College Sports
What Schools are in the Big Ten? Complete Conference Guide
The Big Ten Conference isn’t just about sports—it’s a mix of history, academics, and tradition that dates back to 1896. People recognize Big Ten schools for their academic excellence, competitive sports teams, and passionate communities. So, who’s in the conference in 2025? With all the changes in college athletics, it’s easy to lose track. […]
The Big Ten Conference isn’t just about sports—it’s a mix of history, academics, and tradition that dates back to 1896. People recognize Big Ten schools for their academic excellence, competitive sports teams, and passionate communities.
So, who’s in the conference in 2025? With all the changes in college athletics, it’s easy to lose track. Here’s your up-to-date guide to all 18 schools and what makes each one unique.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global leader in research, especially in engineering and computer science. In 2024, the Illini won the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament and reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
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Famous Athletes: Red Grange (NFL pioneer), Dick Butkus (NFL Hall of Famer), Deron Williams (NBA All-Star).
Indiana’s world-famous Jacobs School of Music and men’s basketball program are just a couple reasons it stands out. In 2024, the Hoosiers football team had a historic 10-0 start under new head coach Curt Cignetti.
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Unique Major: Game Design & Development, combining art, storytelling, and tech.
The University of Iowa is known for its strong healthcare and creative writing programs. On the court, Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking basketball career left a lasting legacy, with her jersey retired in 2025.
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Famous Athletes: Caitlin Clark (NCAA all-time scoring leader, 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year), Nile Kinnick (Heisman Trophy winner, stadium namesake).
Maryland is known for its journalism, engineering, and business programs. The student-athletes also excel in their academics, setting a record-high Academic Progress Rate in 2023–24.
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Notable Alumni: Kevin Plank (Under Armour founder), Sergey Brin (Google co-founder), Carly Fiorina (first female Fortune 20 CEO).
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Biggest Rival: In general, it’s Penn State. In lacrosse, Maryland battles with Johns Hopkins each year for a crab-shaped rivalry trophy.
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Fun Fact: Students believe that rubbing the Testudo mascot statue brings good luck. On the flip side, the “Point of Failure” spot on campus is where they avoid stepping if they want to graduate on time.
The University of Michigan is strong in both academics and sports, and it is often ranked one of the best public universities in the country. In 2024, Michigan took home the College Football Playoff Championship.
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Academic Spotlight: Business, engineering, and nursing programs consistently rank in the top 15 nationally.
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Unique Major: Interdisciplinary Program in the Environment, combining science, policy, and sustainability.
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Notable Alumni: Larry Page (Google co-founder), Madonna (iconic performer), James Earl Jones (actor, the voice of Darth Vader).
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Famous Athletes: Tom Brady (7-time Super Bowl champ), Desmond Howard (Heisman Trophy winner), Carol Hutchins (winningest NCAA softball coach).
Michigan State University is known for its strong programs in education and veterinary medicine. It also shines in sports, with the men’s hockey team winning back-to-back Big Ten titles in 2024 and 2025.
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Unique Major: Sustainable Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, focused on managing outdoor spaces.
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Notable Alumni: James Caan (The Godfather actor), Sam Raimi (director of Spider-Man), Gretchen Whitmer (Governor of Michigan).
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Famous Athletes: Magic Johnson (NBA legend), Draymond Green (NBA), Savatheda Fynes (Olympic gold medalist).
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Iconic Eatery: Conrad’s Grill, known for late-night “Spartan Wraps” stuffed with tots, cheese, chicken, and all kinds of comfort food combinations.
Located in the Twin Cities, the University of Minnesota excels in health sciences and business. The Golden Gophers are consistently top performers in hockey and wrestling.
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Coolest Major: Biomedical Engineering with a Biomedical Imaging Emphasis, combining anatomy, 3D modeling, and communication.
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Notable Alumni: Hubert Humphrey (former U.S. Vice President), Jessica Lange (actress who won two Oscars, three Emmys, and a Tony).
As Nebraska’s flagship land-grant university, the home of the Big Red stands out for its strengths in agricultural sciences and education. On the field, the baseball team won the 2025 Big Ten Tournament as the No. 8 seed to defend their 2024 title.
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Unique Program: Nebraska Translator and Interpreter Corps, which seeks to eliminate language barriers and create strong, dynamic connections between the different communities in Nebraska.
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Notable Alumni: Warren Buffett (CEO of Berkshire Hathaway), Johnny Carson (The Tonight Show legend), Willa Cather (Pulitzer Prize-winning author).
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Star Athletes: Jordan Burroughs (Olympic gold medalist in wrestling), Jordan Larson (Olympic gold medalist, volleyball).
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Iconic Eatery: Yia Yia’s Pizza, a downtown Lincoln staple with unique pizza flavors, loaded baked potatoes, and loaded cheese bread.
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Hidden Gem: The Speech & Debate Team, the oldest student group on campus, took home national titles in 2022 and 2023.
Located just north of Chicago, Northwestern combines elite academics with Big Ten athletics. Boasting a 98% graduation success rate—the highest in FBS programs—the Wildcats are also getting a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium in 2026.
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Notable Alumni: Stephen Colbert (comedian and TV host), George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones author), Kathryn Hahn (comedian, actress).
