
| Ohio State | 2 (1998, 2018) |
11 (1998, 1999, 2003–05, 2009, 2017–19, 2023, 2025) |
2 (1972, 2019) |
2 (1972, 2004) | ||
| Penn State | 1 (2025) |
4 (2017, 2018, 2023, 2025) |
1 (2020) |
1 (2017) | ||
| Wisconsin | 6 (1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2006) |
2 (1982, 2010) |
11 (1970, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1981–83, 1990, 2006, 2010) |
27 (1970, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1981–83, 1988–91, 1993–95, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004–06, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2024) |
4 (1977, 1990, 2000, 2021) |
13 (1970, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2013, 2014) |
Conference records
[edit] |
Team's records against conference opponents (as of the end of the 2018–19 season).
| School | Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota | Notre Dame | Ohio State | Penn State | Wisconsin | Total | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | W | L | T | W | L | T | W | L | T | W | L | T | W | L | T | W | L | T | W | L | T | Win% | |
| Michigan | 165 | 135 | 24 | 128 | 143 | 16 | 79 | 59 | 5 | 83 | 44 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 75 | 61 | 13 | 544 | 456 | 72 | .541 | |||
| Michigan State | 135 | 165 | 24 | 48 | 118 | 16 | 63 | 48 | 12 | 89 | 45 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 55 | 53 | 3 | 400 | 444 | 73 | .476 | |||
| Minnesota | 143 | 128 | 16 | 118 | 48 | 16 | 30 | 20 | 3 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 170 | 96 | 23 | 502 | 309 | 63 | .610 | |||
| Notre Dame | 61 | 78 | 5 | 48 | 63 | 12 | 20 | 30 | 3 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 41 | 8 | 193 | 254 | 40 | .437 | |||
| Ohio State | 44 | 83 | 14 | 45 | 89 | 13 | 7 | 29 | 4 | 37 | 35 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 3 | 164 | 264 | 46 | .395 | |||
| Penn State | 12 | 15 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 68 | 74 | 11 | .480 | |||
| Wisconsin | 61 | 75 | 13 | 55 | 56 | 4 | 96 | 170 | 23 | 41 | 23 | 8 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 12 | 17 | 3 | 281 | 356 | 53 | .446 | |||
Games where one or more of the programs was not a varsity team are not included.
Conference champions
[edit]| Season | School | Conference record |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Minnesota | 14–3–3–0 |
| 2014–15 | Minnesota (2) | 12–5–3–0 |
| 2015–16 | Minnesota (3) | 14–6–0–0 |
| 2016–17 | Minnesota (4) | 14–5–1–0 |
| 2017–18 | Notre Dame | 17–6–1–1 |
| 2018–19 | Ohio State | 13–7–4–3 |
| 2019–20 | Penn State | 12–8–4–1 |
| 2020–21 | Wisconsin | 17–6–1–0 |
| 2021–22 | Minnesota (5) | 17–6–1–2 |
| 2022–23 | Minnesota (6) | 19–4–2–1 |
| 2023–24 | Michigan State | 16–6–2–1 |
| 2024–25 | Michigan State (2) | 15–5–4–2 |
| Minnesota (7) | 15–6–3–0 |
Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament champions
[edit]Big Ten NCAA tournament champions, runners-up and locations
[edit]- ^ Participation vacated due to major NCAA violations.
Awards
[edit]At the conclusion of each regular season schedule the coaches of each Big Ten team, as well as a media panel, vote which players they choose to be on the three All-Conference Teams:[120] first team, second team and rookie team. Additionally they vote to award the 5 individual trophies to an eligible player at the same time. The Big Ten also awards a Tournament Most Outstanding Player which is voted on after the conclusion of the conference tournament. Each team also names one of their players to be honored for the conference Sportsmanship Award. All of the awards were created for the inaugural season (2013–14).
|
|
Outdoor ice hockey games
[edit]| Event | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event name | Photo | Name | Location | ||||
| December 27, 2013 | 2013 Great Lakes Invitational | Michigan | 2–3 (OT) | Western Michigan | Comerica Park | Detroit, Michigan | Double header & GLI Semifinals; fifth outdoor game appearance of Michigan, third outdoor game appearance of Michigan State; the 2013 Great Lakes Invitational was held within the 2013 Hockeytown Winter Festival, which was held in conjunction with the 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. On other days at Comerica Park, it featured an AHL professional hockey game, and a OHL major junior game. | |
| Michigan Tech | 3–2 (SO) | Michigan State | ||||||
| December 28, 2013 | Michigan | 0–3 | Michigan State | Double header & GLI Third Place Game; sixth outdoor game appearance of Michigan, fourth outdoor game appearance of Michigan State; Western Michigan and Michigan Tech played for the GLI championship in the second game of the day | ||||
| January 4, 2014 | Frozen Fenway 2014 | .jpg) |
Boston College | 4–3 | Notre Dame | Fenway Park | Boston, Massachusetts | Notre Dame's second outdoor game appearance; part of a double-header. Frozen Fenway 2014 featured further matches on other days as well. |
| January 17, 2014 | 2014 OfficeMax Hockey City Classic | Minnesota | 1–0 | Ohio State | Huntington Bank Stadium | Minneapolis Minnesota | Ohio State's third outdoor game appearance; Minnesota's second outdoor game appearance; part of a double-header with a women's game (Minnesota vs. Minnesota State)) | |
| February 7, 2015 | 2015 OfficeMax Hockey City Classic | Michigan State | 1–4 | Michigan | Soldier Field | Chicago, Illinois | Michigan's seventh outdoor game appearance, Michigan State's fifth outdoor game appearance; part of a double-header | |
| January 5, 2019 | Let's Take This Outside | Notre Dame | 2–4 | Michigan | Notre Dame Stadium | Notre Dame, Indiana | Michigan's eighth outdoor game appearance, Notre Dame's third outdoor game appearance; held in conjunction with the 2019 Winter Classic at the same venue | |
| February 18, 2023 | Faceoff on the Lake |  |
Ohio State | 4–2 | Michigan | Huntington Bank Field | Cleveland, Ohio | Michigan's ninth outdoor game appearance; Ohio State fourth outdoor game appearance |
| January 3, 2025 | Frozen Confines |  |
Ohio State | 4–3 | Michigan | Wrigley Field | Chicago, Illinois | Double header held in conjunction with the 2025 Winter Classic at the same venue; Michigan's tenth outdoor game appearance; Ohio State's fifth outdoor game appearance; Notre Dame's fourth outdoor game appearance; Penn State's first outdoor game appearance |
| Penn State | 3–4 (SO) | Notre Dame | ||||||
| January 4, 2025 | Wisconsin | 3–4 (OT) | Michigan State | Double header with a women's game (Ohio vs. Wisconsin), held in conjunction with the 2025 Winter Classic at the same venue ; Michigan State's sixth outdoor game appearance; Wisconsin's fourth outdoor game appearance | ||||
Baseball
[edit]Championships, College World Series, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]Seasons are listed by the calendar years in which they ended. Italics indicate seasons before the school competed in the Big Ten.
| School | NCAA Championships |
NCAA Runner-Up |
NCAA College World Series Appearances |
NCAA Regional Champions |
NCAA Tournament Appearances |
Conference Championships |
Conference Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 (2015) |
13 (1947, 1948, 1962, 1963, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2024) |
31 (1900, 1903, 1904, 1906–08, 1910, 1911, 1914–16, 1921, 1922, 1927, 1931, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1953, 1962, 1963, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2024) |
4 (1989, 1990, 2000, 2011) | |||
| Indiana | 1 (2013) |
1 (2013) |
10 (1996, 2009, 2013–15, 2017–19, 2023, 2024) |
7 (1925, 1932, 1938, 1949, 2013, 2014, 2019) |
4 (1996, 2009, 2013, 2014) | ||
| Iowa | 1 (1972) |
6 (1972, 1975, 1990, 2015, 2017, 2023) |
8 (1927 1938, 1939, 1942, 1949, 1972, 1974, 1990) |
1 (2017) | |||
| Maryland | 2 (2014, 2015) |
9 (1965, 1970, 1971, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021–23) |
6 (1936, 1965, 1970, 1971, 2022, 2023) |
1 (2023) | |||
| Michigan | 2 (1953, 1962) |
1 (2019) |
8 (1953, 1962, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 2019) |
7 (1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 2007, 2019) |
26 (1953, 1961, 1962, 1975–78, 1980, 1981, 1983–89, 1999, 2005–08, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022) |
35 (1899, 1901, 1905, 1918–20, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1936, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1945, 1948–50, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1997, 2006–08) |
10 (1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2022) |
| Michigan State | 1 (1954) |
5 (1954, 1971, 1978, 1979, 2012) |
9 (1888, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1902, 1954, 1971, 1979, 2011) |
||||
| Minnesota | 3 (1956, 1960, 1964) |
5 (1956, 1960, 1964, 1973, 1977) |
2 (1977, 2018) |
32 (1956, 1958–60, 1964, 1968–70, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991–94, 1998–2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2018) |
24 (1933, 1935, 1956, 1958–60, 1964, 1968–70, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2002–04, 2010, 2016, 2018) |
9 (1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2018) | |
| Nebraska | 3 (2001, 2002, 2005) |
4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005) |
19 (1979, 1980, 1985, 1999–2003, 2005–08, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025) |
8 (1929, 1948, 1950, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2017, 2021) |
6 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2024, 2025) | ||
| Northwestern | 1 (1957) |
2 (1940, 1957) |
|||||
| Ohio State | 1 (1966) |
1 (1965) |
4 (1951, 1965, 1966, 1967) |
2 (1999, 2003) |
22 (1951, 1955, 1965–67, 1982, 1991–95, 1997, 1999, 2001–03, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2019) |
15 (1917, 1924, 1943, 1951, 1955, 1965–67, 1991, 1993–95, 1999, 2001, 2009) |
10 (1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2019) |
| Oregon | 1 (1954) |
3 (2012, 2023, 2024) |
12 (1954, 1964, 2010, 2012–15, 2021–24, 2025) |
15 (1918, 1928, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941–43, 1946, 1953–55, 1957, 2025) |
1 (2023) | ||
| Penn State | 1 (1957) |
5 (1952, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1973) |
1 (2000) |
17 (1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 2000) |
1 (1996) |
||
| Purdue | 3 (1987, 2012, 2018) |
2 (1909, 2012) |
1 (2012) | ||||
| Rutgers | 1 (1950) |
15 (1950, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1998–2001, 2003, 2007) |
14 (1981, 1982, 1986–93, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2007) |
9 (1981, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2007) | |||
| UCLA | 1 (2013) |
1 (2010) |
5 (1969, 1997, 2010, 2012, 2013) |
8 (1997, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2025) |
26 (1969, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006–08, 2010–13, 2015, 2017–19, 2021, 2022, 2025) |
11 (1944, 1969, 1976, 1979, 1986, 2000, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2025) |
|
| USC | 12 (1948, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970–74, 1978, 1998) |
2 (1960, 1995) |
21 (1948, 1949, 1951, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970–74, 1978, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001) |
8 (1978, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005) |
38 (1948, 1949, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970–75, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1988–91, 1993–2002, 2005, 2015, 2025) |
38 (1930, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1942, 1946–49, 1951–61, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970–75, 1977, 1978, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002) |
|
| Washington | 1 (2018*) |
1 (2018*) |
12 (1959, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2002–04, 2014, 2016, 2018*, 2023) |
2 (1919, 1922) |
2 (1997, 1998) |
Men's College World Series champions, runners-up, and scores
[edit]Note: Teams in bold are current Big Ten members who advanced to the MCWS while in the conference. Teams in bold italics are current Big Ten members who were either in another conference or an independent at the time of their appearance.
Softball
[edit]Championships, College World Series, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]Seasons are listed by the calendar years in which they ended. Italics indicate seasons before the school competed in the Big Ten.
| School | AIAW/NCAA Championships |
AIAW/NCAA Runner-Up |
AIAW/NCAA College World Series Appearances |
AIAW/NCAA Super Regional Appearances |
AIAW/NCAA Tournament Appearances |
Conference Championships |
Conference Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 8 (2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022) |
||||||
| Indiana | 4 (1979, 1980, 1983, 1986) |
10 (1983, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1996, 2006, 2011, 2023–25) |
3 (1983, 1986, 1994) |
||||
| Iowa | 4 (1995, 1996, 1997, 2001) |
16 (1989, 1991, 1993, 1995–98, 2000–06, 2008, 2009) |
5 (1989, 1990, 1997, 2000, 2003) |
2 (2001, 2003) | |||
| Maryland | 4 (1999, 2010, 2011, 2012) |
||||||
| Michigan | 1 (2005) |
1 (2015) |
13 (1982, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016) |
11 (2005–10, 2012–16) |
31 (1992, 1993, 1995–2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) |
22 (1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008–16, 2018, 2019, 2021) |
12 (1995–98, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2019, 2024, 2025) |
| Michigan State | 1 (1976) |
6 (1973–77, 1981) |
4 (1997, 1999, 2003, 2004) |
1 (2004) | |||
| Minnesota | 3 (1976, 1978, 2019) |
2 (2014, 2019) |
17 (1988, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2013–19, 2021–23) |
4 (1986, 1988, 1991, 2017) |
5 (1999, 2014, 2016–18) | ||
| Nebraska | 7 (1982, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1998, 2002, 2013) |
2 (2013, 2025) |
27 (1982, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1995–2007, 2009–11, 2013–16, 2022, 2023, 2025) |
10 (1982, 1984–88, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2014) |
10 (1982, 1984–88, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2022) | ||
| Northwestern | 1 (2006) |
6 (1984–86, 2006, 2007, 2022) |
7 (2005–08, 2019, 2022, 2023) |
23 (1984–87, 2000, 2003–09, 2012, 2014–16, 2018, 2019, 2021–25) |
10 (1982, 1984–87, 2006, 2008, 2022–24) |
3 (1982, 2008, 2023) | |
| Ohio State | 1 (1982) |
14 (1982, 1990, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016–19, 2022, 2025) |
2 (1990, 2007) |
1 (2007) | |||
| Oregon | 8 (1976, 1980, 1989, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2025) |
11 (2010–18, 2023, 2025) |
24 (1989, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003–05, 2007, 2008, 2010–18, 2021–24, 2025) |
6 (2013–16, 2018, 2025) |
|||
| Penn State | 11 (1983, 1985, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2024) |
3 (1983, 1985, 1988) | |||||
| Purdue | 2 (2008, 2009) |
||||||
| Rutgers | 2 (1979, 1981) |
4 (1979, 1981, 1984, 1994) |
|||||
| UCLA | 13 (1978, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988–90, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019) |
8 (1979, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005) |
36 (1978, 1979, 1981–85, 1987–94, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000–2006, 2008, 2010, 2015–19, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) |
15 (2005, 2006, 2008–10, 2014–19, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) |
43 (1978, 1979, 1981–85, 1987–94, 1996, 1997, 1999–2019, 2021–24, 2025) |
18 (1975, 1976, 1983, 1984, 1987–91, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) |
1 (2024) |
| Washington | 1 (2009) |
3 (1996, 1999, 2018) |
15 (1996–2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017–19, 2023) |
15 (2005–07, 2009–14, 2016–19, 2021, 2023) |
31 (1994–2019, 2021–24, 2025) |
4 (1996, 2000, 2010, 2019) |
|
| Wisconsin | 9 (2001, 2002, 2005, 2013, 2014, 2017–19, 2022) |
9 (2013) |
Women's College World Series champions, runners-up, and scores
[edit]Note: Teams in bold are current Big Ten members who advanced to the WCWS while in the conference. Teams in bold italics are current Big Ten members who were either in another conference or an independent at the time of their appearance.
