History of Big Ten Conference in Timeline
The Big Ten Conference, established in 1896 as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, is the oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference in the US. Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, the conference has historically comprised ten universities, hence its name. However, on August 2, 2024, it will expand to include 18 member institutions and 2 affiliates. The Big Ten competes in NCAA Division I, with its football teams playing in the prestigious Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A.
1900: Nebraska's First Petition to Join the Big Ten
In 1900, Nebraska first expressed interest in joining the Big Ten Conference, then known as the Big Nine, but their petition was ultimately rejected.
1902: Minnesota Receives Retrospective National Titles
Minnesota was retroactively awarded national titles for 1902 and 1919 by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
1902: Michigan's First Rose Bowl Appearance
Michigan appeared in the first Rose Bowl game in 1902.
1902: Minnesota's Championship Recognition
Minnesota was recognized as the champion by both the Premo-Porretta Power Poll and the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1902.
1903: Minnesota's Championship Recognition
Minnesota was recognized as the champion by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll in 1903.
1904: Big Ten Basketball Begins
The Big Ten Conference began participating in basketball in 1904.
1905: Concerns and Deaths in College Football
By 1905, college football had experienced significant growth, but also grappled with issues of violence and player safety, resulting in over 325 deaths and 1,149 injuries between 1880 and 1905.
1905: Official Incorporation of the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives
The Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives was formally incorporated in 1905.
April 1907: Michigan Voted Out of the Big Ten
In April 1907, the Big Ten Conference voted to remove the University of Michigan from the conference due to their refusal to comply with league regulations regarding football game limits and player eligibility.
1908: Chicago Wins Post-Season National Championship
Former Big Ten member, the University of Chicago, won a post-season national championship series in 1908.
1911: Nebraska's Second Petition to Join the Big Ten
Nebraska submitted another petition to join the Big Ten Conference in 1911, but they were once again turned down.
1912: Wisconsin Receives Retrospective National Title
Wisconsin was retroactively awarded a national title for 1912 by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
1912: Ohio State Joins the Big Ten
Ohio State University joined the Big Ten Conference in 1912.
1914: Wisconsin Receives Retrospective National Title
Wisconsin was retroactively awarded a national title for 1914 by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
1915: Illinois Receives Retrospective National Title
Illinois was retroactively awarded a national title for 1915 by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
December 1916: Michigan Rejoins the Big Ten and First Known Reference to "Big Ten"
After a nine-year absence, the University of Michigan rejoined the Big Ten Conference in December 1916, marking the first documented instance of the conference being referred to as the "Big Ten."
1916: Wisconsin Receives Retrospective National Title
Wisconsin was retroactively awarded a national title for 1916 by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
1919: Minnesota's Championship Recognition
Minnesota was recognized as the champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1919.
1919: Minnesota Receives Retrospective National Title
Minnesota was retroactively awarded a national title for 1919 by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
1920: Ohio State's Rose Bowl Appearance
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team played in the 1920 Rose Bowl.
1922: Creation of the Commissioner of Athletics Office
In 1922, the Big Ten Conference established the office of the commissioner of athletics to address athletic concerns and uphold eligibility rules for member universities.
1926: Notre Dame Briefly Considers Joining the Big Ten
In 1926, the University of Notre Dame briefly entertained the idea of officially joining the Big Ten Conference but ultimately chose to maintain its status as an independent institution.
1931: Northwestern Receives Retrospective National Title
Northwestern was retroactively awarded a national title for 1931 by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
1932: Purdue Receives Retrospective National Title
Purdue was retroactively awarded a national title for 1932 by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
1939: First NCAA Basketball Tournament
The first NCAA basketball tournament took place in 1939, marking the beginning of the prestigious college basketball championship.
1939: University of Chicago Abolishes Football Program
In 1939, under the leadership of President Robert Maynard Hutchins, the University of Chicago decided to abolish its football program, expressing concerns about the excesses and issues associated with high-level college football at the time.
