Who Is in Big Ten Football in 2025? Full Team List

By Sarah Miller · October 10, 2043

The Big Ten Conference in 2025 consists of 18 member institutions competing in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), including founding schools like Michigan, Ohio State, and new additions such as USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington.

What Is the Big Ten Football Conference?

The Big Ten Conference is one of the oldest and most prestigious collegiate athletic conferences in the United States, established in 1896. As of the 2024 season, it expanded to 18 teams, making it a dominant force in college football. The conference competes at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is known for high-level competition, massive stadiums, and national championship contenders.

Key Features of Big Ten Football

Comprises 18 universities across the U.S., stretching from coast to coast
Plays under NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) rules
Organizes an annual conference championship game since 2011
Member schools benefit from shared media revenue via the Big Ten Network
Competes for spots in the College Football Playoff

Current Big Ten Football Teams in 2025

In 2024, the Big Ten underwent historic expansion, adding four West Coast schools. This realignment significantly altered the geographic and competitive landscape of college football.

School	Location	Joined	Stadium	Capacity	Head Coach (2025)	2024 Conference Finish
University of Illinois	Champaign, IL	1896	Memorial Stadium	60,670	Brett Bielema	T-9th
Indiana University	Bloomington, IN	1896	Memorial Stadium	52,929	Tom Allen	14th
Iowa State University	Iowa City, IA	1896	Kinnick Stadium	69,250	Kirk Ferentz	T-9th
University of Maryland	College Park, MD	2014	SECU Stadium	54,000	Michael Locksley	T-6th
Michigan State University	East Lansing, MI	1900	Spartan Stadium	74,866	Jonathan Smith	13th
Northwestern University	Evanston, IL	1896	Ryan Field (relocating in 2026)	17,000 (temporary)	Dave Aranda	12th
Purdue University	West Lafayette, IN	1896	Ross-Ade Stadium	61,422	Frankie Edwards (interim)	11th
University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, CA	2024	California Memorial Stadium	63,000	Justin Wilcox	N/A (new)
University of Oregon	Eugene, OR	2024	Autzen Stadium	54,000	Dan Lanning	N/A (new)
University of Southern California	Los Angeles, CA	2024	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	77,500	Lincoln Riley	N/A (new)
University of Washington	Seattle, WA	2024	Husky Stadium	70,138	Jedd Fisch	N/A (new)
University of Wisconsin	Madison, WI	1896	Camp Randall Stadium	76,057	Luke Fickell	8th
University of Minnesota	Minneapolis, MN	1896	Huntington Bank Stadium	50,805	P.J. Fleck	T-6th
Ohio State University	Columbus, OH	1912	Ohio Stadium	102,780	Chip Kelly	2nd
University of Michigan	Ann Arbor, MI	1896	Michigan Stadium	107,601	Sherrone Moore	1st (East), CFP Champions
Penn State University	University Park, PA	1990	Beaver Stadium	106,572	James Franklin	5th
Rutgers University	Piscataway, NJ	2014	SHI Stadium	52,454	Greg Schiano	T-9th
University of Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	2011	Memorial Stadium	85,458	John Papuchis (interim)	10th

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The 2025 Big Ten includes 18 teams, with recent additions from the Pac-12 reshaping its footprint. The average stadium capacity exceeds 65,000, reflecting the conference's massive fan base. Ohio State and Michigan lead in attendance and national rankings, while new members like USC and Oregon bring elite recruiting power and media appeal.

Big Ten Expansion and Realignment

The 2024 expansion marked the biggest shift in Big Ten history. With the collapse of the Pac-12, the conference added USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, creating a transcontinental league with campuses from New Jersey to Oregon.

Reasons Behind the Expansion

Maximize television revenue through access to major markets (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle)
Enhance negotiating power with ESPN and Fox for broadcast rights
Improve recruiting reach on the talent-rich West Coast
Position the Big Ten as a national powerhouse ahead of College Football Playoff expansion

Big Ten Football Structure and Championship

Starting in 2024, the Big Ten eliminated divisions due to the expanded membership. The top two teams by conference winning percentage qualify for the Big Ten Championship Game, hosted annually at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

How the Standings Work

No divisions — all 18 teams compete in a single standings table
Each team plays nine conference games
Three protected rivalries remain: Michigan–Ohio State, Iowa–Wisconsin, Indiana–Purdue
Championship participants determined strictly by win-loss record in conference play

Notable Big Ten Programs and Rivalries

The Big Ten hosts some of the most storied programs and intense rivalries in college football.

Top Football Programs

Michigan Wolverines: 2023 & 2024 CFP National Champions, record-breaking attendance
Ohio State Buckeyes: Consistent playoff contender, powerhouse recruiting
USC Trojans: 7-time national champions, now anchor the West Coast presence
Penn State Nittany Lions: Strong defense and national relevance
Oregon Ducks: High-tempo offense, cutting-edge uniforms and facilities

Major Rivalries

Michigan vs. Ohio State – "The Game," arguably the greatest rivalry in college football
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin – Paul Bunyan's Axe, oldest continuous rivalry trophy
Illinois vs. Northwestern – Battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy
Indiana vs. Purdue – Old Oaken Bucket, end-of-season tradition
New matchups: USC vs. Michigan, Oregon vs. Ohio State – expected marquee future clashes

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Ten Football

How many teams are in the Big Ten football conference in 2025?

As of the 2024 season, the Big Ten has 18 member schools competing in football, making it the largest conference in FBS history.

Which schools joined the Big Ten in 2024?

Four schools joined in 2024: the University of Southern California (USC), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Oregon, and University of Washington.

Why did the Big Ten expand to include West Coast schools?

The expansion was driven by lucrative media rights deals, access to major TV markets, enhanced recruiting opportunities, and strategic positioning ahead of the 12-team College Football Playoff starting in 2024.

Does the Big Ten still have divisions in 2025?

No. Starting in 2024, the Big Ten eliminated the East and West divisions. The top two teams in overall conference winning percentage advance to the championship game.