Big Ten Universities is a Division 1-A college rugby conference founded in summer 2012 by ten of the twelve schools that then made up the Big Ten Conference (which has since expanded to 18 members). The Big Ten Universities was formed to improve rugby among the Big Ten schools by capitalizing on traditional Big Ten rivalries, increasing the number of fans, attracting talented high school rugby players, and playing other regional schools, which would create more competitive matchups with traditional rivals.

Prior to 2012, most of these schools had played in the now defunct Division 1-AA Midwest conference (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin) and the Division 1-AA Mid-Eastern conference (Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue).This Is American Rugby, Tracking College Rugby Changes, July 26, 2012, http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2012/07/tracking-college-rugby-changes.html Ohio State had played in Division 1-A in the East conference.

Organization of college rugby has been evolving since 2009, with many schools organizing into conferences similar to the traditional NCAA conferences. In November 2010, USA Rugby's college management committee set out a plan for transitioning universities to NCAA-style conferences.Gainline.us, Cal superleague exit spurs conference gains, Dec. 31, 2011, http://www.gainline.us/gainline/2011/12/cal-superleague-exit-spurs-conference-gains.html The purpose of the realignment is for college rugby to capitalize on the marketability of major college conference rivalries.Gainline.us, ACC launch unveiled, national league gains steam, March 17, 2010, http://www.gainline.us/gainline/2010/03/acc-launch-unveiled-national-league-gains-steam.html

Members InstitutionLocationEnrollmentNicknameColorsRugby since Head coachUniversity of IllinoisUrbana-Champaign, Illinois41,918U of I Admissions: Essential Illinois FactsFighting Illini Orange & Navy 1963 Kevin BattleIndiana UniversityBloomington, Indiana42,464Hoosiers Cream & Crimson1962 Eddie AbelUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan37,197Wolverines Maize & Blue 1959 (1890) Christian MentzerMichigan State UniversityEast Lansing, Michigan43,159Spartans Green & White1964 Tim BritainUniversity of Notre DameSouth Bend, Indiana12,809Fighting Irish Blue & Gold 1961 Justin HickeyOhio State UniversityColumbus, Ohio66,444 (2017)Buckeyes Scarlet & Gray1966 Ron BowersPurdue UniversityWest Lafayette, Indiana39,637Purdue University - Student_Enrollment Boilermakers Old Gold & Black 1970 Casey DotenUniversity of WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin42,595Facts: : University of Wisconsin–MadisonBadgers Cardinal & White 1962 Kurtis Shepherd

Notes: Four Big Ten members do not play rugby in Big Ten Universities: Conference charter members University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, and University of Nebraska compete in the D1AA Heart of America Conference. The University Of Minnesota left the Big 10 in 2021 The University of Iowa left the Big 10 in 2019 The University of Nebraska left the Big 10 in 2015 Conference charter member Northwestern compete in NCR D2. Penn State, a Big Ten member since 1990, plays in the Rugby East conference of Division 1-A. Having competed in the 2011 Big Ten 7s, in 2022 Penn State rejoined the conference as a 7s member. The two schools that joined the Big Ten in 2014, Maryland and Rutgers, respectively play in the NCR Chesapeake Rugby Conference and the Liberty Rugby Conference. Notre Dame joined as a full member for the 2022 season after taking part in the Spring 2022 Big Ten 7s Championship.

Results

Season Champion Score Runner up East Champ West Champ Player of the Year Top Try Scorer Top Points Scorer Ref. Spring 2013 Wisconsin 30–10 Ohio State Ohio State Wisconsin Martin Gianetti (Illinois) 12 Lewis Shaw (Indiana) 83 Fall 2013 Indiana* 58–38 Michigan Indiana Michigan Isaac Hall (Indiana) Isaac Hall (Indiana) 7 J. Heginbottom (Wisconsin) 64 2014 Wisconsin 34–20 Ohio State Ohio State Wisconsin 2015 Indiana 34–14 Ohio State Indiana Wisconsin 2016 Indiana 72–19 Ohio State Indiana Wisconsin 2017 Indiana 38–26 Ohio State 2018 Wisconsin 20–13 Indiana 2019 Indiana 34–7 Ohio State Ben Richards (Ohio State) Case Fleck (Indiana) Vince Carso (Ohio State) Russell Lemaster (Indiana) 12 Connor Forrestal (Ohio State) 892020 No competition held due to Covid-19 2021 Ohio State 33–29 Indiana Ohio State Indiana Vince Carso (Ohio State) 2022 Indiana 22–20 Ohio State Ohio State Indiana Peyton Wall (Indiana) 2023 Indiana 55–21 Michigan State Michigan State Indiana Peyton Wall (Indiana) 2024 Ohio State 21–17 Notre Dame Ohio State Indiana Maximus Clark (Ohio State)