Men's lacrosse
[edit]The Big Ten began sponsoring men's lacrosse in the 2015 season. The Big Ten lacrosse league includes Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and Johns Hopkins, which joined the Big Ten conference as an affiliate member in 2014. The teams that compete in Big Ten men's lacrosse have combined to win 13 NCAA national championships.[122]
With the addition of Johns Hopkins and Maryland to the league, Big Ten men's lacrosse boasts two of the top programs and most heated rivals in the history of the sport. Johns Hopkins (29) and Maryland (29) combine for 58 NCAA men's lacrosse Final Four appearances. The media and both schools have called Johns Hopkins–Maryland rivalry the greatest and most historic rivalry in men's lacrosse. Since 1895, the two teams have matched up more than 100 times.[123][124][125]
All-time school records
[edit]This list goes through the 2024 season.
| # | Team | Overall record |
Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | 893–290–4 | .754 |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins | 1027–375–15 | .730 |
| 3 | Rutgers | 656–536–14 | .550 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 523–457–5 | .534 |
| 5 | Penn State | 578–554–8 | .511 |
| 6 | Michigan | 69–110 | .385 |
Championships, Final Fours, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]| School | Men's NCAA Championships | Men's NCAA Runner-Up |
Men's NCAA Final Fours |
Men's NCAA Quarterfinals |
Men's NCAA Tournament Appearances |
Conference Championships |
Conference Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins | 9 (1974, 1978–80, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2005, 2007) |
9 (1972, 1973, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1989, 2003, 2008) |
29 (1972–74, 1976–87, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002–05, 2007, 2008, 2015) |
44 (1972–89, 1991–2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2024) |
49 (1972–2012, 2014, 2015–19, 2023, 2024) |
2 (2015, 2018) |
3 (2015, 2023, 2024) |
| Maryland | 4 (1973, 1975, 2017, 2022) |
14 (1971, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2024, 2025) |
30 (1971–79, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015–18, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) |
42 (1971–79, 1981–83, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995–98, 2000, 2001, 2003–06, 2008–12, 2014, 2015–22, 2024, 2025) |
47 (1971–79, 1981–83, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991–98, 2000, 2001, 2003–2014, 2015–25) |
37 (1955–61, 1963, 1965–68, 1972–74, 1976–80, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015–18, 2021, 2022) |
8 (1998, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022) |
| Michigan | 1 (2023) |
2 (2023, 2024) |
2 (2023, 2024) | ||||
| Ohio State | 1 (2017) |
1 (2017) |
4 (2008, 2013, 2015, 2017) |
8 (2003, 2004, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2025) |
12 (1965, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1992*, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2025) |
1 (2013) | |
| Penn State | 3 (2019, 2023, 2025) |
3 (2019, 2023, 2025) |
8 (2003, 2005, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2023–25) |
4 (2005, 2013, 2019, 2023) |
1 (2019) | ||
| Rutgers | 1 (2022) |
8 (1972, 1974, 1975, 1984, 1986, 1990, 2021, 2022) |
11 (1972, 1974, 1975, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 2003, 2004, 2021, 2022) |
Big Ten Conference champions
[edit]| Season | School | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Maryland Johns Hopkins |
4–1 4–1 |
| 2016 | Maryland | 5–0 |
| 2017 | Maryland | 4–1 |
| 2018 | Maryland | 4–1 |
| 2019 | Penn State | 5–0 |
| 2020 | Season canceled and no champion crowned | |
| 2021 | Maryland | 10–0 |
| 2022 | Maryland | 5–0 |
| 2023 | Penn State Johns Hopkins |
4–1 4–1 |
| 2024 | Johns Hopkins | 5–0 |
| 2025 | Ohio State | 4–1 |
Big Ten men's lacrosse tournament champions
[edit]NCAA Men's lacrosse champions, runners-up, and scores
[edit]Note: Teams in bold are current Big Ten members who advanced to the championship game while in the conference. Teams in bold italics are current Big Ten members who were either in another conference or an independent at the time of their appearance.
Women's lacrosse
[edit]Women's lacrosse became a Big Ten-sponsored sport in the 2015 season. As of the upcoming 2025 season, the Big Ten women's lacrosse league includes Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, and USC. Big Ten women's lacrosse programs have 23 of the 38 all-time NCAA championships, including 12 of the last 15. Maryland has earned one pre-NCAA national title and has won 14 NCAA national championships, including seven straight from 1995 to 2001 and most recently in 2019. Northwestern has claimed seven NCAA titles, including five straight from 2005 to 2009. Penn State has earned three pre-NCAA national titles and two NCAA titles in 1987 and 1989. Johns Hopkins became the seventh women's lacrosse program in the Big Ten as of July 1, 2016, with the roster increasing to nine with the 2024 arrival of Oregon and USC.
All-time school records
[edit]This list goes through the 2024 season.
| # | Team | Overall record |
Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | 788–163–3 | .828 |
| 2 | Northwestern | 449–149 | .751 |
| 3 | USC | 151–63 | .706 |
| 4 | Penn State | 573–300–5 | .655 |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins | 484–318–4 | .603 |
| 6 | Ohio State | 239–226 | .514 |
| 7 | Michigan | 90–92 | .495 |
| 8 | Oregon | 163–176 | .481 |
| 9 | Rutgers | 352–389–6 | .475 |
Championships, Final Fours, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]| School | Women's AIAW/NCAA Championships | Women's AIAW/NCAA Runner-Up |
Women's AIAW/NCAA Final Fours |
Women's AIAW/NCAA Quarterfinals |
Women's AIAW/NCAA Tournament Appearances |
Conference Championships |
Conference Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins | 1 (2007) |
13 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2014–16, 2018, 2019, 2021–25) |
|||||
| Maryland | 15 (1981, 1986, 1992, 1995–2001, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019) |
10 (1978, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2011, 2013, 2016) |
28 (1984–86, 1990–2001, 2003, 2009–14, 2015–19, 2022) |
36 (1983–87, 1989–2004, 2007–14, 2015–19, 2022, 2024) |
45 (1978–87, 1990–2014, 2015–19, 2021–25) |
22 (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007–14, 2015–19, 2022) |
15 (1997, 1999–2001, 2003, 2009–14, 2016–18, 2022) |
| Michigan | 1 (2024) |
5 (2019, 2022–25) |
|||||
| Northwestern | 8 (2005–09, 2011, 2012, 2023) |
3 (2010, 2024, 2025) |
16 (2005–14, 2019, 2021–25) |
20 (1984, 2004–14, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021–25) |
26 (1983, 1984, 1986–88, 2004–14, 2015–19, 2021–25) |
12 (2004–10, 2013, 2021, 2023–25) |
10 (2007–11, 2013, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) |
| Ohio State | 1 (2003) |
4 (2002, 2003, 2014, 2015) |
1 (2003) |
||||
| Oregon | 1 (2012) |
1 (2012) | |||||
| Penn State | 2 (1987, 1989) |
2 (1986, 1988) |
11 (1983, 1985–89, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2016, 2017) |
20 (1983–93, 1995–97, 1999, 2012, 2013, 2015 2016, 2017) |
28 (1981–93, 1995–97, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2012–14, 2015–18, 2023, 2024) |
1 (2013) |
1 (2015) |
| Rutgers | 3 (1999, 2021, 2022) |
||||||
| USC | 2 (2016, 2017) |
6 (2015–17, 2019, 2022, 2023) |
4 (2016, 2017, 2019, 2023) |
4 (2016, 2017, 2019, 2023) |
Big Ten Conference champions
[edit]| Season | School | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Maryland | 5–0 |
| 2016 | Maryland | 5–0 |
| 2017 | Maryland | 6–0 |
| 2018 | Maryland | 6–0 |
| 2019 | Maryland | 6–0 |
| 2020 | Season canceled and no champion crowned | |
| 2021 | Northwestern | 11–0 |
| 2022 | Maryland | 6–0 |
| 2023 | Northwestern | 6–0 |
| 2024 | Northwestern | 5–1 |
| 2025 | Northwestern | 8–0 |
Big Ten women's lacrosse tournament champions
[edit]NCAA Women's lacrosse champions, runners-up, and scores
[edit]Note: Teams in bold are current Big Ten members who advanced to the championship game while in the conference. Teams in bold italics are current Big Ten members who were either in another conference or an independent at the time of their appearance.
Men's soccer
[edit]As of the current 2025 season, the Big Ten men's soccer league includes Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, UCLA, Washington, and Wisconsin. Big Ten men's soccer programs have combined to win 19 NCAA national championships.
All-time school records
[edit]This list goes through the 2013–14 season.
| # | Team | Total seasons |
Overall record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 41 | 677–162–76 |
| 2 | Maryland | 67 | 681–316–91 |
| 3 | Michigan | 14 | 141–115–26 |
| 4 | Michigan State | 58 | 540–295–92 |
| 5 | Northwestern | 34 | 268–370–87 |
| 6 | Ohio State | 61 | 406–439–104 |
| 7 | Penn State | 103 | 776–359–121 |
| 8 | Rutgers | 41 | 541–391–108 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 37 | 381–271–74 |
Championships, College Cups, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]| School | Men's NCAA Championships | Men's NCAA Runner-Up |
Men's NCAA College Cups |
Men's NCAA Quarterfinals |
Men's NCAA Tournament Appearances |
Conference Championships |
Conference Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 8 (1982, 1983, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2012) |
9 (1976, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1994, 2001, 2017, 2020, 2022) |
22 (1976, 1978, 1980, 1982–84, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997–2001, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022) |
29 (1976, 1978–84, 1988–92, 1994, 1996–2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023) |
49 (1974, 1976–85, 1987–2024) |
19 (1993, 1994, 1996–2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2018–20, 2023, 2024) |
16 (1991, 1992, 1994–99, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2013, 2018–20, 2023) |
| Maryland | 4 (1968, 2005, 2008, 2018) |
3 (1960, 1962, 2013) |
14 (1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1998, 2002–05, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2018) |
19 (1959–63, 1968, 1969, 1998, 2002–05, 2008–10, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018) |
41 (1959–64, 1967–70, 1976, 1986, 1994–99, 2001–13, 2014–22, 2024) |
25 (1949–51, 1953–68, 1971, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2022) |
9 (1996, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014–16) |
| Michigan | 1 (2010) |
2 (2003, 2010) |
9 (2003, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017–19, 2024) |
1 (2017) |
1 (2010) | ||
| Michigan State | 2 (1967, 1968) |
2 (1964, 1965) |
7 (1962, 1964–68, 2018) |
10 (1962, 1964–68, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018) |
20 (1962–69, 2001, 2004, 2007–10, 2012–14, 2016–18) |
2 (2004, 2008) |
3 (2004, 2008, 2012) |
| Northwestern | 2 (2006, 2008) |
9 (2004, 2006–09, 2011–14) |
1 (2011, 2012) |
1 (2011) | |||
| Ohio State | 1 (2007) |
2 (2007, 2024) |
2 (2007, 2024) |
12 (2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007–10, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2024) |
4 (2004, 2009, 2015, 2024) |
4 (2000, 2007, 2009 , 2024) | |
| Penn State | 1 (1979) |
7 (1971, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2002) |
35 (1970–82, 1984–86, 1988, 1989, 1992–95, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019–21) |
9 (1987–89, 1995, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2023) |
7 (1987–89, 1993, 2002, 2005, 2021) | ||
| Rutgers | 1 (1990) |
4 (1961, 1989, 1990, 1994) |
4 (1960, 1961, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1994) |
18 (1960, 1961, 1983, 1987, 1989–91, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2022) |
6 (1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2022) | ||
| UCLA | 4 (1985, 1990, 1997, 2002) |
5 (1970, 1972, 1973, 2006, 2014) |
14 (1970, 1972–74, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2011, 2014) |
21 (1970, 1972–74, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989–92, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009–11, 2014) |
43 (1954, 1956, 1958–61, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972–75, 1977–80, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1992–99, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010–12, 2014–16, 2018, 2021, 2024) |
39 (1954, 1956, 1958–61, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972–75, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1992–99, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010–12, 2014, 2015, 2023) |
|
| Washington | 1 (2021) |
1 (2021) |
4 (2013, 2019, 2020, 2021) |
29 (1968, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1989, 1992, 1995–2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012–14, 2016–21, 2024) |
15 (1968, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1998–2000, 2013, 2019, 2020) |
||
| Wisconsin | 1 (1995) |
1 (1995) |
2 (1993, 1995) |
7 (1981, 1991, 1993–95, 2013, 2017) |
3 (1991, 1992, 1995) |
2 (1995, 2017) |
NCAA Men's soccer champions, runners-up, and scores
[edit]Note: Teams in bold are current Big Ten members who advanced to the championship game while in the conference. Teams in bold italics are current Big Ten members who were either in another conference or an independent at the time of their appearance.
Women's soccer
[edit]Championships, College Cups, and NCAA tournament appearances
[edit]| School | Women's NCAA Championships | Women's NCAA Runner-Up |
Women's NCAA College Cups |
Women's NCAA Quarterfinals |
Women's NCAA Tournament Appearances |
Conference Championships |
Conference Tournament Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 (2004) |
12 (2000, 2001, 2003–08, 2010–13) |
2 (2003, 2011) | ||||
| Indiana | 5 (1996, 1998, 2007, 2013, 2023) |
1 (1996) |
1 (1996) | ||||
| Iowa | 5 (2013, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024) |
3 (2020, 2023) | |||||
| Maryland | 19 (1995, 1996) |
13 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) |
|||||
| Michigan | 3 (2002, 2013, 2021) |
16 (1997–2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023) |
3 (1997, 1999, 2021) | ||||
| Michigan State | 7 (2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2022–24) |
2 (2022, 2023) |
|||||
| Minnesota | 12 (1995–99, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2024) |
4 (1995, 1997, 2008, 2016) |
3 (1995, 2016, 2018) | ||||
| Nebraska | 3 (1996, 1999, 2023) |
13 (1996–2005, 2013, 2016, 2023) |
5 (1996, 1999, 2000, 2013, 2023) |
6 (1996, 1998–2000, 2002, 2013) | |||
| Northwestern | 7 (1996, 1998, 2015–18, 2022) |
1 (2016) |
|||||
| Ohio State | 1 (2010) |
2 (2004, 2010) |
12 (2002–04, 2007, 2009–13, 2015–18, 2020–24) |
2 (2010, 2017) |
3 (2002, 2004, 2012) | ||
| Oregon | |||||||
| Penn State | 1 (2015) |
1 (2012) |
5 (1999, 2002, 2005, 2012, 2015) |
15 (1998–2003, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024) |
30 (1995–2024) |
20 (1998–2012, 2014–16, 2018, 2020) |
9 (1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022) |
| Purdue | 7 (2002, 2003, 2005–07, 2009, 2021) |
1 (2007) | |||||
| Rutgers | 2 (2015, 2021) |
2 (2015, 2021) |
19 (1987, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014–24) |
1 (2021) |
|||
| UCLA | 2 (2013, 2022) |
4 (2000, 2004, 2005, 2017) |
12 (2000, 2003–09, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2022) |
17 (1997, 2000, 2001, 2003–09, 2012–14, 2017–19, 2022) |
28 (1995, 1997–2014, 2016–23, 2024) |
14 (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003–08, 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2023) |
1 (2024) |
| USC | 2 (2007, 2016) |
2 (2007, 2016) |
4 (2007, 2016, 2019, 2024) |
20 (1998–2003, 2005–10, 2014–23 2024) |
2 (1998, 2024) |
||
| Washington | 2 (2004, 2010) |
17 (1994–96, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008–10, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2024) |
1 (2000) |
||||
| Wisconsin | 1 (1991) |
2 (1988, 1991) |
4 (1988, 1990, 1991, 1993) |
24 (1988–91, 1993–96, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016–19, 2021, 2023, 2024) |
3 (1994, 2015, 2019) |
3 (1994, 2005, 2014) |
NCAA Women's soccer champions, runners-up, and scores
[edit]Note: Teams in bold are current Big Ten members who advanced to the championship game while in the conference. Teams in bold italics are current Big Ten members who were either in another conference or an independent at the time of their appearance.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | North Carolina (9) | Wisconsin | 3–1 | Fetzer Field | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| 2000 | North Carolina (16) | UCLA | 2–1 | Spartan Stadium | San Jose, California |
| 2004 | Notre Dame (2) | UCLA | 1–1 (OT) (4–3 P) | SAS Soccer Park | Cary, North Carolina |
| 2005 | Portland (2) | UCLA | 4–0 | Aggie Soccer Stadium | College Station, Texas |
| 2007 | USC | Florida State | 2–0 | Aggie Soccer Stadium | College Station, Texas |
| 2012 | North Carolina (21) | Penn State | 4–1 | Torero Stadium | San Diego, California |
| 2013 | UCLA | Florida State | 1–0 (OT) | WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, North Carolina |
| 2015 | Penn State | Duke | 1–0 | WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, North Carolina |
| 2016 | USC (2) | West Virginia | 3–1 | Avaya Stadium | San Jose, California |
| 2017 | Stanford (2) | UCLA | 3–2 | Orlando City Stadium | Orlando, Florida |
| 2022 | UCLA (2) | North Carolina | 3–2 (OT) | WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, North Carolina |
Golf
[edit]Every Big Ten institution sponsors both men's and women's golf. Five national championships in men's golf and two national titles in women's golf have been won by Big Ten members while in the conference, led by both of Michigan and Ohio State's men's teams that have won two national titles each. In addition, 10 more team national titles, 3 in men's golf and 7 in women's golf, have been won by current Big Ten members before they joined the conference, led by UCLA (2 men's, 3 women's).
