The Big Ten Conference (B1G), the oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference in the U.S., was formally founded in 1896 as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, predating the NCAA itself. Despite its historic name reflecting a past composition of ten universities, the conference dramatically expanded on August 2, 2024, to include 18 full member institutions and two affiliates.
Beyond its athletic prowess in sports like FBS football, Big Ten universities are renowned major research institutions with strong academic reputations, educating over 520,000 students and collectively engaging in billions of dollars in funded research annually. While historically centered in the Midwest, the B1G has significantly broadened its geographic footprint since 2014, notably gaining a substantial West Coast presence in 2024 with the addition of former Pac-12 schools, transforming it into a truly national conference.