The Big Ten Conference
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The Big Ten Conference is one of the most competitive conferences in college football. It is also the oldest conference. The Big Ten currently has 14 member schools, despite its name. The Big Ten geographically is located in the north and midwest of the U.S. Its member schools span from New Jersey, through Pennsylvania, the great lakes states, all the way to Nebraska.
The Big Ten is currently expanding. It is planning to add USC and UCLA from the Pac-12 in 2024. This will bring its total number of schools up to 16, and expand its geographic footprint to the Pacific coast.
The Big Ten has won 2 national titles this century. Ohio State won both, the first in 2002 and the second in 2014. Since 1999, there have been two Heisman Trophy winners from the Big Ten: QB Troy Smith from Ohio State in 2006 and RB Ron Dayne from Wisconsin in 1999.
The Big Ten is home to some of the most tradition-rich programs in college football. The Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Michigan State Spartans, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Wisconsin Badgers all call the Big Ten home. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights—who were one of two teams in the first football game ever played—are members of the Big Ten as well.
Big Ten Expansion
USC and UCLA are joining the Big Ten…
The Big Ten is planning to expand from its current 14 schools to 16 in 2024. USC and UCLA are expected to join the conference. This will expand the Big Ten outside its historical geographic footprint in the northeast and midwest, and bring California and the Los Angeles market into the fold. The Big Ten is competing against the SEC in conference expansion, as both conferences are in an arms-race of sorts to grow and add prestigious schools.
Where is the Big Ten?
Currently the Big Ten is located in the northeast of the United States. Its schools are in the states of: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska.
Teams in the Big Ten
There are 14 full-time members of the Big Ten. The teams are divided into two divisions—BIG East and BIG West—with 7 teams in each division.
The BIG East
The teams in the Big Ten East are:
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Michigan Wolverines
- Michigan State Spartans
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Maryland Terrapins
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Indiana Hoosiers
The BIG West
The teams in the Big Ten West are:
- Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Purdue Boilermakers
- Illinois Fighting Illini