The Big Ten is one of the best athletic conferences in the country and is known for having some of the most historic college football programs. What teams are in the Big Ten? Take a look below.
List of Big Ten Teams
The Big Ten Conference has 18 teams. It has included the following 18 schools since the 2024-25 athletic year. Take a look at the schools, where they are located, and the year that they joined the Big Ten.
When was the Big Ten Founded?
(The Big Ten is the oldest conference in Division 1. Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports)The Big Ten Conference was founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives in 1896. It is the oldest conference in Division I and was created before the formation of the NCAA. It was referred to as the Western Conference until 1899, before it switched to the Big Nine with the additions of Iowa and Indiana.
The conference was first called the Big Ten in 1916, but shifted back to the Big Nine after World War II. It has been officially the Big Ten since 1950, after Michigan State was approved in 1948 to join the conference.
Big Ten Expanded to 18 in 2024
(USC joined the Big Ten in 2024. Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)The most recent expansion of the Big Ten came in the 2024-25 athletic year when four schools left the PAC-12. Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington joined the Big Ten in 2024 to bring the conference to 18 teams. The Big Ten had been competing with 14 teams since the 2014 season.
Oregon won the Big Ten Football Championship in 2024 in its first season in the league. The Ducks went 13-0 to reach the College Football Playoff, where they lost to eventual National Champion Ohio State.
Score great NCAAF gear from Fanatics!
History of Big Ten Expansion
The Big Ten has seen quite a few changes over the years. In 2011, Nebraska joined to give the league 12 teams before Rutgers and Maryland joined in 2014 to boost the league to 14. The league had 10 teams from 1950 to 1989 before Penn State joined in 1990 to give the conference 11 programs. The addition of recent PAC-12 teams has spanned the conference across the country after seeing most of its teams compete in the Midwest over the years.
The University of Michigan was one of the league’s original members, but the Wolverines were voted out of the conference after refusing to abide by league rules. The conference didn’t want teams playing more than five games and limited the eligibility of players to three years. Michigan competed as an independent from 1907 to 1917.
YearNameMembersChanges1896Western Conference7CHI, IL, MI, MN, NW, PUR, WISC join1899Western Conference9Indiana and Iowa join1908Western Conference8Michigan leaves1917Big Ten9Michigan rejoins1946Big Ten10University of Chicago leaves1950Big Ten10Michigan State joins1990Big Ten11Penn State joins2011Big Ten12Nebraska joins2014Big Ten14Maryland and Rutgers join2024Big Ten18UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington joinResponsible Gaming Resources
Hence then, the article about how many teams are in the big ten conference teams and history was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( How Many Teams are in the Big Ten? Conference Teams and History )
Also on site :
- Free Fire India Release Date 2026: Real Updates vs. Fake Rumors
- Award-winning former Independent chief sports photographer David Ashdown dies aged 75
- Alabama vs Indiana Odds, Touchdown Scorers for 2025-26 Rose Bowl in CFP Quarterfinal