Ohio State blends top-tier academics with powerhouse athletics. The Buckeyes claimed their ninth football championship in January 2025 alongside 12 national titles during the 2023–24 season.
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Notable Alumni: R.L. Stine (Goosebumps author), George Steinbrenner (legendary Yankees owner), Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond).
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Famous Athletes: Eddie George (Heisman winner), Jack Nicklaus (golf legend), Katie Smith (WNBA Hall of Famer).
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Iconic Eatery: Buckeye Donuts, a 24/7 spot with fresh donuts, all-day breakfast, and gyros.
A leader in environmental science, education, and law, the University of Oregon officially joined the Big Ten in 2024. The Ducks hit the ground running, winning eight conference titles in their first year—more than any other Big Ten school.
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Coolest Major: Sports Product Design, blending engineering, creativity, and sustainability in the sports industry.
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Famous Athletes: Sabrina Ionescu (Olympic gold medalist, WNBA star), Ashton Eaton (Olympic decathlon champion).
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Iconic Eatery: Duck’s House, a popular game day spot with a UO-themed menu, including the “Oregon Waffle.”
Located in University Park, Penn State excels in engineering and business. With one of the largest alumni networks worldwide, the Nittany Lions are also a force athletically, especially in football and wrestling.
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Academic Spotlight: Smeal College of Business, renowned for its supply chain, operations, and management programs.
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Unique Major: Turfgrass Science—training experts who manage fields for stadiums, golf courses, and more.
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Notable Alumni: Keegan-Michael Key (comedian), Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek), Lara Spencer (Good Morning America).
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Star Athletes: Saquon Barkley (NFL star), David Taylor (Olympic wrestling champ), Ali Krieger (FIFA World Cup winner).
Purdue is a leader in engineering, aerospace, and agriculture with an impressive reputation in both academics and athletics. Its engineering programs and men’s basketball team consistently grab national attention.
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Academic Highlight: College of Engineering, especially strong in aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineering.
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Notable Alumni: Neil Armstrong (first person on the moon), Gus Grissom (NASA astronaut), Janice Voss (astronaut).
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Star Athletes: Drew Brees (NFL MVP), Glenn Robinson (NBA star), Stephanie White (WNBA star and coach).
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Iconic Eatery: Triple XXX Family Restaurant, Indiana’s oldest drive-in diner, known for root beer and burgers.
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Fun Fact: Purdue’s official mascot, the Boilermaker Special, is an actual train that drives around campus and is a regular at games.
One of the oldest colleges in the U.S., Rutgers is the main research university in New Jersey. The university is well-known for its strong programs in health, environmental, social, and behavioral sciences.
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Unique Major: Packaging Engineering, a rare program blending engineering, materials science, and design for sustainability.
The University of California Los Angeles is a top public research university with standout programs in life sciences, education, and fine arts. A bright spot in both academics and athletics, the Bruins captured their first Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship in 2025.
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Strongest Major: Design Media Arts, which combines design, art, and technology for creativity in the digital age.
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Famous Alumni: John Williams (composer, Star Wars), Ben Stiller (comedian/actor), Marilyn Monroe (iconic actress, singer, model).
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Famous Athletes: Jackie Robinson (baseball icon), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (NBA legend), Dot Richardson (Olympic gold medalist, collegiate softball coach).
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Iconic Eatery: Lamonica’s NY Pizza, the late-night, Westwood institution known for its Brooklyn-made pies.
The University of Southern California is a private research powerhouse, well-known for its cinematic arts, engineering, and business programs. The Trojans secured the Big Ten Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship in 2025.
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Unique Major: Narrative Studies, preparing students for storytelling in novels, films, theatre, and more.
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Famous Alumni: George Lucas (Star Wars creator), Will Ferrell (actor, comedian), Shonda Rhimes (producer and screenwriter).
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Famous Athletes: Allyson Felix (most decorated track athlete in history), Reggie Bush (Heisman winner, NFL star).
The University of Washington is a leading public research school and excels in areas like computer science, nursing, and engineering. In their debut Big Ten season, UW made a big impression, grabbing multiple NCAA individual national titles.
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Unique Major: Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, which (pun intended) dives into aquatic organisms, freshwater and marine environments, and aquatic sustainability.
As Wisconsin’s flagship university, UW–Madison is a leader in computer science, economics, and food science. Its student section is known for the “Jump Around” tradition, when everyone jumps to the song at the end of the third quarter.
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Unique Program: The Fermented Foods & Beverages certificate, which teaches students how to create products like beer, cheese, kimchi, and kombucha.
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Famous Alumni: Dick Cheney (former U.S. Vice President), Charles Lindbergh (aviation pioneer), Lorraine Hansberry (first African American author to have a play on Broadway).
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Notable Graduated Athletes: Russell Wilson (NFL quarterback), J.J. Watt (NFL defensive superstar), Rose Lavelle (FIFA World Cup Champion, Olympic medalist).
The Big Ten is a powerhouse of academics, athletics, and tradition. With legendary rivalries, incredible schools, and vibrant campus cultures, it’s where competition meets community. Whether it’s a packed stadium on game day or a classroom full of bright ideas, the Big Ten continues to inspire and connect a thriving community.
That’s the full list of Big Ten schools!
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