Big Ten Universities


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. 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 and the Division 1-AA Mid-Eastern conference. 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. The purpose of the realignment is for college rugby to capitalize on the marketability of major college conference rivalries.

Members

Notes:

Regular season

Fall 2012
TeamRecord
Wisconsin 5 — 0
Illinois4 — 1
Ohio State 3–1–1
Indiana3 — 2
Michigan3 — 2
Michigan State2–2–1
Iowa2 — 3
Minnesota2 — 3
Nebraska0 — 5
Purdue0 — 5

Notes:
  • Bold means qualified for playoffs
  • and identify division champions
  • Indiana's Fall 2014 Team penalized for eligibility misconduct
Fall 2013
TeamRecord
Indiana 6 — 0
Michigan 5 — 1
Wisconsin5 — 1
Ohio State3 — 3
Minnesota3 — 3
Illinois3 — 3
Michigan State2 — 4
Iowa0 — 6
Purdue0 — 6

2014
TeamRecord
Indiana6 — 0
Wisconsin 5 — 1
Ohio State 4 — 2
Michigan4 — 2
Iowa4 — 2
Minnesota3 — 3
Michigan State2 — 4
Illinois1 — 5
Purdue1 — 5
Nebraska0 — 6

2021
TeamRecord
Indiana 6 — 0
Ohio State 5 — 1
Michigan State4 — 2
Illinois3 — 3
Michigan2 — 4
Purdue1 — 5
Wisconsin0 — 6

2022
TeamRecord
Indiana 5 — 0
Ohio State 4 — 1
Notre Dame4 — 1
Illinois3 — 2
Wisconsin3 — 2
Michigan State2 — 3
Michigan1 — 4
Purdue0 — 5

2023
TeamRecord
Indiana 4 — 0
Ohio State 3 — 1
Michigan State2 — 0
Michigan1 — 4
Illinois1 — 1
Wisconsin1 — 1
Purdue1 — 2
Notre Dame0 — 3

2024
TeamRecord
Notre Dame 3 — 0
Indiana 3 — 0
Ohio State2 — 1
Wisconsin2 — 1
Illinois1 — 2
Michigan State1 — 1
Michigan0 — 3
Purdue0 — 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. 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.
YearLocationChampionFinal scoreRunner upThirdTournament MVPLeading Try ScorerRef.
Aug 27, 2011Madison, WIWisconsin21–14Penn StateIowaBen Knight —
Nov 10, 2012Columbus, OHWisconsin33–14Penn StateOhio StateTom Hemmings Blaze Feury
John Ryberg
7
Apr 14, 2013Wisconsin—Tom Hemmings
Apr 19, 2014Columbus, INOhio State29–12IowaTaylor Young
Apr 18, 2015Ann Arbor, MIIndianaIllinoisBryce Campbell
Apr 2–16, 2016Columbus, OH
WisconsinMichigan
2017Columbus, OHOhio StateWisconsinMichigan
Apr 28, 2018Madison, WIWisconsin26–5Ohio State
2019Ohio State31–17Minnesota
Apr 2–16, 2022Champaign, IL
West Lafayette, IN
Ann Arbor, MI		IndianaNotre DameWill Chevalier
Apr 15, 2023South Bend, INPenn State19–14IndianaNotre DameIan Roudybush
Apr 13–14, 2024South Bend, INPenn State40–0MichiganIndiana
Apr 12–13, 2025South Bend, INNotre Dame21–12Oregon