Regular season

Fall 2012 Team Record Wisconsin (W) 5 — 0Illinois 4 — 1Ohio State (E) 3–1–1Indiana 3 — 2 Michigan3 — 2Michigan State2–2–1Iowa2 — 3 Minnesota 2 — 3Nebraska 0 — 5Purdue 0 — 5

Notes: Bold means qualified for playoffs (E) and (W) identify division champions Indiana's Fall 2014 Team penalized for eligibility misconduct

Fall 2013 Team Record Indiana (E) 6 — 0Michigan (W) 5 — 1 Wisconsin 5 — 1 Ohio State 3 — 3 Minnesota3 — 3 Illinois3 — 3 Michigan State2 — 4 Iowa 0 — 6 Purdue 0 — 6

2014 Team Record Indiana 6 — 0 Wisconsin (W) 5 — 1 Ohio State (E) 4 — 2 Michigan 4 — 2 Iowa 4 — 2 Minnesota 3 — 3 Michigan State 2 — 4 Illinois 1 — 5 Purdue 1 — 5 Nebraska 0 — 6

2021 Team Record Indiana (W) 6 — 0 Ohio State (E) 5 — 1 Michigan State 4 — 2 Illinois 3 — 3 Michigan 2 — 4 Purdue 1 — 5 Wisconsin 0 — 6

2022 Team Record Indiana (W) 5 — 0 Ohio State (E) 4 — 1 Notre Dame 4 — 1 Illinois 3 — 2 Wisconsin 3 — 2 Michigan State 2 — 3 Michigan 1 — 4 Purdue 0 — 5

2023 Team Record Indiana (W) 4 — 0 Ohio State (E) 3 — 1 Michigan State 2 — 0 Michigan 1 — 4 Illinois 1 — 1 Wisconsin 1 — 1 Purdue 1 — 2 Notre Dame 0 — 3

2024 Team Record Notre Dame (E) 3 — 0 Indiana (W) 3 — 0 Ohio State 2 — 1 Wisconsin 2 — 1 Illinois 1 — 2 Michigan State 1 — 1 Michigan 0 — 3 Purdue 0 — 3

Big Ten 7s The Big Ten schools have formed the Big Ten 7s tournament. The Big Ten tournament features a round of pool play, followed by knockout play. The winner of the Big Ten 7s earns an automatic berth to the USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships and to the Collegiate Rugby Championship.

The inaugural Big Ten tournament was held August 2011, and hosted by Wisconsin.Midwest Rugby, Big 10 Sevens Championship, August 28, 2011, Wisconsin and Penn State dominated, each winning its respective pool and advancing in knockout play to the finals, where Wisconsin defeated Penn State 21–14. Wisconsin's victory at the 2011 Big Ten 7s earned it the right to compete for the national championship at the 2011 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships.Midwest Rugby, Collegiate Sevens Championships Officially Announced, Sep. 1, 2011,

Year Location Champion Final score Runner up Third Tournament MVP Leading Try Scorer Ref. Aug 27, 2011 Madison, WI Wisconsin 21–14 Penn State Iowa Ben Knight (Wisconsin) — Nov 10, 2012 Columbus, OH Wisconsin 33–14 Penn State Ohio State Tom Hemmings (Wisconsin) Blaze Feury (Penn St) John Ryberg (Iowa) 7 Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin — Tom Hemmings (Wisconsin) Apr 19, 2014 Columbus, IN Ohio State 29–12 Iowa Taylor Young (Iowa) Apr 18, 2015 Ann Arbor, MI Indiana Illinois Bryce Campbell (Indiana) Apr 2–16, 2016 Columbus, OH Wisconsin Michigan 2017 Columbus, OH Ohio State Wisconsin Michigan Apr 28, 2018 Madison, WI Wisconsin 26–5 Ohio State 2019 Ohio State 31–17 Minnesota Apr 2–16, 2022 Champaign, IL West Lafayette, IN Ann Arbor, MI Indiana Notre Dame Will Chevalier (Indiana) Apr 15, 2023 South Bend, IN Penn State 19–14 Indiana Notre Dame Ian Roudybush (Penn State) Apr 13–14, 2024 South Bend, IN Penn State 40–0 Michigan Indiana Apr 12–13, 2025 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 21–12 Oregon

See also College rugby Division 1-A Rugby Big Ten Conference

References

External links