Schools of the Big 10

Founded in 1896 as the Conference of Faculty Representatives, the Big Ten Conference establishment was the result of a meeting held in Chicago in 1895 between seven Midwestern college presidents. The meeting's agenda was to restrict athletic eligibility to full-time students who were not delinquent in their studies. From these founding schools, the Big Ten, as of the 2011-12 school year, has grown to encompass 12 universities in nine states, including Michigan, Ohio and Illinois.

  1. Illinois

    • Three schools from Illinois were part of the Big Ten Conference's founding core: the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois (UI) and Northwestern University. Of these three, only Illinois and Northwestern remain, as Chicago left the conference in 1946. UI is the most recent Illinois member school to win a conference title, in men's gymnastics in 2010.

    Michigan

    • The University of Michigan (UM) was a charter member of the founding schools of the Big Ten, but left the conference in 1908. UM rejoined the conference in 1917 as the 10th school, marking the beginning of the group's use of Big Ten as the conference name. Michigan State University (MSU), then called Michigan State College, joined the conference in 1949, three years after Chicago's exit. The Michigan schools have dominated the first part of 2010-11 seasons, winning conference titles in women's cross country (MSU), field hockey (UM) and men's soccer (UM).

    Indiana

    • Purdue University has been with the Big Ten since the beginning, but Indiana University (IU) didn't join until 1899. Purdue's most recent conference championship came in 2009 when the Boilermakers captured the regular season championship in women's golf. IU's most recent Big Ten title came in men's soccer in 2010.

    Iowa

    • The University of Iowa (UI) joined the Big Ten in 1899 along with Indiana. Located in Iowa City, UI was founded in 1847 and, as of 2011, enrolls 28,705 students. The Hawkeyes' most recent Big Ten championship came in men's wrestling in 2009.

    Minnesota

    • Another of the charter members of the Big Ten Conference, the University of Minnesota is located in Minneapolis and was founded in 1851. The Golden Gophers won the conference title in men's indoor track, men's and women's outdoor track and baseball in 2010.

    Ohio

    • Added as a replacement for Michigan in 1912, Ohio State University is located in Columbus and enrolls more than 54,000 students. The Buckeyes were co-champions with Michigan in men's field hockey in 2010, but the Wolverines won the conference tournament.

    Wisconsin

    • The University of Wisconsin (UW) is one of the seven founding members of the Big Ten. Located in Madison, UW was founded in 1848 and enrolls more than 41,000 students. The Badgers won the 2010 football conference title and was the Big Ten representative in the 2011 Rose Bowl.

    Pennsylvania

    • Added as the conference's 11th school, Penn State University joined the Big Ten in 1990, 40 years after Michigan State joined. The Nittany Lions' most recent conference championships came in 2010 in women's outdoor track and field.

    Nebraska

    • Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, the University of Nebraska (UN) will become the Big Ten Conference's 12th member college. Located in Lincoln, UN was founded in 1869 and was a member of the Big 12 Conference since 1996.