Big 10 School History Big 10 School History The Big Ten Conference (B1G), formerly Western Conference and Big Nine Conference, is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. The conference consists of 14 members as of 2016. Illinois Fighting Illini Established: 1896 NCAA Championships: 7See School HistoryIndiana Hoosiers Established: 1899 NCAA Championships: 13See School HistoryIowa Hawkeyes Established: 1899 NCAA Championships: 1See School HistoryMaryland Terrapins Established: 1892 NCAA Championships: 6See School HistoryMichigan State Spartans Established: 1896 NCAA Championships: 4See School HistoryMichigan Wolverines Established: 1879 NCAA Championships: 3See School HistoryMinnesota Gophers Established: 1896 NCAA Championships: 10See School HistoryNebraska Cornhuskers Established: 1907 NCAA Championships: 5See School HistoryNorthwestern Wildcats Established: 1896 NCAA Championships: 0See School HistoryOhio State Buckeyes Established: 1912 NCAA Championships: 2See School HistoryPenn State Nittany Lions Established: 1887 NCAA Championships: 2See School HistoryPurdue Boilermakers Established: 1896 NCAA Championships: 1See School HistoryRutgers Scarlet Knights Established: 1899 NCAA Championships: 0See School HistoryWisconsin Badgers Established: 1896 NCAA Championships: 2See School History