| School | Men's Team NCAA | Men's Individual NCAA | Women's Team NCAA | Women's Individual NCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Scott Langley 2010, Thomas Pieters 2012 |
|||
| Indiana | ||||
| Iowa | ||||
| Maryland | ||||
| Michigan | 1934, 1935 | Johnny Fischer 1932, Charles Kocsis 1936, Dave Barclay 1947 |
||
| Michigan State | ||||
| Minnesota | 2002 | Louis Lick 1944, James McLean 1998 |
||
| Nebraska | ||||
| Northwestern | Luke Donald 1999 | 2025 | ||
| Ohio State | 1945, 1979 | John Lorms 1945, Tom Nieporte 1951, Rick Jones 1956, Jack Nicklaus 1961, Clark Burroughs 1985 |
||
| Oregon | 2016 | Aaron Wise 2016 | ||
| Penn State | ||||
| Purdue | 1961 | Fred Wampler 1950, Joe Campbell 1955 |
2010 | María Hernández 2009 |
| Rutgers | ||||
| UCLA | 1988, 2008 | Kevin Chappell 2008 | 1991, 2004, 2011 | |
| USC | Scott Simpson 1976, 1977, Ron Commans 1981, Jamie Lovemark 2007 |
2003, 2008, 2013 | Jennifer Rosales 1998, Mikaela Parmlid 2003, Dewi Schreefel 2006, Annie Park 2013, Doris Chen 2014 | |
| Washington | James Lepp 2005 | 2016 | ||
| Wisconsin |
- Italics denote championships won before the school joined the Big Ten.
Tennis
[edit]Of the current Big Ten members, 14 sponsor both men's and women's tennis, with Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota and Rutgers only sponsoring women's tennis. Two national championships in men's tennis have been won by Big Ten members while in the conference, led by Illinois and Michigan with one title each. In addition, 41 more team national titles, 37 in men's tennis and 4 in women's tennis, have been won by current Big Ten members before they joined the conference, led by USC (21 men's, 2 women's).
- Italics denote championships won before the school joined the Big Ten.
Awards and honors
[edit]Big Ten Athlete of the Year
[edit]The Big Ten Athlete of the Year award is given annually to the athletes voted as the top male and female athlete in the Big Ten Conference.
Big Ten Medal of Honor
[edit]Big Ten Medal of Honor (annual; at each school; one male scholar-athlete and one female scholar-athlete)[126]
- Big Ten Sportsmanship Award (annual; at each school; one male student-athlete and one female student-athlete)[127]
NACDA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup rankings
[edit]The NACDA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup is an annual award given by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the U.S. colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics. Big Ten universities typically finish ranked in the top-50 of the final Directors' Cup annual rankings.
| Institution | 2023– 24 |
2022– 23 |
2021– 22 |
2020– 21 |
2019– 20 |
2018– 19 |
2017– 18 |
2016– 17 |
2015– 16 |
2014– 15 |
10-yr Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 37 | 54 | 52 | 47 | N/A | 43 | 36 | 38 | 54 | 31 | 44 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | 41 | 40 | 64 | 34 | N/A | 32 | 52 | 47 | 41 | 61 | 46 |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 64 | 48 | 55 | 30 | N/A | 38 | 51 | 52 | 62 | 44 | 49 |
| Maryland Terrapins | 61 | 44 | 46 | 46 | N/A | 40 | 50 | 49 | 59 | 33 | 48 |
| Michigan Wolverines | 8 | 11 | 3 | 3 | N/A | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 6 |
| Michigan State Spartans | 42 | 53 | 41 | 61 | N/A | 47 | 48 | 50 | 53 | 34 | 48 |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | 40 | 31 | 28 | 28 | N/A | 20 | 19 | 30 | 18 | 26 | 27 |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | 22 | 29 | 49 | 35 | N/A | 48 | 31 | 38 | 27 | 39 | 35 |
| Northwestern Wildcats | 39 | 30 | 36 | 31 | N/A | 45 | 31 | 36 | 50 | 50 | 39 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | 15 | 3 | 4 | 9 | N/A | 12 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Oregon Ducks | 28 | 38 | 31 | 25 | N/A | 27 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 23 |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 23 | 15 | 43 | 39 | N/A | 13 | 10 | 7 | 20 | 8 | 20 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | 65 | 72 | 53 | 38 | N/A | 55 | 41 | 41 | 45 | 60 | 52 |
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 66 | 130 | 48 | 60 | N/A | 82 | 103 | 113 | 83 | 104 | 88 |
| UCLA Bruins | 10 | 14 | 15 | 13 | N/A | 6 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| USC Trojans | 14 | 10 | 12 | 6 | N/A | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Washington Huskies | 26 | 21 | 30 | 33 | N/A | 24 | 29 | 20 | 14 | 24 | 25 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 25 | 27 | 24 | 37 | N/A | 16 | 22 | 16 | 27 | 18 | 24 |
| University | Top 10 rankings |
|---|---|
| UCLA | 24 |
| Michigan | 23 |
| USC | 19 |
| Ohio State | 15 |
| Penn State | 9 |
| Nebraska | 5 |
| Oregon | 2 |
| Washington | 2 |
| Minnesota | 1 |
2023–24 Capital One Cup standings
[edit]The Capital One Cup is an award given annually to the best men's and women's Division I college athletics programs in the United States. Points are earned throughout the year based on final standings of NCAA Championships and final coaches' poll rankings.
| Institution | Men's Ranking |
Women's Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 30 | NR |
| Indiana | 38 | 70 |
| Iowa | 66 | 19 |
| Maryland | 14 | 41 |
| Michigan | 2 | 28 |
| Michigan State | 69 | NR |
| Minnesota | 82 | 59 |
| Nebraska | 56 | 10 |
| Northwestern | NR | 13 |
| Ohio State | 14 | 30 |
| Oregon | 49 | 17 |
| Penn State | 14 | 31 |
| Purdue | 14 | NR |
| Rutgers | NR | 70 |
| UCLA | 22 | 4 |
| USC | 30 | 9 |
| Washington | 13 | 54 |
| Wisconsin | 92 | 15 |
Conference records
[edit]For Big Ten records, by sport (not including football), see footnote[128]
NCAA national titles
[edit]Totals are per NCAA annual list published every July[129] and NCAA-published gymnastics history,[130] with subsequent results as of March 31, 2024, obtained from NCAA.org, which provides intermittent updates throughout the year.
Excluded from this list are all national championships earned outside the scope of NCAA competition, including Division I FBS football titles, women's AIAW championships (34), men's rowing (27), and retroactive Helms Athletic Foundation titles.
See also: List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships and List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships
Conference titles
[edit]For Big Ten championships, by year, see footnote.[131] Totals do not include Big Ten tournament championships.
| Institution | # of[132] |
|---|---|
| Chicago7 | 73 |
| Illinois | 252 |
| Indiana | 187 |
| Johns Hopkins1 | 1 |
| Iowa | 117 |
| Maryland2 | 30 |
| Michigan | 421 |
| Michigan State | 112 |
| Minnesota | 178 |
| Nebraska3 | 19 |
| Northwestern | 85 |
| Notre Dame4 | 1 |
| Ohio State | 256 |
| Oregon | 4 |
| Penn State5 | 98 |
| Purdue | 74 |
| Rutgers6 | 1 |
| USC | 2 |
| UCLA | 1 |
| Washington | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 213 |
- ^ Johns Hopkins was added in 2014 as an affiliate member that competed in men's lacrosse only. Johns Hopkins also began competing as an affiliate member in women's lacrosse in the 2016–17 school year.
- ^ Maryland won 196 conference championships as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), second most in ACC history.
- ^ Nebraska won 80 conference championships as a member of the Big 12 Conference, second most in Big 12 history. Nebraska also won 230 conference championships as a member of the Big Eight Conference, the most in Big Eight history.
- ^ Notre Dame was added in 2017 as an affiliate member that competed in men's ice hockey only.
- ^ Penn State won or shared 70 conference championships as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference (1982–91) and earlier when it was known as the Eastern 8 Conference (1976–79).
- ^ Rutgers won six conference championships as a member of the Middle Three Conference, the Middle Atlantic Conference, the Atlantic 10 Conference, the original Big East Conference, and both of its offshoots, the non-football Big East Conference and the American Conference.
- ^ Chicago won 73 conference championships as a member of the Big Ten from 1896 to 1946.
2024–25 champions
[edit]- (RS) indicates regular-season champion
- (T) indicates tournament champion
- ‡ denotes national champion
| Season | Sport | Men's champion | Women's champion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | Cross country | Wisconsin | Oregon | ||
| Field hockey | – | Northwestern‡ (RS) | Michigan (T) | ||
| Football | Oregon | – | |||
| Soccer | Indiana & Ohio State (RS) | Ohio State (T) | USC (RS) | UCLA (T) | |
| Volleyball | – | Nebraska & Penn State‡ | |||
| Winter 2024–25 | Basketball | Michigan State (RS) | Michigan (T) | USC (RS) | UCLA (T) |
| Gymnastics | Penn State & Michigan‡ (RS) | Michigan‡ (T) | UCLA (RS) | UCLA (T) | |
| Ice Hockey | Michigan State & Minnesota (RS) | Michigan State (T) | – | ||
| Swimming and diving | Indiana | Ohio State | |||
| Track and field (indoor) | Oregon | Oregon‡ | |||
| Wrestling | Penn State‡ (RS) | Penn State‡ (T) | – | ||
| Spring 2025 | Baseball | Oregon & UCLA (RS) | Nebraska (T) | – | |
| Golf | UCLA | Oregon | |||
| Lacrosse | Ohio State (RS & T) | Northwestern (RS & T) | |||
| Rowing | – | Washington | |||
| Softball | – | Oregon (RS) | Michigan (T) | ||
| Tennis | Ohio State (RS) | UCLA (T) | Michigan (RS) | Ohio State (T) | |
| Track and field (outdoor) | Oregon | USC | |||
See also
[edit]References
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External links
[edit]
| Full members |
| | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate members | |||||
| Sports |
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| Media | |||||
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Big Ten Conference
View on GrokipediaHistory
Origins and formation
The Big Ten Conference traces its origins to a pivotal meeting on January 11, 1895, when presidents from seven Midwestern universities gathered at Chicago's Palmer House hotel to address mounting concerns over the unregulated state of intercollegiate athletics, particularly the brutality and professionalism infiltrating college football.[1] This informal assembly, led by Purdue University President James H. Smart, laid the groundwork for formal organization by emphasizing the need for standardized rules and ethical oversight. On February 8, 1896, faculty representatives from these same institutions—University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University, and University of Wisconsin—convened at the Palmer House to officially establish the conference, adopting principles to regulate competition and safeguard student-athletes.[2] The founding focused on standardizing football rules, such as limiting the number of games to five per season and ending play by early November, while enforcing player eligibility to ensure participants were genuine students rather than paid professionals. From its inception, the conference opposed the creeping professionalism in college sports, which included unauthorized payments to athletes and excessive recruiting, by mandating amateur status and tying athletic participation to academic progress. Eligibility rules restricted involvement to bona fide, full-time students who were not delinquent in their studies, reflecting a commitment to balancing athletics with education.[1] This stance was part of a broader 14-point set of guidelines adopted at the 1896 meeting, which also addressed training practices and game safety to curb the era's notorious violence on the field. The organization was initially named the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, underscoring its governance by academic leaders rather than athletic departments.[2] It was formally incorporated as the Intercollegiate Conference Athletic Association in 1905, though it was commonly referred to as the Western Conference during its early years.[1] By 1917, following the return of the University of Michigan to the fold, media outlets began calling it the "Big Ten" to reflect its expanded roster of 10 members (after additions in 1899 and 1909), a nickname that gained popularity and was officially adopted in 1987.[1] Early academic prerequisites further solidified the conference's educational ethos; as soon as 1904, faculty legislation required athletes to meet standard university entrance criteria, complete a full year of coursework, and maintain one year of residency before competing.[1] These standards evolved to include ongoing academic monitoring, ensuring that intercollegiate sports served as an extension of university life rather than a separate professional endeavor.[2]Early expansions and contractions
Following its formation in 1896 with seven charter members— the University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University, University of Chicago, and University of Wisconsin— the conference experienced its first expansions in 1899.[1] That year, Indiana University and the University of Iowa joined as the eighth and ninth members, respectively, broadening the league's footprint in the Midwest and enhancing its competitive balance in intercollegiate athletics.[1] The conference then faced a temporary contraction when the University of Michigan withdrew in 1908 amid disputes over eligibility rules and scheduling autonomy, reducing membership to eight schools. Ohio State University was admitted in 1912, restoring the count to nine and marking a key step toward fuller regional representation.[1] Michigan rejoined in 1917 after resolving the conflicts, bringing the total to ten members and prompting media outlets to first dub the group the "Big Ten" that same year, a nickname that reflected its growing stature despite the official name remaining the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives until 1987. The era's final significant change came in 1946 with the departure of the University of Chicago, which had de-emphasized its football program in 1939 under President Robert Hutchins to prioritize academics and reduce commercialization in athletics.[4] Chicago's full withdrawal from the conference on March 28, 1946, reduced membership back to nine and underscored an emerging tension between scholarly priorities and big-time sports, influencing the league's future academic governance. This shift allowed remaining members to refine policies that balanced competition with educational integrity.[4]20th century developments
In 1950, the Big Ten Conference expanded from nine members to ten with the addition of Michigan State University, which solidified the conference's longstanding nickname as the Big Ten to reflect its new size. Michigan State was accepted into the league on December 12, 1949, with full participation beginning in the 1950-51 academic year across most sports, though football competition started in 1953. This move ended a period of stability following the University of Chicago's departure in 1946 and strengthened the conference's Midwest footprint by incorporating another prominent public research institution.[5][6] The following year, in 1951, the conference established the Council of Ten, a presidents-led governance body comprising the university presidents from each member institution to oversee both athletic and academic policies. Evolving from the earlier Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (also known as the Committee of Thirteen), the Council provided a structured forum for collaboration beyond sports, laying groundwork for initiatives like the Committee on Institutional Cooperation formed in 1958. This body emphasized academic integrity alongside competition, marking an early shift toward integrated institutional partnerships.[7][8] Throughout the mid-20th century, the Big Ten navigated television broadcasting amid NCAA restrictions, pioneering equitable revenue models while limiting live game exposure to protect attendance. In 1950, the conference initially banned live telecasts of games, aligning with broader concerns about television's impact on gate receipts, but by 1955, it introduced a groundbreaking revenue-sharing system that distributed TV proceeds equally among members. Deals in the late 1950s, such as a $1 million offer considered in 1959, and expansions in the 1960s gradually increased broadcasts, setting precedents for conference-controlled media rights that foreshadowed larger 21st-century agreements.[7][2][9] Negotiations to add Pennsylvania State University began in the early 1980s, driven by Penn State's athletic director and football coach Joe Paterno, who sought alignment with a stable, academically focused conference. After years of discussions and a narrow 7-3 vote by Big Ten presidents in December 1989, Penn State was officially admitted on June 4, 1990, expanding the league to 11 members and introducing scheduling challenges due to the odd number. In response, conference leaders briefly considered implementing divisional alignments to balance competition but ultimately opted against it, maintaining a flexible rotation of conference games without formal divisions until later expansions.[10][11][12]21st century expansions
The Big Ten Conference expanded to 12 full members on July 1, 2011, with the addition of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, which departed the Big 12 Conference.[2] This move restored the conference to an even number of teams after the 1990 addition of Penn State, enabling the introduction of a football championship game and the creation of two divisions named Leaders and Legends for the 2011 through 2013 seasons.[13] Nebraska's inclusion aligned with the conference's emphasis on institutions with strong academic profiles and competitive athletic histories, including five national football championships.[2] On July 1, 2014, the conference grew to 14 full members by adding the University of Maryland and Rutgers University, both departing the Atlantic Coast Conference (Maryland) and Big East Conference (Rutgers).[2] Maryland brought established lacrosse programs and academic prestige as a public research university, while Rutgers provided access to the New York media market and similar research credentials.[2] In conjunction with these additions, the Big Ten replaced the Leaders and Legends divisions with a geographic East-West alignment for football, which remained in place through the 2023 season.[12] The most significant expansion occurred on August 2, 2024, when the conference added the University of Southern California (USC), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Oregon, and University of Washington, all former Pac-12 members, bringing the total to 18 full institutions.[14] These additions enhanced the conference's national footprint, particularly in media markets across California and the Pacific Northwest, while incorporating programs with rich athletic traditions, such as USC's eight Heisman Trophy winners.[2] For the 2024 football season, the Big Ten eliminated divisions entirely, adopting a format where the top two teams based on conference records advance to the championship game.[15] In addition to full members, the Big Ten incorporated affiliate institutions to bolster specific sports. Johns Hopkins University joined as an affiliate for men's lacrosse on July 1, 2014, following an announcement on June 3, 2013, and later added women's lacrosse effective the 2016–17 academic year.[1] The University of Notre Dame became an affiliate for men's ice hockey starting in the 2017–18 season, announced on March 23, 2016, increasing the hockey league to seven teams.[1] As of November 2025, the Big Ten has not confirmed any further full-member expansions beyond the 2024 additions, though conference leadership has indicated potential growth by 2030 amid ongoing realignment discussions.[16]Membership
