Big Ten Conference Schools
The Big Ten Conference is the oldest Division I college level athletic conference in the United States. The conference began in 1896 with seven original member schools, six of which are still members. The conference has gone through several name changes throughout its extensive history but officially adopted the name Big Ten in 1987, at which time it had ten members. Big Ten sponsors eighteen sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, volleyball, and wrestling. Field hockey, rowing, softball and volleyball are women’s only and baseball, football, ice hockey, and wrestling are men’s only. Listed below are the schools in the Big Ten conference.
Northwestern University
Northwestern University joined the Big Ten in 1896 as a founding member. Northwestern has won nine NCAA championships and their most successful sport is women’s lacrosse.
The Ohio State University
Ohio State University has been a member of the Big Ten since 1912. Ohio State has won a total of 40 NCAA national championships with their most successful sport being men’s swimming.
Penn State - University Park
Pennsylvania State University joined the Big Ten Conference in 1990. Penn State has won a total of 52 NCAA national titles, including 31 since being a Big Ten member.
Purdue University
Purdue University joined the Big Ten as a founding member in 1896 and has won four NCAA championships including one national title each in football, men’s golf, women's golf, and women’s basketball.
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Rutgers University joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014 as one of the two newest members. In 2021 Rutgers won the field hockey Big Ten championship.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison joined the Big Ten conference as an original member in 1896. Since then, the school has won 30 NCAA championships including one in football. Their most successful sport is men’s boxing.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign is a Big Ten founding member, having joined in 1896. U of I has won 22 NCAA national championships including four in football.
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington joined the Big Ten in 1899, just three years after the conference was started and has been a member for the past 123 years. Indiana University has won 24 NCAA championships as a Big Ten school. Their most successful sport (by way of most NCAA titles won) is men’s soccer.
The University of Iowa
The University of Iowa joined the Big Ten in 1899 and has since won 24 NCAA championships. The most successful sport at The University of Iowa is men’s wrestling.
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park joined the Big Ten in 2014 as one of the conference’s two newest members. As a Big Ten school, University of Maryland has won four NCAA championships.
University of Michigan
University of Michigan joined the Big Ten in 1896 as a founding member. In 1907 the school left the conference, but eventually rejoined in 1917 and has been a member ever since. University of Michigan has won 49 NCAA championships as a member of the Big Ten, 13 in football.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University joined the conference in 1950. Michigan State has won 18 NCAA national titles since 1950, with their most successful sport being men’s cross country.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities joined the Big Ten Conference as a founding member in 1896. University of Minnesota has won 26 NCAA national championship titles since 1896 including seven in football.
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