The Big Ten Conference is one of the oldest and most powerful athletic leagues in American college sports, founded on February 8, 1896, and now stretching across 15 states from New Jersey to California. Its 18 football-playing members compete for a league title first awarded in 1896 and a championship game trophy first lifted by Wisconsin on December 3, 2011. The conference distributed a record $1.37 billion in revenue to its 18 members for the 2024–25 fiscal year, the largest payout of any college athletic league in the country. Here is a school-by-school breakdown of every program inside that 18-team structure.
1. Illinois Fighting Illini
Wisconsin offensive lineman Kevin Heywood (55) is shown during the fourth quarter of their game Saturday October 19, 2024 at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois. Wisconsin beat Northwestern 23-3.
The University of Illinois is a charter member of the Big Ten, having helped found the conference on February 8, 1896. Located in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois plays its home games at Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1923 and remains one of the oldest active venues in the conference. The Fighting Illini have a long football tradition stretching back to the 19th century and have produced numerous College Football Hall of Famers.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Kobee Minor (5) is called for pass interference on Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Deion Burks (4) during the NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue Boilermakers won 35-31.
Indiana joined the Big Ten in 1899, making it one of the league’s earliest additions after the founding seven. The Hoosiers are based in Bloomington and play at Memorial Stadium, which seats just over 52,000. Historically better known for basketball, the football program rose to national prominence in the 2020s, culminating in its 16-0 national championship season in 2025.
3. Iowa Hawkeyes
Oct 5, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) and safety Sonny Styles (6) approach Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Cade McNamara (12) in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.
Iowa entered the conference in 1899 alongside Indiana and has been a continuous member ever since. The Hawkeyes play at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, a venue famous for its “Wave” tradition toward the adjacent children’s hospital. Iowa is one of the conference’s most consistent football programs, regularly contending in its segment of the standings.
4. Maryland Terrapins
Oct. 7, 2023; Columbus, Oh., USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate is tackled by Maryland Terrapins defensive back Gavin Gibson (26) during the second half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium.
Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014 as part of the conference’s eastward expansion. The Terrapins are located in College Park and compete in football at SECU Stadium. The move from the ACC was driven largely by the financial stability of the Big Ten’s media rights agreements.
5. Michigan Wolverines
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs the ball against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half of the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Michigan is a charter member dating to 1896 and is one of the most decorated programs in college football history. The Wolverines play at Michigan Stadium — “The Big House” — which is the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere by capacity. Michigan won the national championship for the 2023 season, its most recent title.
6. Michigan State Spartans
Sep 28, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) is tackled by Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Spartan Stadium on Saturday.
Michigan State joined the Big Ten in 1950, expanding the conference to 10 football-playing members. The Spartans play at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. The program has a long-standing in-state rivalry with Michigan, contested annually for the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
7. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles tackles Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Oct. 4, 2025. Ohio State won 42-3.
Minnesota is another charter member from 1896 and one of only a handful of programs to have been in continuous Big Ten membership since the league’s founding. The Golden Gophers play at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, which opened in 2009. Minnesota holds several historic rivalry trophies, including Floyd of Rosedale (vs. Iowa) and the Little Brown Jug (vs. Michigan).
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) heads up field against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Isaac Gifford (2) after a catch during the first quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium on Oct 26, 2024, in Columbus.
Nebraska became the 12th member of the Big Ten in 2011, joining from the Big 12. The Cornhuskers play at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, where they hold one of the longest active sellout streaks in NCAA football history. Nebraska’s addition prompted the Big Ten to launch its football championship game in 2011.
9. Northwestern Wildcats
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) catches a touchdown pass in front of Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Josh Fussell (13) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024.
Northwestern is a charter Big Ten member from 1896 and the only private university in the conference. The Wildcats are based in Evanston, Illinois, and have historically played at Ryan Field, with a major reconstruction project underway. Northwestern combines elite academic standing with Power Four football participation.
10. Ohio State Buckeyes
Sep 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Western Michigan Broncos running back Jaden Nixon (3) is tackled by Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. (3) on a kickoff return during the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State joined the Big Ten in 1912 and has since become one of the most successful football programs in the country. The Buckeyes play at Ohio Stadium — “The Horseshoe” — in Columbus, which seats more than 102,000 fans. Ohio State has accumulated multiple national championships and routinely ranks among the conference’s top revenue earners.