1939: Ohio State Plays in First NCAA Tournament Championship Game
Ohio State played in the inaugural NCAA tournament national championship game in 1939.
1940: Marv Huffman Wins NCAA Tournament MVP
Marv Huffman of Indiana University won the NCAA tournament MVP award in 1940.
1941: John Katz Wins NCAA Tournament MVP
John Katz of the University of Wisconsin won the NCAA tournament MVP in 1941.
1943: Helms Athletic Foundation Retrospectively Awards National Titles
In 1943, the Helms Athletic Foundation retroactively awarded national titles to Northwestern (1931) and Purdue (1932).
1946: University of Chicago Leaves the Big Ten
After facing difficulties securing victories in conference games, the University of Chicago withdrew from the Big Ten Conference in 1946.
1946: Big Ten Champion Tie-in with Rose Bowl Begins
Starting in 1946, the Big Ten champion earned a tie-in with the Rose Bowl game.
1946: University of Chicago Leaves Big Ten Conference
The University of Chicago left the Big Ten Conference in 1946.
1947: Big Ten and Pacific Coast Conference Agreement
In 1947, the Big Ten and Pacific Coast Conference agreed to have their champions play in the Rose Bowl.
1948: Start of Minnesota-North Dakota Hockey Rivalry
The enduring hockey rivalry between the University of Minnesota and the University of North Dakota began in 1948.
May 20, 1949: Michigan State Joins the Big Ten
On May 20, 1949, Michigan State University officially joined the Big Ten Conference, solidifying the conference's membership at ten teams.
1957: Helms Athletic Foundation Awards More Retrospective National Titles
In 1957, the Helms Athletic Foundation recognized Illinois (1915), Minnesota (1902 & 1919), and Wisconsin (1912, 1914 & 1916) with retrospective national titles.
1958: University of Chicago Joins CIC
The University of Chicago became a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) in 1958.
1961: Marquette Discontinues Football Program
Marquette University discontinued its football program in 1961, ending the annual football game between Wisconsin and Marquette.
1961: Minnesota's Consecutive Rose Bowl Appearances
Minnesota played in consecutive Rose Bowls in 1961 and 1962 due to Ohio State declining the 1962 invitation.
1962: Minnesota's Second Consecutive Rose Bowl Appearance
Minnesota played in the 1962 Rose Bowl after also appearing in the 1961 Rose Bowl.
1971: Big Ten Relaxes Rose Bowl Representation Rule
Until 1971, the Big Ten did not allow the same team to play in consecutive Rose Bowls, with an exception made for Minnesota in 1962.
1974: Big Ten Teams' Success in the NIT Championship Game
Since 1974, 13 Big Ten teams have played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship game, winning nine championships.
1975: Big Ten Allows Participation in Other Bowl Games
Starting in the 1975 season, the Big Ten allowed its teams to participate in bowl games other than the Rose Bowl, with Michigan being the first beneficiary.
1978: Big Ten Leads Nation in Basketball Attendance
Since 1978, the Big Ten Conference has led the nation in basketball attendance every season.
1980: "Braggin' Rights" Game Moves to St. Louis Arena
In 1980, the annual "Braggin' Rights" basketball game between Illinois and Missouri was moved to the St. Louis Arena.
1982: Rutgers Women's Basketball Championship and Start of NCAA Tournament
Rutgers women's basketball team won the final AIAW championship in 1982 before the NCAA tournament began.
1982: Michigan Marching Band Wins First Sudler Trophy
The University of Michigan marching band won the first Sudler Trophy in 1982.
1983: Illinois Marching Band Wins Sudler Trophy
The University of Illinois marching band won the Sudler Trophy in 1983.
1984: Ohio State Marching Band Wins Sudler Trophy
The Ohio State University marching band won the Sudler Trophy in 1984.
1987: Big Ten Conference Formally Adopts Name and Incorporates
In 1987, the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives officially adopted the name "Big Ten Conference" and established itself as a not-for-profit corporation.
1987: Penn State Wins Women's Lacrosse Championship
Penn State University's women's lacrosse team won the national championship in 1987.