Current full members
As of the 2024–25 academic year, the Big Ten Conference comprises 18 full member institutions, all of which sponsor NCAA Division I teams in at least 20 sports, including football at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. These universities, primarily public research institutions with a few private ones, span from the Midwest to the East Coast and now the West Coast following the 2024 expansion. Membership emphasizes academic excellence alongside athletic competition, with all schools belonging to the Association of American Universities (AAU).[1] The following table lists the current full members alphabetically, including their primary locations, years of joining the conference, and primary athletic nicknames. Each entry also highlights a brief unique fact about the institution's athletic or campus tradition.| University | Location | Join Year | Primary Nickname | Unique Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Urbana-Champaign, Illinois | 1896 | Fighting Illini | Won the 2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament.[17] |
| Indiana University Bloomington | Bloomington, Indiana | 1896 | Hoosiers | Produced the last undefeated NCAA Men's Basketball National Champion in 1976.[17] |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa | 1899 | Hawkeyes | Football fans traditionally wave to pediatric patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital during home games.[17] |
| University of Maryland, College Park | College Park, Maryland | 2014 | Terrapins | Achieved a school record-high Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988 in 2023–24.[17] |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 1896 | Wolverines | Michigan Stadium (The Big House) is the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere, seating over 107,000 for football.[17] |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan | 1950 | Spartans | Fielded the first racially integrated college football team to win a national championship in 1965–66.[17] |
| University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 1896 | Golden Gophers | Wrestler Gable Steveson secured his fourth Big Ten title in 2025, following his Olympic gold medal in 2021.[17] |
| University of Nebraska–Lincoln | Lincoln, Nebraska | 2011 | Cornhuskers | The baseball team won the 2025 Big Ten Tournament as the No. 8 seed.[17] |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, Illinois | 1896 | Wildcats | Plans a new Ryan Field stadium opening in 2026, featuring a canopy roof and premium seating.[17] |
| The Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | 1912 | Buckeyes | Captured its ninth football national championship in January 2025.[17] |
| Pennsylvania State University | University Park, Pennsylvania | 1990 | Nittany Lions | Hosts THON, the largest student-run philanthropy event, raising over $15 million annually for pediatric cancer research.[17] |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | 1896 | Boilermakers | Has produced more astronauts than any other public university in the U.S.[17] |
| Rutgers University–New Brunswick | New Brunswick, New Jersey | 2014 | Scarlet Knights | Hosted the first intercollegiate football game in U.S. history on November 6, 1869.[17] |
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | Los Angeles, California | 2024 | Bruins | Ranked as the top public university in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report in 2025.[17] |
| University of Oregon | Eugene, Oregon | 2024 | Ducks | Secured eight conference titles across various sports in their inaugural Big Ten season of 2024.[17] |
| University of Southern California (USC) | Los Angeles, California | 2024 | Trojans | Has participated in a record 34 Rose Bowls, winning 25.[17] |
| University of Washington | Seattle, Washington | 2024 | Huskies | Husky Stadium recorded 133.6 decibels during a 1992 game, the loudest on-campus college football stadium noise.[17] |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | Madison, Wisconsin | 1896 | Badgers | Famous for the "Jump Around" tradition at Camp Randall Stadium during football games.[17] |
Affiliate members
The Big Ten Conference maintains affiliations with two institutions that participate exclusively in select sports, allowing the league to sponsor additional championships without requiring full membership commitments. These affiliate arrangements enable the conference to meet NCAA requirements for minimum team counts in specific sports while leveraging the academic and athletic strengths of non-full members.[2] Johns Hopkins University became the conference's first affiliate member on June 3, 2013, joining for men's lacrosse effective with the 2014 season; this addition brought the sport to six teams, qualifying it as an official Big Ten championship discipline with an automatic NCAA tournament berth.[2] On June 17, 2015, Johns Hopkins was also accepted as an affiliate for women's lacrosse, starting in the 2016-17 academic year, expanding that sport's conference footprint to eight teams.[1] This affiliation supports the Big Ten's East Coast presence in lacrosse—a sport with strong regional roots—without integrating Johns Hopkins' entire athletic department, which competes independently in other areas.[2] The University of Notre Dame joined as an affiliate member for men's ice hockey on March 23, 2016, with competition beginning in the 2017-18 season; this move increased the Big Ten hockey league to seven teams, enhancing scheduling and postseason opportunities. Like Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame's arrangement is limited to this single sport, preserving its independence in football and other athletics while contributing to the conference's Midwest-centric hockey alignment.[18]Former members
The University of Chicago was a founding member of the Big Ten Conference, officially joining the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives—later renamed the Western Conference and eventually the Big Ten—starting with the 1896 football season.[19] The university maintained full membership for five decades, participating in conference-sponsored sports alongside other Midwestern institutions.[2] In the summer of 1946, the University of Chicago withdrew its membership from the Big Ten across all sports, reducing the conference to nine full members.[19] This decision stemmed from a deliberate de-emphasis on intercollegiate athletics, driven by President Robert Maynard Hutchins' opposition to the excesses of big-time college football, which had already led to the abolition of the university's football program in 1939.[19] The move reflected a prioritization of academic pursuits over competitive athletics, aligning with the institution's evolving mission.[4] Since the University of Chicago's departure in 1946, no other institution has permanently left the Big Ten as a full member.[2] As of November 2025, discussions regarding potential future membership changes—primarily focused on expansion rather than departures—have occurred amid ongoing conference realignments, but none have been enacted that would result in additional full member exits.[20]Membership timeline and map
The Big Ten Conference's membership has evolved significantly since its founding in 1896, reflecting strategic expansions that have shaped its identity as a premier athletic conference. A chronological timeline illustrates this growth: The conference began on February 8, 1896, as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives with seven charter members—University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University, and University of Wisconsin—focused on regulating intercollegiate athletics among Midwestern institutions. Indiana University and University of Iowa joined in 1899, bringing the total to nine members. Ohio State University was added in 1912, solidifying the conference's core Midwest footprint, while the University of Michigan temporarily departed from 1908 to 1917 before rejoining. The University of Chicago withdrew in 1946 after shifting focus to academics, reducing membership to nine, and Michigan State University joined in 1949 (effective 1950 for full competition), restoring the conference to ten members and earning its informal "Big Ten" moniker. Penn State University joined in 1990, expanding eastward, followed by the University of Nebraska in 2011 (joining as an AAU member but losing that status shortly thereafter in April 2011), which extended the conference's reach into the Great Plains. The most transformative phase occurred in 2014 with the addition of University of Maryland and Rutgers University, marking the first East Coast inclusions and boosting media market access. In 2024, the conference underwent its largest expansion by welcoming University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Southern California (USC), University of Oregon, and University of Washington from the dissolving Pac-12 Conference, increasing full membership to 18 institutions and creating a transcontinental presence. An accompanying interactive map highlights the conference's geographical evolution and current distribution, visualizing the shift from a compact Midwestern cluster to a broad network spanning multiple regions. Early members were concentrated in the Upper Midwest, with institutions like Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, and Wisconsin forming a core around the Great Lakes.[2] Subsequent additions extended this footprint: Nebraska to the west-central plains, Penn State to the Northeast, and Maryland and Rutgers to the Mid-Atlantic and New York metropolitan area.[2] The 2024 inclusions dramatically widened the scope to the Pacific Coast, placing UCLA and USC in Southern California, and Oregon and Washington in the Pacific Northwest, resulting in a map that stretches over 4,000 miles from coast to coast.[2] This layout underscores the conference's emphasis on academic alignment and competitive balance across diverse locales, with no further membership alterations announced as of November 2025, indicating stability at 18 full members for the foreseeable future.[2][21]Academics and governance
Academic profile and requirements
The Big Ten Conference maintains rigorous academic standards for student-athlete eligibility, aligning with NCAA Division I requirements while emphasizing conference-specific progress toward degree completion. Prospective freshmen must complete 16 core courses in high school—covering English (4 years), mathematics (3 years), natural/physical science (2 years), social science (2 years), the same foreign language (2 years), and 3 additional years from any core area—and achieve a minimum 2.3 GPA in these courses on a 4.0 scale.[22] Once enrolled, student-athletes must maintain full-time status (at least 12 credits per semester), pass a minimum of 18 credits in the regular academic year, and meet escalating GPA thresholds, such as 1.8 cumulatively after the first semester and 2.0 thereafter, to remain eligible.[23] A cornerstone of the conference's academic emphasis is the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), a consortium of member institutions originally founded in 1958 as the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) and rebranded in 2016 to better reflect its scope and membership.[24] The BTAA facilitates collaborative initiatives, including joint research projects like the Big Ten Open Books series on Indigenous North American studies and open-access publishing agreements with entities such as Springer Nature, enabling unlimited access in over 2,200 hybrid journals.[25] It also coordinates library resources, uniting collections across 18 universities into a shared, networked system to enhance scholarly access and efficiency.[26] Additionally, the alliance supports distance learning through programs like CourseShare, which has provided instruction in less-commonly taught languages to students across member schools for over 20 years.[25] Student-athletes in the Big Ten demonstrate strong academic outcomes, with Graduation Success Rates (GSR) exceeding 90% across most programs and sports, surpassing the national Division I average of 91%.[27] For instance, institutions like Northwestern University reported a 98% GSR in 2024, leading the conference for the 20th consecutive year, while others such as Penn State and Nebraska achieved 93%.[28] These rates reflect the conference's commitment to balancing athletics with education, with federal graduation rates for athletes also ranking highly, such as Michigan State's 80% four-year rate placing third in the Big Ten.[29] In 2025, the Big Ten introduced enhanced guidelines for mental health support and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) academic integration, prompted by the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement. These updates mandate expanded resources, including dedicated mental health services, nutritional guidance, and life skills programming tailored to NIL activities, with institutions required to provide academic advising to ensure NIL pursuits do not compromise degree progress.[30] The settlement enables direct revenue sharing up to $20.5 million per school starting in the 2025-26 academic year, alongside NIL oversight mechanisms like fair market value reviews for deals over $600, further prioritizing holistic student-athlete well-being.[31]Commissioners
The Big Ten Conference established the position of commissioner in 1922 to centralize athletic administration and enforcement among its member institutions.[1] The role has evolved from focusing on basic governance and eligibility rules to negotiating multimillion-dollar media rights deals and guiding major expansions in the modern era. As of 2025, seven individuals have served in this capacity, each contributing to the conference's growth amid changing landscapes in intercollegiate athletics.[1] Major John L. Griffith served as the inaugural commissioner from 1922 to 1945, a 23-year tenure marked by professionalizing conference operations post-World War I.[32] Griffith, a former University of Chicago athletic director, implemented uniform eligibility standards and oversaw the conference's response to early scandals, such as player payments, while fostering rivalries that boosted fan interest.[33] His leadership laid the groundwork for the Big Ten's reputation as a pioneer in academic-athletic balance.[1] Kenneth L. "Tug" Wilson succeeded Griffith in 1945 and held the position until 1961, spanning 16 years during the post-World War II boom in college sports.[1] A former University of Illinois track coach, Wilson navigated the integration of television into broadcasts, negotiating the conference's first national TV contracts that increased visibility and revenue for member schools. He also emphasized sportsmanship initiatives amid rising attendance and professionalization pressures.[33] William R. "Bill" Reed led from 1961 to 1971, a decade-long term focused on adapting to civil rights movements and federal regulations.[1] Reed, previously Iowa's athletic director, strengthened academic eligibility requirements and supported the early enforcement of gender equity principles ahead of Title IX. His tenure saw the conference maintain competitive dominance in football while prioritizing institutional integrity.[1] Wayne Duke's 18-year stint from 1971 to 1989 emphasized governance reforms and financial stability.[1] As the first commissioner without prior coaching experience, Duke facilitated the creation of the Big Ten Advisory Commission in 1972, a faculty-led body to address racial incidents and promote diversity in athletics.[34] He also secured expanded TV deals and navigated the 1980s economic challenges, ensuring equitable resource distribution among the then-eight members. Jim Delany's transformative 31-year tenure from 1989 to 2020 positioned the Big Ten as a media powerhouse.[1] Delany, a former NCAA executive, launched the Big Ten Network in 2006 in partnership with Fox, generating over $1 billion in annual revenue by the end of his term through innovative content distribution. He drove key expansions, adding Penn State in 1990, Nebraska in 2011, and Maryland and Rutgers in 2014, which broadened the conference's East Coast footprint and boosted commercial value. Delany also advocated for the College Football Playoff's creation in 2014, elevating the Big Ten's national profile. Kevin Warren, the first African American commissioner, served from 2020 to 2023, a three-year term overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Previously the Big Ten's chief operating officer, Warren managed the 2020 fall football season's initial postponement and resumption amid health protocols, prioritizing student-athlete welfare. His most enduring achievement was spearheading the 2022 addition of USC and UCLA, set to join in 2024, which expanded the conference to 16 teams and secured a transformative $7 billion media rights deal with NBC, CBS, and Fox starting in 2023. Tony Petitti assumed the role on May 16, 2023, becoming the seventh commissioner with a background in Major League Baseball operations and Turner Sports media rights.[35] His tenure, ongoing as of 2025, has overseen the seamless integration of USC and UCLA in August 2024, enhancing the conference's West Coast presence and competitive depth in football and basketball. In 2025, Petitti has led negotiations for a proposed $2 billion private capital infusion through a new entity, Big Ten Enterprises, aimed at bolstering media and sponsorship revenues while extending grant-of-rights agreements, though the deal remains in a holding pattern amid member concerns over long-term control.[36]Executive structure and key personnel
