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Big Ten

Danny Dabiri |Dec 03,2007

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The first formation of what is now known as the Big Ten occurred in 1895. University presidents from various institutions congregated to form the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives in 1896. The original members of the conference included the University of Illinois , University of Minnesota , Northwestern University , Purdue University , University of Michigan , University of Wisconsin and University of Chicago. The University of Iowa and Indiana University joined the conference in 1899. Ohio State University joined the conference in 1912. The University of Michigan had left the conference from 1907-1916 but rejoined in 1917, giving the conference 10 teams. The University of Chicago left the conference in 1946. Michigan State University joined the conference in 1950.

The conference was formally known as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives until 1987. That year, the conference officially became recognized as the Big Ten. The Big Ten expanded to 11 teams in 1990 with the addition of Penn State University . The champion of the Big Ten is invited to play in the Rose Bowl. From 1946-1971, the same team was not allowed to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl in consecutive years with the exception of Minnesota in 1961. Prior to 1975, the Big Ten did not allow teams to appear in any bowl games other than the Rose Bowl. As of 2007, the Big Ten has tie-ins with six more bowl games. The second place team is invited to the Capital One Bowl. The third place team will likely end up in the Outback Bowl. Both those games are played on New Year’s Day.

The Big Ten has many rivalry games. The most notable is the Michigan-Ohio State game that is always the last game of the regular season for each team. Over the years, the winner of that game usually wins the conference championship and heads to the Rose Bowl. Minnesota and Wisconsin play each season for the Paul Bunyan Axe. Indiana and Purdue play each year for the Old Oaken Bucket. Illinois and Northwestern face off for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk. Michigan State and Penn State battle for the Land Grant Trophy. Minnesota and Iowa fight for the Floyd of Rosedale. Each team has two permanent rivalry games that are to be played every year. The rest of the schedule rotates in two-year stints. Each year, a Big Ten team does not play two teams from the conference.

The University of Michigan has won 42 Big Ten Conference championships in their storied history. Ohio State is second on the list with 32 conference titles. Indiana and Minnesota have gone the longest without winning at least a share of the conference crown. Neither team has won the Big Ten title since 1967.

The Big Ten has produced many great players over the years. Most recently, former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith won the Heisman Trophy in 2006. In 1997, Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the first and only defensive player to win the Heisman. Woodson led the Wolverines to the national championship that same season.