1989: Penn State Wins Women's Lacrosse Championship
Penn State University's women's lacrosse team won the national championship in 1989.
1990: Penn State Joins the Big Ten
Pennsylvania State University, previously a football independent and a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, accepted an invitation to join the Big Ten Conference in 1990, expanding the conference to 11 teams while retaining the "Big Ten" name.
1993: Big Ten Explores Expansion and Creation of Football Divisions
Around 1993, the Big Ten Conference explored the possibility of expanding to 14 teams by adding Kansas, Missouri, and Rutgers, or other potential schools, with the intention of creating two football divisions, but the discussions eventually dissolved.
1993: Implementation of Permanent Football Matchups
From 1993 to 2010, the Big Ten Conference implemented a football scheduling system where each team had two permanent opponents within the conference, with the remaining eight teams rotating every two years.
1993: Big Ten Women's Basketball Attendance
The Big Ten Conference took the lead in women's basketball attendance from 1993.
1994: "Braggin' Rights" Game Finds New Home at Enterprise Center
The "Braggin' Rights" rivalry game between Illinois and Missouri moved to the Enterprise Center in 1994.
1995: Start of Maryland Women's Lacrosse Winning Streak
The University of Maryland women's lacrosse team began a winning streak in 1995.
1997: Minnesota Vacates Big Ten Conference Title
Minnesota vacated its 1997 Big Ten Conference regular-season title due to NCAA sanctions.
1998: Michigan Vacates Big Ten Tournament Title
Michigan vacated its 1998 Big Ten tournament title due to NCAA sanctions.
1998: Women's National Invitation Tournament
The Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) was established in 1998, offering a postseason opportunity for women's college basketball teams.
1999: ACC-Big Ten Challenge Begins
The ACC-Big Ten Challenge, a basketball event between the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big Ten Conference, started in 1999.
1999: Big Ten Engages in Membership Negotiations with Notre Dame
The Big Ten Conference entered into private discussions with the University of Notre Dame in 1999 regarding potential membership, but Notre Dame's board of trustees ultimately decided against joining, despite support from the faculty senate.
1999: End of Big Ten Dominance in Women's Basketball Attendance
The Big Ten Conference's lead in women's basketball attendance ended in 1999.
2000: Ohio State Vacates Big Ten Title
Ohio State vacated its 2000 Big Ten regular-season title due to NCAA sanctions.
2000: Penn State's Rivalry with Pittsburgh on Hiatus
Penn State's long-standing rivalry with Pittsburgh was put on hold in 2000, marking the beginning of a break in the series.
2001: End of Maryland Women's Lacrosse Winning Streak
The University of Maryland women's lacrosse team's winning streak ended in 2001.
2002: Ohio State Vacates Big Ten Titles
Ohio State vacated its 2002 Big Ten tournament and regular-season titles due to NCAA sanctions.
2002: Start of "The Arch Rivalry" Football Series
The "Arch Rivalry" football series, a continuation of the Illinois-Missouri rivalry, began in 2002 with games played at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
2003: Continuation of "The Arch Rivalry" Football Series
The "Arch Rivalry" football series between Illinois and Missouri continued in 2003 with a game at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
2004: Exploration of a Big Ten-Specific Channel
Following an unsuccessful attempt to secure a higher rights fee from ESPN, Commissioner Jim Delany initiated discussions in 2004 regarding the creation of a dedicated Big Ten television channel.
2005: Start of Northwestern Women's Lacrosse Winning Streak
Northwestern University's women's lacrosse team started a winning streak in 2005.
2005: Vacated Win Against Notre Dame
In 2005, the University of Southern California had a win against Notre Dame vacated, impacting the historical records and rivalries within college football.
2006: Maryland Women's Basketball Championship
The University of Maryland women's basketball team won the NCAA national championship in 2006 while they were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
2006: Announcement of Big Ten Network
The Big Ten Conference announced a 20-year partnership with Fox Sports in 2006 to launch the Big Ten Network, a dedicated cable network for broadcasting Big Ten athletics.