The Big Ten Conference maintains its headquarters at 5440 Park Place in Rosemont, Illinois, a facility that serves as the central hub for administrative operations, meetings, and the Big Ten Experience museum.[3] The executive structure is hierarchical, with the commissioner functioning as the chief executive officer (CEO) responsible for overall leadership and strategic direction, supported by a chief operating officer, deputy commissioner, and specialized senior vice presidents overseeing key functional areas such as sports administration, policy and compliance, legal affairs, and community impact.[37] This organization ensures coordinated management of conference-wide initiatives in athletics, academics, and governance, aligning with the oversight role of the commissioner as established in prior governance frameworks.[38] Key personnel at the executive level include Commissioner Tony Petitti, who leads the conference's operations and decision-making processes.[37] Chief Operating Officer Kerry Kenny manages day-to-day administrative functions and resource allocation across the conference.[37] Deputy Commissioner Diane Dietz assists in high-level strategy and coordination of conference activities.[37] Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Anil Gollahalli handles legal compliance, contracts, and risk management for all conference matters.[37] In specialized roles, Senior Vice President of Sports Administration Rebecca Pany directs oversight of competitive operations and event management for sponsored sports.[37] Senior Vice President of Policy and Compliance Chad Hawley leads efforts in regulatory adherence, including academic eligibility standards and competitive equity rules.[37] The conference's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. James Borchers, advises on health and wellness protocols for student-athletes across member institutions.[39] The Council of Athletic Directors, comprising representatives from each member school's athletics leadership, provides advisory input on operational and competitive policies, though it operates without a publicly designated chair in 2025 documentation.[38] As of August 2025, the staff directory reflects ongoing adaptations to evolving NCAA regulations, including enhanced focus on name, image, and likeness (NIL) guidelines and transfer portal procedures within the compliance division.[37]Finances and media
Revenue and distribution by school
The Big Ten Conference generated just over $928 million in total revenue during its 2024 fiscal year (July 2023–June 2024), a 5.5% increase from the prior year, primarily driven by media rights and sponsorships.[40] Prior to the 2024 expansion adding USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington—bringing membership to 18—the conference's annual revenue approached $1 billion, but the influx of West Coast markets has accelerated growth, with projections exceeding $1.2 billion for the 2025 fiscal year.[41] Revenue distribution follows a largely equal-share model among full members, with limited adjustments for schools that joined more recently under phased-in agreements to account for their lower historical contributions to conference value. In the 2024 fiscal year, the 12 original full-share members (pre-2014 additions) each received between $63.26 million and $63.43 million, while Maryland and Rutgers—2014 additions—received $61.52 million apiece; Nebraska, which joined in 2011, received a full share.[40] For the 2025 fiscal year, post-expansion distributions are budgeted at approximately $75 million per school for 16 members (the prior 14 plus full shares for USC and UCLA), with Oregon and Washington slated for reduced introductory shares of around $70 million to ease their integration.[41][40] This structure emphasizes equity but has sparked discussions about incorporating competitive performance or academic bonuses, though no major changes have been implemented.[42] Disparities arise mainly from entry terms rather than ongoing performance metrics, as the Big Ten avoids the tiered success-based models seen in conferences like the ACC. However, individual schools' total athletics revenues—incorporating conference payouts plus ticket sales, donations, and NCAA funds—vary significantly; for instance, Ohio State reported approximately $255 million in overall athletics revenue for 2024, far outpacing smaller programs like Purdue at around $135 million.[43][44] These differences highlight how conference distributions form the core but not the entirety of fiscal health. In October 2025, the conference advanced toward a vote on a proposed $2.4 billion private capital infusion from investors like UC Investments, aimed at funding facilities upgrades and debt relief across members, with an extension of media rights grants through 2046.[45] The one-time payouts would be tiered by brand value and historical contributions, potentially delivering over $100 million each to top programs like Ohio State and Michigan, while lower-tier schools receive less, marking a departure from standard equal shares.[46] As of November 17, 2025, the agreement has been paused indefinitely amid concerns from schools like Michigan and USC over long-term costs, with no final approval confirmed.[45]| School | 2024 FY Conference Distribution ($M) | 2025 FY Projected Distribution ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 63.3 | 75 |
| Indiana | 63.3 | 75 |
| Iowa | 63.3 | 75 |
| Maryland | 61.5 | 75 |
| Michigan | 63.3 | 75 |
| Michigan State | 63.3 | 75 |
| Minnesota | 63.3 | 75 |
| Nebraska | 63.3 | 75 |
| Northwestern | 63.3 | 75 |
| Ohio State | 63.3 | 75 |
| Penn State | 63.3 | 75 |
| Purdue | 63.3 | 75 |
| Rutgers | 61.5 | 75 |
| Wisconsin | 63.3 | 75 |
| USC | N/A | 75 |
| UCLA | N/A | 75 |
| Oregon | N/A | ~70 (introductory) |
| Washington | N/A | ~70 (introductory) |
Broadcasting rights and agreements
The Big Ten Conference's broadcasting rights have evolved through a series of landmark agreements that have expanded media exposure and revenue for its member institutions. In 2006, the conference secured a 10-year national rights contract with ABC and ESPN, valued at approximately $1 billion, which included up to 17 football games on ABC and 25 on ESPN or ESPN2, alongside regional afternoon games and basketball coverage. Concurrently, a groundbreaking partnership with Fox Cable Networks launched the Big Ten Network (BTN) in 2007, a 25-year deal worth $2.8 billion that provided the conference with a dedicated platform for over 1,000 events annually, including non-revenue sports and original programming. This dual structure with ESPN/ABC for premium linear broadcasts and BTN for broader access marked a pioneering model in college athletics media. The 2017-2022 period saw the Big Ten extend its media presence with a six-year agreement totaling $2.64 billion, where Fox served as the primary partner through BTN for the majority of content, while ESPN retained rights to select high-profile football games for about $1 billion. CBS gained an expanded role, securing exclusive rights to the Big Ten men's basketball tournament and select regular-season games, enhancing weekend afternoon visibility. These deals maintained BTN's central role in distributing Olympic sports and additional football/basketball matchups, while collectively boosting the conference's annual media revenue to around $440 million. In August 2022, the Big Ten announced a transformative seven-year media rights package beginning July 1, 2023, and running through the 2029-30 academic year, valued at more than $7 billion—the largest in college sports history at the time. Fox remains the primary rights holder, airing 25-32 football games annually on Fox and FS1, including the championship game in odd-numbered years like 2023, 2025, and 2027. NBC joined as a key partner, broadcasting 14-16 football games per season in a primetime "Big Ten Saturday Night" window, with all simulcast on Peacock, which also streams eight exclusive games, including four intraconference matchups. CBS continues with 14-15 football games and expanded basketball coverage, such as the tournament semifinals and championship. This multi-network approach ensures wide distribution across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms, with Peacock providing enhanced digital access to full slates of football and basketball. The Big Ten Network, co-owned by the conference (49%) and Fox Corporation (51%), operates as the conference's multimedia arm, producing and distributing content across linear TV, BTN+, and digital platforms. As of 2025, BTN reaches tens of millions of households via major cable providers, including a recent multi-year carriage agreement with DISH Network, and plans to air nearly 500 men's and women's basketball games this season alone, underscoring its expansive Olympic and non-revenue sports coverage. In late 2025, the conference is engaged in discussions for potential extensions and enhancements, including a proposed $2.4 billion private capital infusion to bolster media rights management through a new entity, Big Ten Enterprises, alongside tie-ins to the College Football Playoff's six-year, $7.8 billion ESPN extension through 2032, which supports expanded postseason exposure.[45] These talks also encompass support for basketball tournament growth, aligning with the current deal's provisions for increased linear and streaming broadcasts. Overall, these agreements have driven substantial revenue growth for the conference, as detailed in the prior section on finances.Sports overview
Sponsored sports
The Big Ten Conference sponsors 28 official NCAA Division I sports—14 for men and 14 for women—across its 18 member institutions, fostering broad-based athletic competition that emphasizes both excellence and gender equity.[1] These sports encompass a mix of revenue-generating programs like football and basketball alongside Olympic-style disciplines, with conference championships determining automatic NCAA qualifiers in most cases.[47] Men's sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor counted as one for sponsorship), and wrestling.[1] Championship formats vary by sport: football crowns its champion through a postseason game between the top two teams based on conference winning percentage, eliminating traditional divisions since the 2024 season to accommodate the expanded membership; basketball features a single-elimination tournament, with the 2025 edition including 15 teams and plans to expand to all 18 teams starting in 2026; baseball employs a pool-play format leading to semifinals and a final; while cross country, track and field, and swimming and diving determine champions via meets involving all competitors or top qualifiers.[48][49] Women's sponsored sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor counted as one for sponsorship), and volleyball.[1] Tournament structures mirror the men's in many cases, such as the basketball single-elimination event (15 teams in 2025, expanding to 18 in 2026) and soccer's multi-round playoff with opening games for lower seeds leading to quarterfinals, semifinals, and a championship; volleyball awards its title based on regular-season standings without a postseason tournament, while field hockey, lacrosse, and softball use bracket formats for top teams.[50][47] In addition to its sponsored sports, the Big Ten recognizes women's bowling as an emerging discipline, though it does not conduct a conference championship; member institutions like Nebraska and Maryland field competitive teams that compete individually in the NCAA Championship.[51] This recognition supports broader participation opportunities, with over 12,000 student-athletes across all Big Ten sports as of 2025.[52]Participation tables by school
The Big Ten Conference's 18 member institutions collectively support approximately 12,000 student-athletes participating in its 28 official sports (14 for men and 14 for women) as of the 2025-26 academic year.[1] While many schools sponsor the full complement of sports in their gender category, variations exist due to regional traditions, facilities, and program priorities; for example, Michigan sponsors all 14 men's sports, while Rutgers does not sponsor men's wrestling, and Oregon does not sponsor men's ice hockey.[53] These differences reflect the conference's broad geographic footprint spanning the Midwest, East Coast, and West Coast.[2]Men's Sponsored Sports
The following table summarizes the number of the 14 official men's sports sponsored by each Big Ten school, along with key variations. The official men's sports are baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor), track and field (outdoor), and wrestling.[1]| School | Number Sponsored | Key Variations (Sports Not Sponsored) |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 14 | None |
| Indiana | 12 | No gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse |
| Iowa | 13 | No lacrosse |
| Maryland | 13 | No gymnastics, ice hockey |
| Michigan | 14 | None |
| Michigan State | 13 | No gymnastics, lacrosse |
| Minnesota | 14 | None |
| Nebraska | 13 | No lacrosse |
| Northwestern | 13 | No gymnastics, ice hockey |
| Ohio State | 14 | None |
| Penn State | 14 | None |
| Purdue | 12 | No gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse |
| Rutgers | 12 | No gymnastics, ice hockey, wrestling |
| Wisconsin | 14 | None |
| Oregon | 8 | No gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, wrestling |
| Washington | 9 | No gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, swimming and diving, wrestling |
| UCLA | 10 | No ice hockey, lacrosse, wrestling |
| USC | 10 | No gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, wrestling |
Women's Sponsored Sports
All 18 Big Ten schools sponsor at least 12 of the 14 official women's sports, with fewer variations than in men's programs. The official women's sports are basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor), and volleyball. Field hockey and ice hockey are the most common omissions, particularly among West Coast schools.[1]| School | Number Sponsored | Key Variations (Sports Not Sponsored) |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 14 | None |
| Indiana | 13 | No field hockey |
| Iowa | 13 | No field hockey, rowing |
| Maryland | 14 | None |
| Michigan | 14 | None |
| Michigan State | 14 | None |
| Minnesota | 14 | None |
| Nebraska | 13 | No field hockey |
| Northwestern | 14 | None |
| Ohio State | 14 | None |
| Penn State | 14 | None |
| Purdue | 13 | No field hockey |
| Rutgers | 14 | None |
| Wisconsin | 14 | None |
| Oregon | 12 | No field hockey, ice hockey |
| Washington | 12 | No field hockey, ice hockey |
| UCLA | 12 | No field hockey, ice hockey |
| USC | 12 | No field hockey, ice hockey |
Facilities
Football and baseball stadiums
The Big Ten Conference features some of the largest and most historic football stadiums in college athletics, with capacities ranging from over 100,000 to around 12,000 seats as of the 2025 season. Michigan Stadium, known as "The Big House," holds the distinction of being the largest stadium in the United States at 107,601 seats and is renowned for its massive crowds and tradition of standing throughout games.[55] Beaver Stadium at Penn State follows closely with 106,572 seats, famous for its "White Out" nights where fans wear white to create a striking visual and auditory environment. Ohio Stadium, or "The Horseshoe," accommodates 102,780 spectators and is celebrated for its horseshoe-shaped design and passionate Buckeye faithful. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, shared by UCLA, seats 91,136 and serves as a national landmark, hosting not only Big Ten games but also the annual Rose Bowl Game. Other notable venues include Memorial Stadium at Nebraska (85,485 seats), known for its "Sea of Red" atmosphere, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for USC (77,500 seats), a historic site that hosted the 1932 and 1984 Olympics.[55]| School | Stadium Name | Capacity | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Michigan Stadium | 107,601 | Largest U.S. stadium; record crowd of 115,109 in 2013. |
| Penn State | Beaver Stadium | 106,572 | White Out tradition; record attendance 110,889 in 2018. |
| Ohio State | Ohio Stadium | 102,780 | Horseshoe design; record 110,045 in 2016. |
| UCLA | Rose Bowl | 91,136 | Olympic venue; record 106,689 in 1973 Rose Bowl. |
| Nebraska | Memorial Stadium | 85,485 | Sea of Red; record 91,585 in 2014. |
| USC | Los Angeles Coliseum | 77,500 | National Historic Landmark; record 104,953 in 1947. |
| Wisconsin | Camp Randall Stadium | 80,321 | Jump Around tradition; record 83,184 in 2005. |
| Michigan State | Spartan Stadium | 74,866 | Midwest rivalry hub; record 75,802 in 2016. |
| Washington | Husky Stadium | 70,083 | Sailgating overlooking Lake Washington. |
| Iowa | Kinnick Stadium | 69,250 | Wave for children's hospital; intense home-field advantage. |
| Illinois | Memorial Stadium | 60,670 | WWI memorial; record 78,297 in 1984. |
| Purdue | Ross-Ade Stadium | 61,441 | Tradition-rich; record 71,629 in 1980. |
| Oregon | Autzen Stadium | 54,000 | Renowned for noise levels; record 60,129 in 2024. |
| Indiana | Memorial Stadium | 52,626 | Record 56,088 in 2025. |
| Rutgers | SHI Stadium | 52,454 | Record 55,942 in 2025. |
| Maryland | SECU Stadium | 51,802 | Record 58,973 in 1975. |
| Minnesota | Huntington Bank Stadium | 50,805 | Opened 2009; record 54,157 in 2015. |
| Northwestern | Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium (temporary for 2025) | 12,023 | Temporary on-campus venue during Ryan Field reconstruction; two 2025 home games at Wrigley Field (capacity 41,649). |
Basketball and multipurpose arenas