11. Oregon Ducks
Oregon defensive lineman Aydin Breland, center, leads the team out of the tunnel during the Oregon Ducks annual spring game on April 25, 2026 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon joined the Big Ten in 2024 as part of the league’s expansion into the Pacific time zone. The Ducks play at Autzen Stadium in Eugene and are known for their innovative uniforms and high-tempo offensive identity. Oregon’s move came after the dissolution of the Pac-12 as a major football conference.
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. walks off the field after beating Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, on September 29, 2018.
Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1990, becoming the league’s 11th member and its first eastern expansion piece. The Nittany Lions play at Beaver Stadium in University Park, with capacity north of 106,000. Penn State’s famous “White Out” night games are widely considered among college football’s premier home-field environments.
13. Purdue Boilermakers
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Kobee Minor (5) is called for pass interference on Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Deion Burks (4) during the NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue Boilermakers won 35-31.
Purdue is a charter Big Ten member from 1896 and is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Boilermakers play at Ross-Ade Stadium and maintain a long-running rivalry with Indiana for the Old Oaken Bucket. Purdue is historically known as the “Cradle of Quarterbacks” because of the many NFL passers it has produced.
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates with linebacker Sonny Styles (0) after sacking Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) in the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, the same year as Maryland, completing the conference’s first eastward expansion wave. The Scarlet Knights play at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers is widely credited with hosting the first-ever college football game, in 1869.
15. UCLA Bruins
May 2, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; A general overall view of the UCLA Bruins logo in the end zone at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
UCLA joined the Big Ten in 2024 along with three other former Pac-12 schools. The Bruins play their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, one of the most iconic venues in American sports. UCLA’s addition gave the Big Ten a foothold in the Los Angeles media market.
16. USC Trojans
Jan 28, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; American Team wide receiver Ja’kobi Lane (89) of USC works in passing drills during American Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
USC also joined the Big Ten in 2024 from the Pac-12. The Trojans play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, host of two Summer Olympics and the upcoming 2028 Games. USC brings one of the deepest national championship and Heisman Trophy histories of any program in college football.
17. Washington Huskies
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Sept. 27, 2025. Ohio State won 24-6.
Washington joined the Big Ten in 2024, completing the four-team Pac-12 migration. The Huskies play at Husky Stadium in Seattle, which sits on the shore of Lake Washington and is one of the most scenic venues in college football. Washington reached the national championship game following the 2023 season before moving to the Big Ten.
18. Wisconsin Badgers
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is a charter Big Ten member from 1896 and is based in Madison. The Badgers play at Camp Randall Stadium, famous for the “Jump Around” tradition between the third and fourth quarters. Wisconsin won the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game on December 3, 2011, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
How the Big Ten Reached 18 Members
Jan 17, 2026; Miami Beach, Florida, USA; Big Ten Network studio host Dave Revsine (left), analyst Jake Butt (center) and reporter Rhett Lewis during media day for the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The conference was founded in 1896 with seven schools — Purdue, Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. Indiana and Iowa followed in 1899, with Ohio State joining in 1912. Michigan State arrived in 1950, Penn State in 1990, and Nebraska in 2011. Maryland and Rutgers came aboard in 2014, and the four-school expansion of UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington in 2024 finalized the current 18-team structure.
The Financial Backbone of the League
May 2, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo on the field at the UCLA Bruins spring game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Big Ten reported distributing a record $1.37 billion in revenue to its 18 members for the 2024–25 fiscal year. That figure outpaces the SEC’s $1.03 billion distribution to 16 members for the same period. The revenue gap is the primary reason expansion has been so attractive to member schools and prospective candidates.
The Conference’s Position on Further Expansion
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pressures Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) during the first half of the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti has stated publicly that the league is focused on its current 18 members rather than pursuing additional expansion. That stance positions the 18-team configuration as the league’s stable football structure for the foreseeable future. The conference also eliminated divisions in 2024, with the two teams holding the best conference records now meeting in the Big Ten Championship Game. Which Big Ten program has the best game-day atmosphere — and which one is your conference dark horse? Sound off in the comments.