2007: Resumption of "The Arch Rivalry" Football Series
After a brief hiatus, the "Arch Rivalry" football series between Illinois and Missouri resumed in 2007.
2007: New Media Rights Agreement
Coinciding with the launch of the Big Ten Network, a new ten-year media rights agreement commencing in the 2007–08 season divided Big Ten coverage among ESPN networks, CBS Sports, and the Big Ten Network, ending Comcast Chicago's regional broadcasting.
2007: Launch of Big Ten Network
The Big Ten Network, a dedicated cable network showcasing Big Ten athletics, officially launched in 2007, marking a significant milestone for the conference's media presence.
2007: Big Ten–ACC Women's Challenge
The Big Ten–ACC Women's Challenge, a series of interconference basketball games, was established in 2007.
December 2009: Big Ten Conference Expansion
In December 2009, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany announced the league's intention to expand, marking the beginning of a nationwide trend in NCAA conference realignment.
2009: End of Northwestern Women's Lacrosse Winning Streak
Northwestern University's women's lacrosse team's winning streak ended in 2009.
June 11, 2010: Nebraska Joins the Big Ten
On June 11, 2010, the University of Nebraska's application to join the Big Ten Conference was unanimously approved, making it the 12th member.
September 1, 2010: Football Divisional Split Revealed
Jim Delany, Big Ten commissioner, revealed the conference's football divisional split on September 1, 2010.
December 13, 2010: New Logo and Division Names Unveiled
On December 13, 2010, the Big Ten Conference revealed the names of its new football divisions and introduced a new logo featuring the "B1G" character combination.
2010: Discontinuation of Permanent Football Matchups
The Big Ten Conference discontinued its system of permanent football matchups after the 2010 season, transitioning to a divisional format.
2010: AAU Membership Emphasized
Jim Delany, former Big Ten commissioner, highlighted the importance of membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) in 2010.
2010: Conclusion of "The Arch Rivalry" Football Series
The "Arch Rivalry" football series between Illinois and Missouri concluded in 2010.
2010: Creation of Big Ten Football Championship Game
In 2010, the Big Ten Conference announced the establishment of the Big Ten Football Championship game, starting in the 2011 season, reflecting the growing prominence of Big Ten football.
2010: Ohio State Vacates Wins and Title Due to NCAA Sanctions
In 2010, Ohio State vacated 12 wins and their Big Ten title due to NCAA sanctions.
2010: Introduction of Divisional Format
Following the 2010 season, the Big Ten Conference adopted a divisional format, replacing the previous system of permanent matchups and fundamentally altering the competitive landscape.
July 1, 2011: Nebraska's Membership Effective Date
Nebraska officially became a member of the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2011.
2011: Iowa Corngrowers Association Takes Over Cy-Hawk Series Sponsorship
Beginning in 2011, the Iowa Corngrowers Association became the sponsor for the annual Cy-Hawk Series, a competition between Iowa and Iowa State across various sports.
2011: End of Regular Season Games in Indiana-Kentucky Basketball Rivalry
Due to a disagreement over game locations, the long-standing basketball rivalry between Indiana and Kentucky ceased regular season games after 2011.
2011: Nebraska Joins the Big Ten Conference
Nebraska joined the Big Ten Conference in 2011.
2011: Legends and Leaders Divisional Alignment Implemented
The Big Ten Conference implemented the Legends and Leaders divisional alignment for football in 2011. Each team played the others in its division, one "cross-over" rivalry game, and two rotating cross-divisional games.
2011: First Big Ten Football Championship Game
The inaugural Big Ten Football Championship game took place in 2011, marking a new era in the conference's football competition.
November 19, 2012: Maryland and Rutgers Join the Big Ten
On November 19, 2012, the University of Maryland and Rutgers University accepted invitations to join the Big Ten Conference, expanding its membership to 14 schools.
2012: Legends and Leaders Divisional Alignment Continued
The Legends and Leaders divisional alignment remained in effect for the 2012 football season.
