Known for academic excellence, athletic achievement, and powerhouse football, the Big Ten has built a legacy that spans over a century. As the conference has grown to include 18 schools, we get asked all the time: “Why is the Big Ten still called the Big Ten?” 

The short answer? The name isn’t a headcount. Keeping it maintains tradition, and it's smart business.

Let's take a look. 

We Almost Contemplated Changing It.

When the conference added its 11th school (Penn State) in 1993, newly-appointed Commissioner Jim Delany initially thought: 

"Well, now we're the Big 11!"

The result? Immediate backlash. University presidents, athletic directors, students, and alumni all loudly opposed the idea.

There's a deep-rooted sense of pride that comes from being part of this conference, and no one wanted to give that up. 

It was decided decades ago: we have always been and always will be the Big Ten. 

Fun Fact: We didn't actually come up with the name. A journalist coined the term "Big Ten" in 1917, and it wasn't until 1987 that we formally incorporated it. 

Consistency in Conference Realignment

College athletics is one of the fastest evolving industries in the country. It has undergone seismic changes in the past decade, and schools are joining and leaving conferences every year. 

If conferences changed their names each time they expanded, it'd be extremely difficult to keep track of what schools are where. 

Think about it. If a casual fan heard the "Big 18"? It'd sound like a brand-new conference. When they hear "Big Ten," they know who we are, what we stand for, and where we came from. 

A stable, recognizable name like the Big Ten provides clarity and consistency. It's our north star.  

It's about More than Numbers

For more than 100 years, the words "Big Ten" have been synonymous with rich traditions and lasting legacies that recognize... 

Academic excellence. The conference... 

• Conducts $17 billion in funded research annually across our institutions 
• Has 9.4 million alumni, which is the most of any conference 
• Leads the country with 17 members in the Association of American Universities, which recognizes the leading research institutions

Athletic excellence. The Big Ten... 

• Averages almost 7 NCAA Championships per year over the last 30 years 
• Won 98 Olympic medals (27 gold) in 2024 to set a single-Olympics conference record 
• Leads the country with over 10,000 student-athletes on 350 teams in 42 different sports 

Innovation. We... 

• Won the nation's first bowl game (Michigan, 1902 Rose Bowl) 
• Pioneered conference-affiliated bowl contracts as the first to sign an agreement with the Tournament of Roses (1946)
• Launched the first male and female participation goals in the Gender Equity Action plan in 1992
• Started the first conference-owned TV network (Big Ten Network)

Changing the name would mean stepping away from a 129-year legacy. If our tradition is what sets us apart, why would we throw it all away?

*Numbers are as of September 3, 2024.

What Do Fans Really Care about?

Our fans don't watch Big Ten games or wear their school's merchandise because of the conference name. They know there are 18 schools in the Big Ten. What they care about is what the conference means to them: 

Screaming in their student sections. Watching rivalry games with fellow (or opposing) fans. Celebrating championships. Making lifelong memories. Carrying on family traditions for generations to come.

When someone watches Big Ten sports, they're not counting the school logos on the screen. They're there for the high-quality competition that they've come to expect when they hear the Big Ten name. 

It’s Standard in the Sports Industry

The Big Ten isn’t the only conference or organization to stick with a name that doesn’t quite add up.  

• The “Big 12” has 16 schools

• The “Atlantic 10” has 15 members

• At one point, the "Big 12" had 10 schools, and the "Big Ten" had 12 schools!

Keeping the name “Big Ten” is consistent with what fans of college sports expect. Why throw them a curveball? 

Not Every Sport has 18 Programs

Even within the Big Ten, not every school has a team for each sport, and some sports have affiliate member schools outside of the 18 full-time members. For example: 

• Hockey has 7 teams and includes Notre Dame 

• Men’s Lacrosse (6 teams) and Women's Lacrosse (8) both include Johns Hopkins  

• Even international sports like Men's Soccer (11 teams) don't reach all 18 schools. (Women's Soccer is one of the few that does)!

If the best case for changing the Big Ten name is numerical accuracy, would it really be worth it if it's not accurate across the board? 

Think of Ten as a Word, Not a Number.

For decades, the Big Ten name has been more than a simple descriptor. It's a symbol of tradition, leadership, and excellence—not headcounts.

Fans everywhere have meaningful memories tied to the Big Ten's name and history. Changing it would weaken that pride, what we stand for, and our impact in this ever-changing industry.  

Call it legacy. Call it consistency. Call it a lifetime of memories for generation after generation.  

Or call it... easier to remember. Whether we're 10, 11, 12, 14, or 18, the Big Ten - and its name - aren't going anywhere. 

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