The Big Ten Conference's basketball programs primarily utilize on-campus arenas that serve as homes for both men's and women's teams, with many facilities designed as multipurpose venues to accommodate volleyball, gymnastics, and occasionally soccer or other indoor events. These arenas vary in size and design, reflecting the diverse architectural styles and renovation histories across the conference's 18 member institutions. Capacities range from intimate settings to large-scale environments, fostering atmospheres renowned for passionate fan support that contributes to the conference's status as a leader in college basketball attendance.[60] Among the notable venues, Ohio State's Value City Arena stands as the largest, with a capacity of 18,809 seats, hosting high-energy games that regularly draw crowds exceeding 15,000. Similarly, Maryland's Xfinity Center offers 17,950 seats and doubles as a multipurpose facility for women's volleyball and other athletic events, emphasizing its versatility in supporting multiple sports programs. On the smaller end, Rutgers' Louis Brown Athletic Center provides 8,000 seats in a compact, focused environment ideal for building intense game-day energy. Iconic examples include Michigan's Crisler Center, a 12,721-seat arena renovated in recent years to enhance sightlines and acoustics while serving as a hub for basketball and volleyball. UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, with its 13,800 capacity, exemplifies historic multipurpose design, accommodating basketball alongside volleyball and hosting events that blend athletic and entertainment uses since its 1965 opening and 2012 modernization.[61] Attendance records underscore the venues' draw; for instance, Indiana's Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall averaged 16,447 fans per game in the 2024-25 season, leading the Big Ten for the third straight year and ranking among the national top 10, with frequent sellouts in its 17,222 seats.[62] Purdue's Mackey Arena has similarly set benchmarks, achieving a conference-high average of over 14,000 in recent seasons within its 14,848 seats, bolstered by its steep seating bowl that amplifies crowd noise.[60] In 2025, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall underwent updates including a refinished Branch McCracken Court, introducing a more modern aesthetic with enhanced patterns and finishes ahead of the 2025-26 basketball seasons, while maintaining its role as a premier multipurpose space.[63] Overall, the conference's arenas have collectively hosted over 3.3 million fans in home games during the 2024-25 season alone, with several venues like these occasionally selected for NCAA tournament early rounds due to their proven infrastructure and atmosphere.[64]Other sport-specific venues
The Big Ten Conference supports men's ice hockey across seven member institutions, with dedicated arenas serving as primary venues for regular-season games and conference tournaments. Following the conference's 2024 expansion, these facilities continue to host all postseason play on campus sites, aligning with a revised tournament format that emphasizes single-elimination matchups without geographic divisions to accommodate the uneven number of teams. Notable examples include Yost Ice Arena at the University of Michigan, which seats approximately 6,800 spectators and has been the Wolverines' home since 1973 after renovations expanded its original capacity. Other key venues encompass the Kohl Center at the University of Wisconsin (15,511 seats for hockey), 3M Arena at Mariucci for the University of Minnesota (9,700 seats), and the Jerome Schottenstein Center at Ohio State University (17,500 seats), the largest on-campus hockey arena in the nation.[65][66][67][68] Munn Ice Arena at Michigan State University (6,470 seats) and Pegula Ice Arena at Penn State (5,704 seats) round out the core facilities, while Notre Dame's affiliate status utilizes Compton Family Ice Arena (5,000 seats).[69][70] Men's and women's lacrosse programs, bolstered by Johns Hopkins as a sport-specific affiliate member since 2014, rely on specialized outdoor fields optimized for the sport's demands. Homewood Field at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore serves as a historic centerpiece, with a capacity of 8,500 and origins dating to 1908; it hosts Blue Jays home games and has been the site of multiple Big Ten tournaments, including semifinals and championships.[71] Other prominent venues include U-M Lacrosse Stadium at Michigan (2,000 seats, opened 2018) and the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex at Maryland, which features synthetic turf and seating for over 1,000, supporting both conference play and NCAA events.[72][73] Track and field competitions utilize world-class outdoor stadiums, particularly following the 2024 addition of West Coast members with elite facilities. Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, renowned for its renovated nine-lane track and grandstand seating for 12,650, hosted the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor Championships (May 16-18), marking the first such event post-expansion and drawing competitors from all 18 institutions.[74][75] This venue's configuration, including a 400-meter oval and event-specific zones, exemplifies the conference's emphasis on high-performance standards. Indoor meets, such as the 2025 championships at Indiana State Fairgrounds (February 28-March 1), leverage multipurpose spaces for combined men's and women's events.[76] Post-2024 expansion, shared facilities have facilitated cross-regional competitions in these sports, with rotating hosts like Hayward Field enabling equitable access to premier infrastructure without requiring new builds at every school. For instance, the addition of Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA integrates their existing venues—such as USC's Cromwell Field for track—into conference scheduling, promoting collaborative use for tournaments and reducing logistical burdens.[77][78]Rivalries
Intra-conference football rivalries
The Big Ten Conference's intra-conference football rivalries are a cornerstone of the league's tradition, emphasizing historic, geographic, and cultural matchups that heighten fan engagement and competition. Following the 2024 expansion to 18 teams—including the addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington—the conference adopted the Flex Protect XVIII scheduling model, which designates 12 protected annual rivalries to preserve these fixtures while ensuring each team plays nine intraconference games per season. Under this format, most teams have three protected opponents, with games rotating to guarantee every opponent is faced at least twice (home and away) within a four-year cycle. This structure revives dormant rivalries, such as Oregon-Washington, while safeguarding classics like Michigan-Ohio State.[79] The protected series, announced in October 2023, blend longstanding Big Ten traditions with integrations from the former Pac-12 members. These matchups are played every year regardless of overall scheduling, fostering continuity amid the divisionless format introduced in 2024.| Protected Rivalry | Trophy (if applicable) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois–Northwestern | None | Geographic rivals in the Chicago area. |
| Illinois–Purdue | None | Traditional Midwest matchup. |
| Indiana–Purdue | Old Oaken Bucket | Annual in-state battle since 1925. |
| Iowa–Minnesota | Floyd of Rosedale | Pig trophy awarded since 1935. |
| Iowa–Nebraska | None | Revived as protected post-2011 alignment. |
| Iowa–Wisconsin | Heartland Trophy | Awarded since 2008 for Heartland regional pride. |
| Maryland–Rutgers | None | East Coast geographic pairing. |
| Michigan–Michigan State | Paul Bunyan Trophy | In-state rivalry trophy since 1950. |
| Michigan–Ohio State | None (known as "The Game") | Premier Big Ten rivalry since 1897. |
| Minnesota–Wisconsin | Paul Bunyan's Axe | Axe trophy since 1948 (revived from 1891 tradition). |
| Oregon–Washington | None | Revived annual series from Pac-12 era, emphasizing Pacific Northwest ties. |
| UCLA–USC | Victory Bell | Southern California crosstown rivalry since 1929. |
Extra-conference football rivalries
The Big Ten Conference has a rich history of football rivalries extending beyond its own membership, fostering intense matchups with independent programs and teams from other conferences that have shaped national narratives and regional identities. These extra-conference series often date back decades, featuring high-stakes games in regular seasons and bowls that highlight contrasting styles and traditions. While intra-conference protected rivalries dominate scheduling, these external clashes have provided opportunities for Big Ten teams to test themselves against elite non-league opponents, contributing to playoff resumes and cultural lore. The 2025 Big Ten expansion has preserved core traditions without major disruptions to external series.[79] One of the most storied extra-conference rivalries involves Michigan and Notre Dame, an independent program, with the series originating in 1888 and spanning 44 meetings through 2019. Michigan holds a 25-18-1 all-time edge, including an 11-6 home record and 8-11-1 away, with the Wolverines securing the last victory, 45-14, in 2019 after a long hiatus that began in 1943 and saw sporadic renewals. This matchup, known for its Catholic-Protestant undertones and Midwest prestige, has produced legendary games like Notre Dame's 1909 upset in Ann Arbor, which shocked the college football world and elevated the Fighting Irish's national profile; the series' intensity stems from both programs' claims to gridiron supremacy, though scheduling conflicts have limited recent play.[88][89] Penn State and Alabama, from the Southeastern Conference, have clashed 15 times since 1959, primarily in bowl settings that carried national championship implications, with Alabama leading 10-5 overall, including 4-2 records both home and away. Key encounters include Penn State's 7-0 Liberty Bowl win in 1959, Alabama's 13-6 Sugar Bowl victory in 1975 to christen the Superdome, and the iconic 14-7 Sugar Bowl triumph in 1979, where the Crimson Tide's goal-line stand preserved their title amid a duel between undefeated teams. These games, extended into a regular-season streak from 1982 to 1990 (Alabama 5-4-0 in that span), underscored defensive battles and coaching legends like Joe Paterno and Bear Bryant, cementing the series as a benchmark for East-West football excellence despite no meetings since 2011.[90][91][92] Following the 2024 addition of USC to the Big Ten, the Trojans' longstanding rivalry with Notre Dame—dating to 1926 and played nearly annually since 1927—remains an extra-conference fixture, as the Fighting Irish maintain football independence. Notre Dame leads the series 53-38-5 through 2025, a margin reflecting eras of dominance, such as the Irish's 15-3-1 stretch from 1982 to 2000, with the Jeweled Shillelagh trophy symbolizing victories and the late-season timing often deciding conference or playoff fates. Dubbed the "Granddaddy of intersectional rivalries," it bridged coasts and influenced college football's national scope, producing NFL talent and dramatic finishes like USC's 2005 Bush Push; however, post-expansion talks in 2025 have raised concerns about its continuation beyond the 2025 game due to playoff scheduling pressures, though no changes have been confirmed as of November 2025.[93][94][95] The Big Ten's adoption of a nine-game conference schedule, formalized in the Flex Protect XVIII model for the 18-team era starting in 2024, has curtailed opportunities for extra-conference rivalries by limiting teams to three non-conference games annually—often one against a lower-division foe, a regional matchup, and a marquee opponent. This structure prioritizes 12 protected intra-conference series, such as Michigan-Ohio State, to preserve core traditions, but it squeezes out sustained external series like Michigan-Notre Dame unless explicitly contracted, potentially diminishing their frequency and cultural weight in favor of playoff preparation. As a result, historic non-Big Ten clashes may evolve into occasional events rather than annual fixtures, reflecting the conference's shift toward internal competition in an expanded landscape.[79][96]Basketball and other sport rivalries
In basketball, the Big Ten Conference features several storied rivalries that extend beyond football, emphasizing regional pride and competitive balance on the court. The Indiana–Purdue matchup, often called the Crossroads Classic in its modern iteration, traces its origins to 1901 and has amassed 221 meetings, making it one of the most enduring series in college basketball.[97] This rivalry has been evenly contested in recent years, with a 3-3 split over the last six games, including Indiana's dramatic comeback from a 12-point deficit in their most recent encounter, highlighting its potential to sway conference title races.[97] Similarly, the Michigan–Michigan State clash, a cornerstone of the league's in-state battles, pits the Wolverines against the Spartans for supremacy in the Great Lakes region, with Michigan State leading 7-2 in the past nine meetings and sweeping the series in the prior season.[97] Ranked among the top five basketball rivalries nationally, these games frequently carry implications for Big Ten standings and NCAA Tournament seeding due to their intensity and fan fervor.[98] The 2024 expansion of the Big Ten to 18 members, incorporating former Pac-12 schools USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, has introduced fresh dynamics to basketball rivalries, particularly the historic UCLA–USC crosstown series. Dating back to 1920, this intracity competition—now contested for the Victory Bell trophy within the conference—brings West Coast flair to the league, where USC holds a 75-30 all-time edge against legacy Big Ten opponents and UCLA follows at 47-43.[14] The addition elevates these matchups by integrating them into a broader schedule that respects protected rivalries while expanding travel and competitive scope, potentially fostering new West-East confrontations.[99] In men's hockey, the Minnesota–Wisconsin Border Battle stands as a hallmark of Big Ten intensity, rooted in the teams' adjacent states and their shared history in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association before the conference's formation in 2013.[100] Characterized by mutual "hatred" and played before massive crowds—often the largest opposing audiences of the season—this series underscores border-state animosity, with Wisconsin recently earning sweeps like a 4-0 shutout in 2025 to claim the trophy.[101][102] Wrestling rivalries in the Big Ten are epitomized by the Iowa–Penn State duel, which has redefined the sport's competitive landscape over the past 15 years through mutual dominance. Iowa leads the all-time dual series 28-14-2 through 2025 (44 meetings), having captured eight of 10 national titles in the 1990s and three straight from 2008 to 2010, while Penn State has responded with 11 championships since 2011 under coach Cael Sanderson, including their first since 1953.[103] Together, the programs have claimed 15 of the last 16 NCAA team titles, elevating individual stars like Iowa's Spencer Lee and Penn State's Zain Retherford, whose 2017 clash exemplified the series' high-stakes drama and innovation in training methodologies.[103] Recent duals, such as Penn State's 30-8 victory on January 31, 2025, continue to feature marquee bouts that draw national attention and influence recruiting across the conference.[104]Football
Conference format and divisions
The Big Ten Conference football schedule operates under a nine-game intraconference format, a structure maintained since the league's expansion to 18 teams in 2024. This model, known as Flex Protect XVIII, eliminates traditional divisions and instead determines the conference championship participants based on overall standings, with the top two teams advancing to the Big Ten Football Championship Game held annually at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.[79][105] Central to the Flex Protect XVIII model is a system of protected rivalries designed to preserve historic and geographic matchups, ensuring 12 annual games are played every year across the conference. These protected series include: Illinois vs. Northwestern and Purdue; Indiana vs. Purdue; Iowa vs. Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin; Maryland vs. Rutgers; Michigan vs. Michigan State and Ohio State; Minnesota vs. Wisconsin; and Oregon vs. Washington, UCLA vs. USC. The remaining conference opponents rotate on a four-year cycle, with each team facing every other conference member at least twice (once home and once away) over a five-year period, and no more than three times against any rotating foe in that span to promote scheduling equity.[79][105] For the 2025 season, the format remains unchanged from 2024, marking the second year of this divisionaless approach and allowing teams to build a full 12-game regular season by scheduling three non-conference opponents alongside their nine Big Ten games. Flex scheduling provisions enable the conference to adjust select dates—such as moving games to Fridays, Labor Day Sunday, or Black Friday—for television and competitive balance, while tiebreakers for championship qualification follow criteria like head-to-head results, record against common opponents, and strength of schedule.[105][79]Championships and playoff participation