2012: Penn State Men's Ice Hockey
Penn State's men's ice hockey team played its first NCAA Division I season in 2012-2013 as an independent team.
April 28, 2013: Approval of New Football Divisional Realignment
On April 28, 2013, Big Ten presidents and chancellors unanimously approved a new football divisional realignment, replacing the Legends and Leaders divisions with geographically-based East and West divisions.
June 3, 2013: Big Ten Adds Men's and Women's Lacrosse
On June 3, 2013, the Big Ten Conference decided to sponsor men's and women's lacrosse.
2013: Legends and Leaders Divisional Alignment Concluded
The 2013 football season marked the final year of the Legends and Leaders divisional alignment in the Big Ten Conference.
2013: Big Ten Sponsors Men's Ice Hockey
The Big Ten Conference began sponsoring men's ice hockey in the 2013-2014 season, making it the sole Power Five conference to do so.
2013: Big Ten Headquarters Moved to Rosemont
The Big Ten Conference relocated its headquarters from Park Ridge, Illinois to nearby Rosemont in 2013.
2013: Big Ten Hockey Awards Established
The Big Ten established awards for men's hockey, coinciding with its inaugural season (2013–14).
2013: Temporary Halt to Minnesota-North Dakota Hockey Rivalry
The annual hockey series between the University of Minnesota and the University of North Dakota was put on hold in 2013 due to the inception of the Big Ten Conference.
2013: End of 2013-2014 Big Ten Men's Soccer Season
The 2013-2014 Big Ten men's soccer season has finished.
July 1, 2014: Maryland and Rutgers' Membership Effective Date
Both Maryland and Rutgers officially became members of the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2014.
2014: Implementation of East and West Divisions
The East and West divisions for football in the Big Ten Conference were implemented in 2014, coinciding with the arrival of Maryland and Rutgers.
2014: Maryland and Rutgers Join Big Ten, Division Renaming
With the addition of Maryland and Rutgers to the Big Ten in 2014, the conference divisions were renamed "East" and "West."
2014: Maryland Joins Big Ten Conference with NCAA Championship History
When Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014, they brought with them an NCAA championship title earned as a member of the ACC.
2014: Completion of NCAA Realignment
The nationwide NCAA conference realignment that began in 2010 concluded in 2014.
2014: Michigan Men's Gymnastics Championship
The University of Michigan men's gymnastics team won the NCAA championship in 2014, narrowly defeating Oklahoma.
2014: Johns Hopkins Joins Big Ten Men's Lacrosse
Johns Hopkins became an affiliate member of the Big Ten Conference for men's lacrosse in 2014.
2014: Realignment into East and West Divisions
The Big Ten Conference underwent a realignment in 2014, establishing East and West divisions to accommodate the additions of Maryland and Rutgers, with the two new members joining the East Division alongside Penn State.
2014: Big Ten Expansion Beyond Midwest
Since 2014, the Big Ten Conference began expanding its geographic reach beyond the Midwest, marking a departure from its traditional footprint.
2014: Maryland and Rutgers Join Big Ten
Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014, bringing their basketball history and national titles to the conference.
2014: Maryland and Rutgers Join the Big Ten Conference
In 2014, Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten Conference.
2014: Johns Hopkins Joins as Affiliate Member in Men's Lacrosse
In 2014, Johns Hopkins University joined the Big Ten Conference as an affiliate member in men's lacrosse, continuing its participation in other sports within the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference.
2014: Johns Hopkins Joins as Affiliate Member
Johns Hopkins University, after being independent for 130 years, joined the Big Ten Conference as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse in 2014.
2015: Big Ten Begins Sponsoring Men's Lacrosse
The Big Ten Conference started sponsoring men's lacrosse in 2015.
2015: Gavitt Tipoff Games Begins
The Gavitt Tipoff Games, a basketball event between the Big Ten and the Big East Conference, was established in 2015.
2015: Big Ten Begins Sponsoring Women's Lacrosse
The Big Ten Conference began officially sponsoring women's lacrosse in 2015.
