Big Ten Network Celebrates Season 20
Thrivent named presenting sponsor of BTN Season 20; DIRECTV as associate sponsor
As the Big Ten Network begins Season 20, the network is highlighting two decades of the Big Ten’s top games, remarkable moments and noteworthy student-athletes with a collection of new original programming. As part of the celebratory year, BTN also announced Thrivent as the presenting sponsor of BTN Season 20 and DIRECTV as the associate sponsor.
As the 20th season of football gets underway, all 18 Big Ten programs will be featured throughout the first three weeks of BTN’s television schedule. Additionally, B1G Tailgate will begin its 10th season with on-site visits to the last two National Champions, beginning with a trip to Ohio State on Saturday, Sept. 5, followed by a show from Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 12.
B1G Network Season 20: 20 Moments: Debuting later this fall, a series hosted by acclaimed sportswriter and columnist Gene Wojciechowski takes fans through 20 of the most memorable moments covered by BTN over the last two decades. Highlights include the first Iowa Wave, Nebraska volleyball setting an attendance record at Memorial Stadium and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti’s introduction to the Big Ten.
Original Documentaries: Over the last 20 years, the Big Ten Conference and its 18 institutions have played a significant role in the growth of women’s sports. The B1G Story: Rise of Women’s Sports provides a look at how the Big Ten was at the forefront of this movement and features sit-down interviews with an array of guests including former Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, former Iowa women’s basketball head coach Lisa Bluder, former Nebraska volleyball head coach John Cook, Northwestern lacrosse head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller and trailblazing broadcaster Lisa Byington, among others.
A second new edition of The B1G Story will debut in 2027, highlighting the Big Ten Network’s commitment to providing educational opportunities to current and former students across all 18 Big Ten campuses. Through three defining programs – BTN NOW, the BTN Experience and StudentU – over 8,000 participants have received hands-on training, individualized feedback and future career opportunities in the broadcast industry. This upcoming documentary will explore these programs, the people behind them and their impact across the conference.
B1G Network Season 20: Moments and Memories: From day one, five on-air personalities have been a part of the Big Ten Network, helping shape the network into what it is today. Later this year, Dave Revsine, Rick Pizzo, Mike Hall, Howard Griffith and Gerry DiNardo will sit down for a roundtable discussion to reflect on the origins of the network, relive their favorite moments over the last two decades and share stories of working together from the very beginning of BTN.
Alongside the original programming, BTN is set to air two school-specific vignettes for all 18 schools throughout the season. These 36 vignettes will highlight notable athletic achievements from each Big Ten program that aired on BTN, including Jonathan Taylor leading Wisconsin to a walk-off triple-overtime victory over Purdue in 2018, Minnesota’s Rachel Banham scoring an NCAA-record-tying 60 points against Northwestern in 2016 and Penn State wrestling setting the all-time NCAA attendance record for an indoor dual during a win over Iowa in 2025.
To commemorate BTN’s landmark 20th season, B1G+ is introducing a limited-time offer where fans can receive $20 off an Annual Pass with code BTN20. The offer is available through Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Additional digital coverage of BTN Season 20 presented by Thrivent will be available via the Big Ten Network’s X , Facebook , YouTube and Instagram platforms. All television programming also streams live via FOX One . A full schedule can be found at bigten.org/btn/btn-tv-schedule and is subject to change.
BTN’s Season 20 coverage kicks off Thursday, Sept. 3 with the first football doubleheader of the season, beginning with Rutgers hosting Massachusetts at 6 p.m. ET, followed by Illinois facing off with UAB at 9 p.m. ET. Highlights throughout the first three weeks of BTN’s football schedule include Ohio State hosting Ball State at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5, Indiana facing Howard at noon ET on Saturday, Sept. 12, and BTN’s first conference matchup of the season between Purdue and UCLA on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11 p.m. ET.