The Big Ten Conference has crowned football champions annually since 1896, with Michigan holding the most titles at 45, followed by Ohio State with 39. Other notable programs include Minnesota with 18 championships, Illinois with 15, Wisconsin with 14, Iowa with 11, Michigan State with 9, Purdue with 8, and Oregon with 1. The conference's championship structure evolved over time, initially determined by overall conference records without divisions until 2014, when a championship game was introduced following the addition of new members; this format continued until the elimination of divisions after the 2023 season, allowing the top two teams to compete for the title.[web:45] Recent champions include Oregon in 2024 (defeating Penn State 45–37 in the championship game), Michigan in 2023 (9–0 conference record), and Michigan again in 2022 (9–0).[106] In the College Football Playoff (CFP) era prior to the 2024 expansion, Big Ten teams made eight appearances in the four-team format from 2014 to 2023, advancing to the semifinals six times with a 2–4 record in those games.[web:83] Ohio State won the 2014 national championship after defeating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl semifinal, while Michigan reached the 2023 national championship game following a semifinal victory over Alabama but lost to Washington.[web:83] Other semifinal losses came for Wisconsin (2016 vs. Alabama), Ohio State (2020 vs. Georgia), and Michigan (2021 vs. Georgia, 2022 vs. TCU).[web:83] The CFP expanded to a 12-team format for the 2024–25 season, granting an automatic bid to the highest-ranked conference champion among the Power Four leagues (Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12), with byes for the top four seeds.[web:20] Oregon, as the Big Ten champion and No. 1 overall seed, received a first-round bye but lost to Ohio State 41–21 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal.[107] Other Big Ten participants included No. 6 Penn State (defeated SMU 38–10 in the first round and Boise State 31–14 in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal, then lost to Notre Dame 27–24 in the Orange Bowl semifinal), No. 8 Ohio State (defeated Tennessee 42–17 in the first round, Oregon 41–21 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal, Texas 28–14 in the Cotton Bowl semifinal, and Notre Dame 34–23 in the national championship), and No. 10 Indiana (lost to Notre Dame 27–17 in the first round).[108][109][110][111][112] This marked the first year multiple Big Ten teams received at-large bids alongside the automatic qualifier, highlighting the conference's depth, with Ohio State claiming the national championship.[112] As of November 2025, ongoing discussions among conference leaders, including Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, advocate for further CFP expansion to 16–24 teams or even 28, aiming to allocate more automatic bids—potentially four or more—to power conferences like the Big Ten to better reflect competitive strength and increase revenue sharing.[web:21][web:25][web:30] Proposals emphasize eliminating conference championship games in favor of broader playoff access, though no consensus has been reached for implementation beyond the current 12-team model through 2025.[web:21][web:30]All-time records and bowl history
The Big Ten Conference has produced some of the most successful football programs in NCAA history, with its member institutions collectively amassing over 13,000 wins since the conference's inception in 1896. Michigan holds the all-time lead in total victories among Big Ten teams, surpassing 1,000 wins for the first time in program history during the 2023 season and extending that dominance into 2024. Ohio State follows closely, maintaining a high winning percentage alongside its rival, while newer additions like USC and Oregon bring storied histories from the former Pac-12. These records reflect not only overall performance but also the conference's evolution through expansions, with traditional powers like Penn State and Nebraska contributing significantly to the league's legacy.[113][114]| Team | All-Time Wins | All-Time Losses | All-Time Ties | Winning Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 1,015 | 359 | 36 | .733 |
| Ohio State | 981 | 335 | 53 | .736 |
| Penn State | 946 | 412 | 41 | .691 |
| Nebraska | 927 | 430 | 40 | .678 |
| USC | 885 | 374 | 54 | .695 |
| Washington | 783 | 474 | 50 | .618 |
| Wisconsin | 749 | 526 | 53 | .584 |
| Minnesota | 743 | 549 | 44 | .573 |
| Michigan State | 738 | 494 | 44 | .596 |
| Oregon | 721 | 512 | 46 | .582 |
| Iowa | 703 | 582 | 39 | .546 |
| Maryland | 684 | 632 | 43 | .519 |
| Rutgers | 681 | 701 | 42 | .493 |
| Illinois | 645 | 628 | 50 | .506 |
| Purdue | 644 | 609 | 48 | .513 |
| UCLA | 642 | 456 | 37 | .582 |
| Northwestern | 571 | 712 | 44 | .447 |
| Indiana | 521 | 715 | 44 | .424 |
Individual awards and honors
The Big Ten Conference has honored exceptional football players and coaches through individual awards since the early 20th century, with formalized postseason recognitions expanding significantly in the modern era. These awards, selected annually by conference coaches and a media panel, highlight outstanding performances across offensive, defensive, and special teams categories.[122] The conference's flagship player honors include the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year awards, both established in 1982 to recognize top performers on each side of the ball. The offensive award, named for Northwestern's Otto Graham and Ohio State's Archie Griffin, has been won by quarterbacks like Dillon Gabriel of Oregon in 2024, while the defensive honor, honoring Minnesota's Bronko Nagurski and Michigan's Charles Woodson, went to Penn State's Abdul Carter that same year for his league-leading 12 sacks.[123][124][125] Additional position-specific awards, introduced over time to commemorate conference legends, further spotlight individual excellence; for instance, the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year, named for Wisconsin's Alan Ameche and the Badgers' Ron Dayne, was awarded to Iowa's Kaleb Johnson in 2024 after his 1,537 rushing yards. Similarly, the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year recognized Iowa's Jay Higgins for his 171 tackles that season. These honors, along with others like the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year and Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, are voted on post-regular season and often align with national accolades.[125] Big Ten players have also earned national recognition, most notably the Heisman Trophy, with schools in the conference producing 11 winners since 1935. Ohio State leads with four recipients, including Archie Griffin, the only two-time winner in history (1974–1975), while Michigan has three, such as Desmond Howard (1991) and Charles Woodson (1997), the first primarily defensive player to claim the award. Other notable Heisman honorees from Big Ten institutions include Iowa's Nile Kinnick (1939), Minnesota's Bruce Smith (1941), and Wisconsin's Alan Ameche (1954).[126][127] All-conference teams, a tradition dating back to the conference's founding in 1896 as the Western Conference, consist of first-, second-, and third-team selections across positions, determined by votes from head coaches and a media panel excluding a player's own school to ensure impartiality. These teams have evolved from early 20th-century compilations to the current format, which began in earnest in the 1980s and includes honorable mentions for broader recognition of talent.[122] Coaching honors include the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year Award, named for Ohio State's Woody Hayes and Michigan's Bo Schembechler and voted on by peers, which Indiana's Curt Cignetti won in 2024 for guiding the Hoosiers to an 11-1 record. The media counterpart, the Dave McClain Coach of the Year Award, honors the late Ohio State coach and was also awarded to Cignetti that year. These awards underscore leadership in achieving team success within the conference.[125]Men's basketball
Conference tournament and challenges
The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament is an annual single-elimination postseason event held to determine the conference champion and award an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Following the conference's expansion to 18 teams with the addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington in the 2024–25 season, the 2025 tournament featured the top 15 teams based on regular-season conference standings, excluding the bottom three performers. Held from March 12 to 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, the event consisted of five rounds, with seeding determining matchups and byes for the top four teams. Michigan won the 2025 tournament, defeating Wisconsin in the championship game for its third title and first since 2018.[128] In September 2025, the Big Ten announced that the 2026 tournament would expand to include all 18 teams for the first time since the realignment, maintaining the single-elimination format with games scheduled from March 11 to 15 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. This adjustment addresses the larger membership while preserving the tournament's intensity, with the top four seeds receiving byes into the quarterfinals and lower seeds competing in earlier rounds. The rotation between Indianapolis and Chicago venues, established in prior years, continues to centralize the event in key Midwestern markets for fan accessibility.[129] Non-conference challenges have long provided Big Ten teams with rigorous early-season tests against elite competition from other major conferences. The ACC–Big Ten Challenge, launched in 1999 as a marquee annual series, matched each Big Ten program against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent in a home-and-home or neutral-site format, fostering high-stakes matchups that boosted national exposure; it operated for 24 seasons before ESPN discontinued it after the 2022–23 edition amid shifting media rights deals. Although no direct revival or expansion with the ACC occurred post-2024 realignment, Big Ten schedules in 2025–26 incorporated comparable non-conference opportunities, such as multi-team events and individual games against power-conference foes like Alabama and NC State, to simulate tournament pressure.[130] In October 2025, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti voiced strong support for expanding the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament from 68 to 76 teams, potentially effective for the 2026–27 season, emphasizing a straight-seeding model to prioritize merit over regional pods. This position aligns with the conference's frequent multi-bid representation—eight teams qualified in 2025—and aims to accommodate growing league depth without diluting the event's integrity.[131]All-time records and NCAA appearances
The Big Ten Conference men's basketball teams have compiled extensive all-time records in conference play, reflecting the league's competitive depth since its inception in 1896. Purdue holds the record for the most regular season championships with 25, including 12 outright titles, underscoring its historical dominance in intra-conference matchups. Indiana follows with 22 regular season titles (11 outright), while Illinois has secured 18 (8 outright), and Ohio State 20 (10 outright). These accomplishments highlight the sustained success of the conference's founding members, with Michigan State emerging as a modern powerhouse with 14 regular season crowns since joining in 1950. Representative all-time conference win-loss records for top programs, as of the end of the 2024-25 season, include Purdue at 825-588 (.584 winning percentage), Illinois at 838-592 (.586), Indiana at 822-556 (.596), and Michigan State at 495-407 (.549).[132][133][134][135]| Team | All-Time Conference Wins-Losses (Pct.) | Regular Season Championships (Outright) |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 825-588 (.584) | 25 (12) |
| Illinois | 838-592 (.586) | 18 (8) |
| Indiana | 822-556 (.596) | 22 (11) |
| Ohio State | 694-648 (.517) | 20 (10) |
| Michigan | 681-613 (.526) | 13 (7) |
| Iowa | 679-658 (.508) | 8 (4) |
| Minnesota | 686-735 (.483) | 9 (5) |
| Wisconsin | 654-774 (.458) | 16 (7) |
| Michigan State | 495-407 (.549) | 14 (5) |
| Northwestern | 450-930 (.326) | 2 (1) |
National championships and coaching
The Big Ten Conference has secured nine NCAA Division I men's basketball national championships, with Indiana claiming the most at five titles, underscoring the league's historical dominance in the sport.[141] These victories span from 1940 to 2000, highlighting eras of exceptional coaching and team performance that propelled the conference to prominence. For instance, Indiana's 1976 championship, under coach Bob Knight, featured an undefeated 32-0 season, culminating in a 86-68 win over Michigan in the title game at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.[138] Similarly, Michigan State's 2000 triumph, led by Tom Izzo, ended with an 89-76 victory against Florida at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, marking the Spartans' second national title.[138] Key coaches have been instrumental in these successes, with Bob Knight securing three championships at Indiana (1976, 1981, 1987), establishing a legacy of disciplined, high-stakes play that influenced generations of Big Ten programs. Branch McCracken guided Indiana to two early titles in 1940 and 1953, while Tom Izzo's 2000 win at Michigan State added to Jud Heathcote's 1979 championship there, emphasizing the conference's tradition of sustained excellence under long-tenured leaders. Other notable coaches include Fred Taylor, who led Ohio State to its 1960 title with a 75-55 defeat of California at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, and Steve Fisher, whose interim tenure at Michigan produced the 1989 championship via an 80-79 overtime victory over Seton Hall at the Kingdome in Seattle.[138] These coaches not only delivered national titles but also multiple Final Four appearances, such as Izzo's seven with Michigan State and Knight's six with Indiana, often hosted at iconic venues like the Superdome in New Orleans and the Alamodome in San Antonio.[142] In addition to championships, Big Ten teams have reached the national championship game as runners-up on 10 occasions, including recent heartbreaks like Purdue's 2024 loss to UConn 75-60 at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, extending the conference's title drought since 2000.[143] This competitive edge reflects the league's depth, building on over 50 Final Four appearances across its history.[142] Compensation for Big Ten men's basketball head coaches has risen significantly, averaging around $4.5 million annually in 2025, with veteran leaders like Tom Izzo earning $5.92 million at Michigan State and Mick Cronin at $6.1 million at UCLA, reflecting the high value placed on recruiting and program stability in the expanded 18-team conference.[144]| Year | School | Coach | Opponent | Final Four Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Indiana | Branch McCracken | Kansas | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City | 60-42 |
| 1953 | Indiana | Branch McCracken | Kansas | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City | 69-68 |
| 1960 | Ohio State | Fred Taylor | California | Cow Palace, San Francisco | 75-55 |
| 1976 | Indiana | Bob Knight | Michigan | Market Square Arena, Indianapolis | 86-68 |
| 1979 | Michigan State | Jud Heathcote | Indiana State | Special Events Center, Salt Lake City | 75-64 |
| 1981 | Indiana | Bob Knight | North Carolina | Philadelphia Spectrum, Philadelphia | 63-50 |
| 1987 | Indiana | Bob Knight | Syracuse | Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans | 74-73 |
| 1989 | Michigan | Steve Fisher | Seton Hall | Kingdome, Seattle | 80-79 (OT) |
| 2000 | Michigan State | Tom Izzo | Florida | RCA Dome, Indianapolis | 89-76 |
Women's basketball
Conference tournament and NCAA appearances
The Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament, held annually since 1995, determines the conference's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division I tournament. The event originally included all member teams but transitioned to a top-12 format in 2007 and expanded to 14 teams in 2014 to accommodate the conference's growth. Following the addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington in 2024–25, bringing the total to 18 institutions, the tournament field increased to 15 teams for the 2025 edition at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, excluding the three lowest regular-season finishers to optimize NCAA at-large bid opportunities. Starting in 2026, the format will include all 18 teams. The tournament rotates among host cities, with Indianapolis hosting a record 27 editions, alongside venues in Minneapolis (Target Center), Chicago (United Center), and Detroit (Little Caesars Arena).[145][146][147] Big Ten women's basketball programs have amassed 206 NCAA tournament appearances collectively, compiling a 247–205 record through the 2024–25 season, including 12 Final Four berths. In March 2025, a conference-record 12 teams—Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington—earned bids, highlighting the league's depth. Maryland leads all current members with 32 appearances as of 2025, while Iowa has made 31 outings, reaching the Final Four three times (1993, 2023, and 2024). In 2024, Iowa advanced to the national semifinals, upsetting top-seeded UConn 71–69 before falling to South Carolina in the championship, propelled by standout performances from players like Caitlin Clark.[148][149][150][151][152] Big Ten teams not selected for the NCAA tournament have frequently competed in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), reaching the semifinals 29 times and securing nine championships. Notable successes include Indiana's 2018 title, where the Hoosiers defeated Virginia Tech 65–58 in the final to claim their first WNIT crown. These postseason opportunities have provided additional competitive experience and exposure for conference programs.[153][154]National championships and records
The Big Ten Conference has secured one NCAA Division I women's basketball national championship. In 1999, Purdue defeated Duke 62–45 in the championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, marking the program's only title under head coach Carolyn Peck.[155] Big Ten teams have appeared in the national championship game on three other occasions as runners-up. Ohio State reached the final in 1993 but lost to Texas Tech 84–82 in Atlanta, Georgia, in a game coached by Nancy Darsch.[155] More recently, Iowa advanced to back-to-back finals in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, the Hawkeyes fell to LSU 102–85 in Dallas, Texas, despite a strong performance led by Caitlin Clark.[155] In 2024, Iowa lost to South Carolina 87–75 in Cleveland, Ohio, concluding another Final Four run under coach Lisa Bluder.[155] These appearances highlight Iowa's recent emergence as a national powerhouse, with the team achieving records of 34–5 in 2023–24 and 23–11 in 2024–25 under Bluder and successor Jan Jensen, who took over as head coach following Bluder's retirement in May 2024.[151][156]| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-up | Coach (Runner-up) | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Texas Tech | 84–82 | Ohio State | Nancy Darsch | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, GA[155] |
| 1999 | Purdue | 62–45 | Duke | Gail Goestenkors | Alamodome, San Antonio, TX[155] |