2015: Big Ten Grants Exceptions to Power Five Rule, Adds Army to List
ESPN reported in 2015 that the Big Ten would consider exceptions to its Power Five scheduling requirement and added Army to the list of schools that would fulfill that requirement.
March 23, 2016: Notre Dame Joins as Hockey Affiliate
On March 23, 2016, Notre Dame announced its decision to join the Big Ten Conference as a men's ice hockey affiliate.
June 29, 2016: University of Chicago's Departure from the CIC
The University of Chicago ended its membership in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) on June 29, 2016, after being a part of it since 1958.
July 1, 2016: Johns Hopkins Joins Big Ten Women's Lacrosse
Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse program officially joined the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2016.
2016: Indiana and Kentucky Meet in NCAA Tournament
Indiana and Kentucky played each other in the 2016 NCAA tournament, marking their first meeting since the end of their regular season series in 2011. Indiana won the game.
2016: Implementation of Nine-Game Conference Schedule and Restrictions on FCS Opponents
The Big Ten Conference implemented a nine-game conference schedule in 2016 and prohibited members from scheduling games against FCS teams, requiring at least one non-conference game against a Power Five opponent.
2016: New Six-Year Media Rights Deal
The Big Ten Conference unveiled a new six-year media rights deal in 2016, valued at $2.64 billion, with Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and ESPN, effective from the 2017–18 season, significantly increasing per-school media revenue.
2016: Big Ten Implements Nine-Game Conference Schedule and New Rules
The Big Ten adopted a nine-game conference schedule in 2016, including cross-division matchups and restrictions on playing FCS teams.
2016: Resumption of Minnesota-North Dakota Hockey Rivalry
The hockey rivalry between the University of Minnesota and the University of North Dakota resumed in 2016 in non-conference play.
2016: End of Media Rights Agreement
The ten-year media rights agreement that divided Big Ten coverage among ESPN networks, CBS Sports, and the Big Ten Network concluded in the 2016-2017 season.
2016: Renewal of the Penn State-Pittsburgh Rivalry
In 2016, Penn State and Pittsburgh renewed their rivalry with an alternating home-and-home series, ending a hiatus that began in 2000.
2016: End of Fox Broadcast Deal for Big Ten Championship
Fox's broadcast deal for the Big Ten Football Championship game concluded in 2016 after airing the championship game since its inception in 2011.
2016: Johns Hopkins Adds Women's Lacrosse to Big Ten Affiliation
Following the inclusion of men's lacrosse in 2014, Johns Hopkins University expanded its Big Ten affiliate membership in 2016 to include women's lacrosse, further solidifying its presence in the conference.
2017: Commencement of New Media Rights Deal
The six-year media rights deal between the Big Ten Conference, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and ESPN began in the 2017-2018 season, ushering in a new era of media coverage for the conference.
2017: Notre Dame's Hockey Affiliation Begins
Notre Dame's affiliation with the Big Ten Conference for men's ice hockey began in the 2017-2018 season.
2017: Notre Dame Joins Big Ten as Affiliate Member in Men's Ice Hockey
Notre Dame became an affiliate member of the Big Ten Conference in men's ice hockey in the 2017–18 school year, maintaining its independent status in football and its affiliation with the ACC in other sports.
2017: Notre Dame Joins Big Ten Hockey
Notre Dame started its affiliation with the Big Ten hockey league in the 2017-2018 season.
2017: Big Ten Adjusts FCS Opponent Rule
In 2017, the Big Ten modified its rule regarding playing FCS opponents, allowing teams to schedule one FCS opponent under specific conditions.
2017: Nebraska Gains Full Media Revenue Share
After six years in the Big Ten, Nebraska started receiving a full share of media revenue in 2017.
2018: End of 2018-2019 Big Ten Hockey Season
The 2018-2019 Big Ten hockey season concluded at the end of 2019.
2019: Maryland Wins Women's Lacrosse Championship
The University of Maryland women's lacrosse team won the national championship in 2019.
2019: Conclusion of Penn State-Pittsburgh Series
The renewed home-and-home series between Penn State and Pittsburgh concluded in 2019.
