It Began with a Meeting

What today we call the "Big Ten Conference" traces its origin to a meeting of seven Midwest university presidents in January, 1895, in Chicago. They established the principles on which the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives would rest. The key decision involved restricting "eligibility for athletics to bonafide, full-time students who were not delinquent in their studies." This was meant to keep out "ringers" (pro athletes and non-students).

And Then Another Meeting

In December of 1895, one faculty representative from each of seven universities met and officially established the "Western Conference." The seven charter members were:

Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin

(Lake Forest College of Illinois had attended the January meeting but was replaced by Michigan in December.) Indiana and Iowa were admitted in 1899 creating the "Big Nine" Conference as it was called then.

Football and Baseball Rule

Football and baseball were the popular sports in the beginning. Wisconsin won the first two football crowns. From 1901-5 Michigan fielded an incredible series of "Point-a-Minute" football teams under legendary coach Fielding Yost. (See the table below.)

Changes in Membership