| 2023 | LSU | 102–85 | Iowa | Lisa Bluder | American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX[155] |
| 2024 | South Carolina | 87–75 | Iowa | Lisa Bluder | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH[155] |
Other sports
Volleyball and field hockey
The Big Ten Conference has established itself as a dominant force in NCAA Division I women's volleyball, with its member institutions securing 14 national championships through the 2024 season. Penn State University holds the most titles in conference history, with eight wins in 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2024, including a record four consecutive championships from 2007 to 2010 under coach Russ Rose.[158][159] The University of Nebraska claims five titles, achieved in 1995, 2000, 2006, 2015, and 2017, highlighted by three undefeated seasons (2000, 2006, and 2017).[160] The University of Wisconsin added the conference's most recent non-Penn State or Nebraska title in 2021, defeating Nebraska in five sets for its first NCAA crown.[159] These victories underscore the Big Ten's depth, as its teams have combined for over 50 Final Four appearances, with Penn State (16) and Nebraska (15) leading the way.[160] In regular-season conference competition, Penn State has won or shared 18 Big Ten titles, the most of any program, including a co-championship in 2024 after a 3-1 victory over Nebraska that clinched their first outright or shared crown since 2017.[161] Nebraska follows with 10 conference championships since joining in 2011, while Wisconsin has claimed six, often featuring high-stakes matches that propel teams into the NCAA Tournament.[162] The conference has a trend of sending at least seven squads annually to the NCAA Tournament in recent years.[163] Women's field hockey programs in the Big Ten have also achieved notable success, accumulating 11 NCAA national titles. The University of Maryland leads with eight championships (1987, 1993, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011), establishing it as one of the sport's premier programs with 13 Final Four appearances.[164] Northwestern University has won two recent titles in 2021 and 2024, both under coach Tracey Fuchs, including a 2-1 semifinal victory over Maryland en route to the 2024 crown.[164] The University of Michigan secured the conference's other title in 2001, defeating Maryland 2-1 in the championship match.[165] Big Ten teams have made over 40 NCAA Tournament appearances collectively, with Maryland and Northwestern frequently advancing to semifinals and finals. Conference play in field hockey remains highly competitive, with Maryland holding a record 15 regular-season titles and 12 tournament championships since the Big Ten sponsored the sport in 1989. Northwestern has emerged as a recent powerhouse, winning four straight regular-season crowns from 2021 to 2024 and the 2025 Big Ten Tournament as the No. 1 seed after a 5-3 semifinal win over Michigan.[166] In 2025, four Big Ten squads qualified for the NCAA Tournament, highlighted by Northwestern's No. 1 overall seed and Maryland's consistent elite ranking.[167]Ice hockey and lacrosse
The Big Ten Conference initiated men's ice hockey competition in the 2013–14 season, comprising seven institutions: the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Notre Dame, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Wisconsin.[168] These programs have collectively secured 23 NCAA Division I national championships, underscoring the conference's historical dominance in the sport. The University of Michigan leads with nine titles in 1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1964, 1996, and 1998, while the University of Wisconsin follows with six in 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983, and 2006; the University of Minnesota has five in 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, and 2003; and Michigan State University has three in 1966, 1989, and 2007.[169] Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame have yet to claim an NCAA title.[170] The Big Ten men's ice hockey tournament, established in 2014, features a single-elimination format among all seven teams to determine the conference champion and automatic NCAA qualifier. Minnesota has won the most tournament titles with three (2015, 2019, 2023), followed by Michigan with three (2016, 2022, 2024); other champions include Wisconsin (2014), Penn State (2017), Ohio State (2018), and Michigan State (2025).[171] Since the conference's inception, Big Ten teams have qualified for the NCAA tournament in every season, advancing to the Frozen Four 11 times, though no titles have been won since Michigan State's 2007 championship.[172] The conference has also hosted notable outdoor games, including doubleheaders at Wrigley Field during the 2025 Frozen Confines series.[173] The Big Ten launched men's lacrosse sponsorship in 2015, with core members Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Rutgers, joined by affiliate member Johns Hopkins University.[174] Conference teams have amassed 13 NCAA Division I national championships overall. Maryland leads with four titles in 1973, 1975, 2011, and 2022, while Johns Hopkins holds nine in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2005, and 2007; no other Big Ten programs have NCAA titles.[175]| Team | NCAA Titles | Years Won | All-Time NCAA Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 4 | 1973, 1975, 2011, 2022 | 47 |
| Johns Hopkins | 9 | 1979–81, 1984–85, 1987, 1989, 2005, 2007 | 50+ |
| Michigan | 0 | — | 5 |
| Ohio State | 0 | — | 8 |
| Penn State | 0 | — | 4 |
| Rutgers | 0 | — | 1 |
Baseball, softball, and soccer
The Big Ten Conference has a storied history in baseball, with member institutions collectively earning six NCAA national championships and 29 appearances in the College World Series (CWS). Minnesota leads with three titles in 1956, 1960, and 1968, while Michigan secured two in 1953 and 1962.[182] Ohio State contributed the sixth in 1966, highlighting the conference's early dominance in the sport during the mid-20th century. More recently, Indiana made the program's first CWS appearance in 2013, advancing to the finals as runners-up after defeating Louisville 2-0 in the semifinals, marking the Big Ten's first CWS trip since Michigan in 1984.[183] In softball, Big Ten teams have achieved notable success at the Women's College World Series (WCWS), with Michigan claiming the conference's lone NCAA national title in 2005 by rallying to defeat UCLA 4-1 in a 10-inning winner-take-all Game 3 of the finals.[184] This victory made Michigan the first program east of the Mississippi River to win the championship, capping a 65-7 season under coach Carol Hutchins. Nebraska has been a consistent contender, earning seven WCWS appearances, including third-place finishes in 1984 and 1987, underscoring the conference's depth in the sport.[185] Men's soccer has been a flagship sport for the Big Ten, with Indiana securing eight NCAA national championships—more than any other program—including the 2012 title via a 1-0 victory over Georgetown in the College Cup final, where Nikita Kotlov scored the game-winner in the 58th minute.[186] Maryland has added four titles (1968, 2005, 2008, 2018), contributing to the conference's total of 12 men's NCAA crowns and over 100 College Cup appearances collectively. On the women's side, Penn State captured the Big Ten's only NCAA championship in 2015, shutting out Duke 1-0 in the final behind a goal from Raquel Rodríguez and a stout defensive effort that limited opponents to zero goals across five tournament matches.[187] These achievements reflect the conference's emphasis on soccer excellence, with multiple programs regularly advancing to NCAA postseason play.Additional sports achievements
In men's gymnastics, Big Ten institutions have secured 42 NCAA team championships as of 2025, with Michigan claiming the most recent title that year. Illinois captured the national championship in 2012 under coach Justin Spring, marking the program's only NCAA team title to date. The conference has also produced 295 individual event champions, highlighting its depth in the sport.[188][189] Big Ten men's golf programs have excelled at the conference level, with Ohio State holding a record 23 titles and Illinois claiming 16, including nine in the last decade leading up to 2025. National success has been rarer, though schools like Michigan (1953, 1965) and Purdue (1932) have won NCAA team titles in the past. Similarly, in men's tennis, conference dominance is evident—Ohio State has won 22 regular-season crowns—but NCAA team championships remain elusive for Big Ten members, with UCLA's 16 national titles predating its 2024 entry into the league. Ohio State reached the 2023 NCAA final, underscoring emerging competitiveness.[190][191][192] Wrestling stands out as the conference's premier Olympic sport, with Big Ten schools amassing over 50 NCAA team titles collectively; Iowa leads with 24, including back-to-back wins in 1975-1976 and a streak from 1978-1986. Penn State follows with 12 titles as of 2025. The conference has nurtured numerous individual Olympians, such as Iowa's Spencer Lee (2020, 2024) and Minnesota's Gable Steveson (gold medalist in 2020 freestyle), who also won two NCAA titles.[193][194][195]Championships and awards
Overall NCAA national titles
The Big Ten Conference's member institutions have a storied history of success in NCAA-sanctioned sports, with hundreds of team national championships won across dozens of disciplines. As of 2022, the conference's then-14 member schools had collectively earned 322 NCAA national titles, spanning sports such as wrestling, ice hockey, lacrosse, and gymnastics. With the 2024 expansion to include USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, the conference incorporated schools with a combined 283 additional NCAA team championships, significantly enhancing its overall tally to approximately 605 as of June 2024 (pre-2025 updates). This expansion has particularly strengthened the Big Ten's standing in sports like volleyball (where UCLA and USC have dominated), water polo, and track and field, integrating West Coast excellence into the conference's Midwestern and Eastern legacy.[196] These titles reflect the conference's depth, with member schools leading in both men's and women's competitions. Michigan holds the most among pre-expansion members with 40 (updated to 41 including 2025 gymnastics). Post-expansion, UCLA emerges as the leader with 124 titles, primarily in men's basketball (11) and volleyball (7 for women). Recent achievements include Michigan's 2025 NCAA men's gymnastics title and Ohio State's 2025 College Football Playoff national championship, the latter marking the Big Ten's 32nd football title under the NCAA-sanctioned CFP format.[197][198][199]| School | Total NCAA Titles | Leading Sport(s) (Examples) |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 124 | Men's basketball (11), women's volleyball (7) |
| USC | 115 | Baseball (12), women's water polo (9) |
| Penn State | 56 | Fencing (14) |
| Michigan | 41 | Men's ice hockey (9), men's gymnastics (8) |
| Wisconsin | 33 | Men's lightweight rowing (6) |
| Ohio State | 33 | Men's swimming & diving (11) |
| Maryland | 32 | Women's lacrosse (14) |
| Oregon | 35 | Men's cross country (6), women's cross country (4) |
| Indiana | 24 | Men's soccer (8) |
| Iowa | 25 | Men's wrestling (23) |
| Michigan State | 20 | Men's cross country (8) |
| Minnesota | 19 | Women's ice hockey (6) |
| Nebraska | 21 | Men's gymnastics (8) |
| Illinois | 18 | Men's gymnastics (10) |
| Washington | 9 | Women's rowing (5) |
| Northwestern | 9 | Women's lacrosse (7) |
| Purdue | 3 | Women's basketball (1), golf (men's & women's, 1 each) |
| Rutgers | 1 | Fencing (1) |
Conference titles by sport
The Big Ten Conference has awarded titles in football since its inception in 1896, determined primarily by regular-season conference records, with co-champions recognized when teams share the best mark; since 2011, a championship game has resolved ties in some cases.[201]| Team | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 44 |
| Ohio State | 39 |
| Minnesota | 18 |
| Illinois | 15 |
| Wisconsin | 14 |
| Iowa | 11 |
| Michigan State | 9 |
| Purdue | 8 |
| Northwestern | 8 |
| Chicago | 7 |
| Penn State | 4 |
| Indiana | 2 |
| Oregon | 1 |
| Team | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| Purdue | 24 |
| Indiana | 20 |
| Illinois | 17 |
| Michigan | 15 |
| Ohio State | 14 |
| Wisconsin | 14 |
| Michigan State | 14 |
| Iowa | 9 |
| Minnesota | 8 |
| Northwestern | 2 |
| Maryland | 1 |
| Chicago | 6 |
| Team | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| Ohio State | 15 |
| Iowa | 10 |
| Penn State | 8 |
| Maryland | 7 |
| Purdue | 7 |
| Michigan State | 3 |
| Indiana | 2 |
| Northwestern | 2 |
| Illinois | 1 |
| USC | 1 |
Athlete and academic honors
The Big Ten Conference annually recognizes outstanding individual athletic achievements through its Athlete of the Year awards, honoring one male and one female student-athlete for exceptional performance across all sports. The Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year award, named after the legendary Ohio State track star, has been presented since 1982, while the Female Athlete of the Year award began in 1983. These honors highlight athletes who have demonstrated dominance in their respective sports, often leading to national accolades and Olympic success. Since 1984, winners have included numerous Olympians, NCAA champions, and professional standouts from a variety of disciplines such as wrestling, basketball, track and field, and football.[209] The following tables list the recipients from 1984 onward, including the 2025 winners: Carter Starocci (Penn State, wrestling) for male and JuJu Watkins (USC, basketball) for female.[209][210] Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year (1984–2025)| Year | Athlete | School | Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Sunder Nix | Indiana | Track & Field |
| 1985 | Barry Davis | Iowa | Wrestling |
| 1986 | Chuck Long | Iowa | Football |
| 1987 | Steve Alford | Indiana | Basketball |
| 1988 | Jim Abbott | Michigan | Baseball |
| 1989 | Glen Rice | Michigan | Basketball |
| 1990 | Anthony Thompson | Indiana | Football |
| 1991 | Mike Barrowman | Michigan | Swimming |
| 1992 | Desmond Howard | Michigan | Football |
| 1993 | John Roethlisberger | Minnesota | Gymnastics |
| 1994 | Glenn Robinson | Purdue | Basketball |
| 1995 | Tom Dolan | Michigan | Swimming |
| 1996 | Eddie George | Ohio State | Football |
| 1997 | Blaine Wilson | Ohio State | Gymnastics |
| 1998 | Charles Woodson | Michigan | Football |
| 1999 | Luke Donald | Northwestern | Golf |
| 2000 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin | Football |
| 2001 | Ryan Miller | Michigan State | Ice Hockey |
| 2002 | Jordan Leopold | Minnesota | Ice Hockey |
| 2003 | Amer Delic & Matt Lackey | Illinois | Tennis & Wrestling |
| 2004 | Damion Hahn | Minnesota | Wrestling |
| 2005 | Luis Vargas | Penn State | Gymnastics |
| 2006 | Peter Vanderkaay | Michigan | Swimming |
| 2007 | Cole Konrad | Minnesota | Wrestling |
| 2008 | Brent Metcalf | Iowa | Wrestling |
| 2009 | Jake Herbert | Northwestern | Wrestling |
| 2010 | Evan Turner | Ohio State | Basketball |
| 2011 | David Boudia | Purdue | Diving |
| 2012 | Draymond Green | Michigan State | Basketball |
| 2013 | Derek Drouin | Indiana | Track & Field |
| 2014 | David Taylor | Penn State | Wrestling |
| 2015 | Logan Stieber | Ohio State | Wrestling |
| 2016 | Denzel Valentine | Michigan State | Basketball |
| 2017 | Kyle Snyder | Ohio State | Wrestling |
| 2018 | Kyle Snyder | Ohio State | Wrestling |
| 2019 | Bo Nickal | Penn State | Wrestling |
| 2020 | Chase Young | Ohio State | Football |
| 2021 | Luka Garza | Iowa | Basketball |
| 2022 | Gable Steveson | Minnesota | Wrestling |
| 2023 | Zach Edey | Purdue | Basketball |
| 2024 | Zach Edey | Purdue | Basketball |
| 2025 | Carter Starocci | Penn State | Wrestling |
| Year | Athlete | School | Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Lisa Ishikawa & Cathy Branta | Northwestern & Wisconsin | Softball & Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 1985 | Stephanie Herbst | Wisconsin | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 1986 | Jennifer Averill | Northwestern | Field Hockey/Lacrosse |
| 1987 | Suzy Favor | Wisconsin | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 1988 | Suzy Favor | Wisconsin | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 1989 | Suzy Favor | Wisconsin | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 1990 | Suzy Favor | Wisconsin | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| 1991 | Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse & Joy Holmes | Michigan State & Purdue | Diving & Basketball |
| 1992 | MaChelle Joseph | Purdue | Basketball |
| 1993 | Lara Hooiveld | Michigan | Swimming |
| 1994 | Kristy Gleason | Iowa | Field Hockey |
| 1995 | Laura Davis | Ohio State | Volleyball |
| 1996 | Olga Kalinovskaya | Penn State | Fencing |
| 1997 | Kathy Butler & Gretchen Hegener | Wisconsin & Minnesota | Track & Field & Swimming |
| 1998 | Sara Griffin | Michigan | Softball |
| 1999 | Stephanie White-McCarty | Purdue | Basketball |
| 2000 | Lauren Cacciamani | Penn State | Volleyball |
| 2001 | Katie Douglas | Purdue | Basketball |
| 2002 | Christie Welsh | Penn State | Soccer |
| 2003 | Perdita Felicien | Illinois | Track & Field |
| 2004 | Kelly Mazzante | Penn State | Basketball |
| 2005 | Jennie Ritter | Michigan | Softball |
| 2006 | Tiffany Weimer | Penn State | Soccer |
| 2007 | Jessica Davenport | Ohio State | Basketball |
| 2008 | Hannah Nielsen | Northwestern | Lacrosse |
| 2009 | Maria Hernandez | Purdue | Golf |
| 2010 | Megan Hodge | Penn State | Volleyball |
| 2011 | Shannon Smith | Northwestern | Lacrosse |
| 2012 | Christina Manning | Ohio State | Track & Field |
| 2013 | Amanda Kessel | Minnesota | Ice Hockey |
| 2014 | Dani Bunch | Purdue | Track & Field |
| 2015 | Taylor Cummings | Maryland | Lacrosse |
| 2016 | Rachel Banham | Minnesota | Basketball |
| 2017 | Lilly King | Indiana | Swimming |
| 2018 | Lilly King | Indiana | Swimming |
| 2019 | Megan Gustafson | Iowa | Basketball |
| 2020 | Dana Rettke | Wisconsin | Volleyball |
| 2021 | Sarah Bacon | Minnesota | Diving |
| 2022 | Dana Rettke | Wisconsin | Volleyball |
| 2023 | Caitlin Clark | Iowa | Basketball |
| 2024 | Caitlin Clark | Iowa | Basketball |
| 2025 | JuJu Watkins | USC | Basketball |