2020: Arizona State's Scheduling Agreement with Big Ten Hockey
Arizona State had a scheduling agreement with the Big Ten Conference for the 2020-2021 season, playing each of the seven Big Ten teams four times.
2020: New Bowl Game Selections for the Big Ten
From the 2020-2021 season onwards, the Big Ten adopted a new slate of bowl game selections, including several new bowl games.
2021: Big Ten's Only Loss in Gavitt Tipoff Games
The Big Ten Conference experienced its sole loss in the Gavitt Tipoff Games in 2021.
2021: End of First Cycle of Cross-Division Pairings
The first cycle of cross-division pairings in the Big Ten, implemented in 2016, concluded in 2021.
2021: Institutional Reporting to the U.S. Department of Education
For the 2021–22 academic year, Big Ten institutions submitted their reports on Equity in Athletics to the United States Department of Education.
2021: End of 2021 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Season
The 2021 Big Ten women's lacrosse season has concluded.
2021: Revenue Reporting by the Knight Commission
In the 2021–22 academic year, the Knight Commission released a report detailing revenue generated by Big Ten institutions from NCAA and conference distributions, media rights, and post-season football.
March 1, 2022: List Update Cutoff
The provided list of NCAA Division I men's college basketball win percentages was updated on March 1, 2022.
June 30, 2022: UCLA and USC Join Big Ten
On June 30, 2022, UCLA and USC announced their decision to join the Big Ten Conference, effective August 2, 2024.
August 2022: Big Ten Secures Media Rights Deals
In August 2022, the Big Ten Conference finalized media rights agreements with CBS, Fox, and NBC for an estimated $7 billion.
August 18, 2022: New Broadcast Rights Deals with Fox, CBS, and NBC
On August 18, 2022, the Big Ten Conference announced seven-year broadcast rights agreements with Fox, CBS, and, for the first time, NBC Sports, commencing in the 2023–24 academic year, concluding a long-standing partnership with ESPN that began in the 1980s.
2022: New Cycle of Cross-Division Pairings Begins
A new cycle of cross-division pairings in the Big Ten Conference commenced in 2022.
2022: Big Ten Rivalries Update
As of the end of the 2022 season, the Big Ten Conference maintained its tradition of fierce rivalries, particularly in football, with each school, excluding Maryland and Rutgers, competing for traveling trophies.
2022: Conclusion of Six-Year Media Rights Deal
The $2.64 billion six-year media rights deal among the Big Ten Conference, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and ESPN came to a close at the end of the 2022-2023 season.
2022: End of 2022 Big Ten Men's Lacrosse Season
The 2022 Big Ten men's lacrosse season has ended.
2022: End of 2022–23 Big Ten Hockey Season
The 2022-2023 Big Ten hockey season has concluded.
2022: ACC-Big Ten Challenge Ends
The ACC-Big Ten Challenge concluded in 2022.
2022: End of the Big Ten–ACC Women's Challenge
The Big Ten–ACC Women's Challenge ended in 2022.
June 2023: Elimination of East and West Divisions Announced
The Big Ten Conference announced in June 2023 that the East and West divisions for football would be eliminated starting in 2024.
August 4, 2023: Oregon and Washington Join Big Ten
Oregon and Washington announced their decision to join the Big Ten Conference on August 4, 2023, following UCLA and USC.
2023: Continuation of Current Cross-Division Pairings
The current cycle of cross-division pairings in the Big Ten Conference is set to continue in 2023.
2023: Gavitt Tipoff Games Concludes
The Gavitt Tipoff Games ended in 2023.
2023: Start of New Era in Big Ten Sports Broadcasting
The Big Ten Conference embarks on a new chapter in its broadcasting history in 2023–24 with Fox, CBS, and NBC holding primary broadcast rights, signaling a shift in the media landscape for college athletics.
2023: BYU Joins the Big 12 Conference
BYU transitioned from independent status to join the Big 12 Conference in 2023, impacting the Big Ten's scheduling dynamics and non-conference opponent selection.
2023: National University Rank by U.S. News & World Report
As of 2023, the U.S. News & World Report published their rankings for national universities.
January 9, 2024: List Update Cutoff
The provided list of information was current as of January 9, 2024.
March 31, 2024: NCAA Gymnastics Records Updated
As of March 31, 2024, the NCAA has updated its records for gymnastics.
August 2, 2024: Big Ten Expansion
On August 2, 2024, the Big Ten Conference is set to expand to 18 member institutions and 2 affiliate institutions.
2024: New Members Join Big Ten Conference
Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington will join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
2024: Changes to Big Ten Women's Lacrosse
There will be changes to the Big Ten women's lacrosse league by the 2024 season, with some schools joining and others leaving.
2024: Future Big Ten Expansion Impacts Historical Data
The upcoming addition of Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA to the Big Ten Conference in 2024 will impact the historical data of division and conference championships.
2024: Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament
The Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) was established in 2024 as a postseason tournament for women's college basketball teams.
2024: Changes to Big Ten Men's Soccer
The Big Ten men's soccer league is set to undergo changes in the 2024 season with the addition of new teams.
2024: New Members Join Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference will welcome new member institutions in 2024.
2024: New Members in Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference will introduce new member institutions in 2024.
2024: Big Ten Conference Expansion
The Big Ten Conference is set to expand in 2024 with the addition of new member institutions.
2024: Elimination of Divisions and Protected Matchups
Starting in 2024, the Big Ten Conference will eliminate divisions while preserving 12 protected matchups, introducing a new era of scheduling and competition.
2024: Salary Information for Some Head Coaches Not Publicly Available
In 2024, Northwestern, USC, and Penn State are not obligated to publicly disclose the salaries of their head coaches.
2024: New Members Join Big Ten Conference
Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington will join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
2024: Big Ten Conference Expansion
New members are joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
2024: New Members Join Big Ten Conference
New member institutions will be joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
2024: New Members Join the Big Ten Conference
New member institutions are slated to join the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
2024: Transparency in Coach Salaries
In 2024, there is discussion about the transparency of coach salaries at certain Big Ten institutions. Some institutions are not obligated to disclose this information.
2024: Joining of University of Southern California
In 2024, the University of Southern California, a private university, will join the Big Ten Conference, marking a significant change as the conference has historically been composed mostly of public universities.
2024: Big Ten Expansion to West Coast
In 2024, the Big Ten Conference will further expand its geographic reach with the addition of four former Pac-12 Conference schools, establishing a presence on the West Coast.
2024: Big Ten Conference Expansion and Football Division Elimination
In 2024, the Big Ten Conference will expand to 18 teams, eliminating football divisions, and implementing a new scheduling model.
2024: Big Ten Conference Leads in Large On-Campus Basketball Arenas
As of the 2024-2025 season, the Big Ten Conference boasts the highest number of on-campus basketball arenas with seating capacities of 15,000 or more among all NCAA conferences.
2024: Capacity Comparison of Football Stadiums
As of the 2024 season, three Big Ten football stadiums (Michigan Stadium, Beaver Stadium, and Ohio Stadium) have a capacity exceeding 100,000, placing them among the largest American football stadiums.
2024: Arizona State Joins National Collegiate Hockey Conference
Arizona State joined the National Collegiate Hockey Conference starting in the 2024-2025 season.
2024: New Football Scheduling Format Implemented
A new football scheduling format will be implemented in the Big Ten Conference in 2024, with each team playing nine conference games and three non-conference games.
2025: Continuation of Flex Protect Plus Model
The Big Ten Conference will continue to use the "Flex Protect Plus" scheduling model in 2025.
2028: Planned End of Flex Protect XVIII Model
The Big Ten Conference plans to operate under the "Flex Protect XVIII" scheduling model until 2028.
2029: Oregon and Washington Receive Full Revenue Share
Oregon and Washington will receive a full media revenue share from the Big Ten Conference starting with the next media deal after the 2029-2030 season.