FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Big 10 Football History Trivia Quiz

See how much you know about the Big 10 Conference through the years.

A multiple-choice quiz by Dizart. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Dizart

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
291,975

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
529

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The first football championship in what is nowadays known as the Big 10 took place in which year? Hint

1896

1917

1901

1906

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The conference was known by various names in its early days, the most common of which was what? Hint

Midwest Conference

Western Conference

Big West

Western 10

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. In 1901, which Big 10 member became the first non-Ivy League school to win a National Championship? Hint

Michigan

Ohio State

Northwestern

Wisconsin

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which charter member of the Big 10 dropped its football program following the 1939 season? Hint

Marquette

De Paul

Detroit

Chicago

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Which school won or shared 6 conferenece titles in an 8 year span between 1934 and 1941, but had only one other shared title in the remainder of the 20th century? Hint

Minnesota

Illinois

Indiana

Northwestern

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. The Big 10 briefly changed its name to the Big 9 after the withdrawal of one school in 1939, until which university made up the numbers in 1953? Hint

Purdue

Iowa

Michigan State

Illinois

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which perennial doormat stunned college football in 1995 by winning their first Big 10 title in 59 years? Hint

Illinois

Northwestern

Indiana

Purdue

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which university became the 11th member of the Big 10 in 1993? Hint

Notre Dame

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Missouri

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which school won or shared the most Big 10 titles in the 20th century? Hint

Ohio State

Michigan

Wisconsin

Michigan State

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which 2 members of the Big 10 played in identically named stadiums in 2008? Hint

Iowa and Purdue

Northwestern and Michigan State

Ohio State and Penn State

Illinois and Indiana

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first football championship in what is nowadays known as the Big 10 took place in which year?

Answer: 1896

The Wisconsin Badgers were the first-ever champions of the Big 10, and successfully defended their title in 1897.

2. The conference was known by various names in its early days, the most common of which was what?

Answer: Western Conference

The very first name of the conference was the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, but fortunately soon became better known as the Western Conference.

3. In 1901, which Big 10 member became the first non-Ivy League school to win a National Championship?

Answer: Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record, and went on to defeat Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

4. Which charter member of the Big 10 dropped its football program following the 1939 season?

Answer: Chicago

The University of Chicago Maroons won 7 Big 10 titles, but elected to drop football after the 1939 season. They withdrew from the Big 10 in all sports after the 1946 season, but revived their football program in 1969. In 2008, they were members of the Division III University Athletic Association.

5. Which school won or shared 6 conferenece titles in an 8 year span between 1934 and 1941, but had only one other shared title in the remainder of the 20th century?

Answer: Minnesota

The Minnesota Golden Gophers enjoyed a golden era under coach Bernie Bierman in the late 1930s and early 1940s, including National Championships in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1939, and 1940.

6. The Big 10 briefly changed its name to the Big 9 after the withdrawal of one school in 1939, until which university made up the numbers in 1953?

Answer: Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans had won the national championship as an independent in 1952, and shared the Big 10 title in their first season as a member in 1953.

7. Which perennial doormat stunned college football in 1995 by winning their first Big 10 title in 59 years?

Answer: Northwestern

The Northwestern Wildcats hadn't even had a winning season since 1971, but, under coach Gary Barnett, they went perfect in conference play in 1995 and qualified for the Rose Bowl, where they lost to USC. They proved it was no fluke the following season by sharing the conference crown with Ohio State.

8. Which university became the 11th member of the Big 10 in 1993?

Answer: Penn State

The Penn State Nittany Lions had played as an independent for over 100 years before joining the Big 10 in 1993. They won their first conference title the following season. Despite the addition of an 11th member, the Big 10 decided not to change its name to the Big 11, although a number 11 is craftily included in the official conference logo.

9. Which school won or shared the most Big 10 titles in the 20th century?

Answer: Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines won or shared 38 titles in the 20th century, having won their first crown in 1898. They added another 3 between 2000 and 2004, giving them 42 titles. Ohio State was second on the list, with 32 titles, 28 of them having been won in the 20th century.

10. Which 2 members of the Big 10 played in identically named stadiums in 2008?

Answer: Illinois and Indiana

Both the Indiana Hoosiers and Illinois Fighting Illini played at stadiums called Memorial Stadium in 2008.

Source: Author Dizart

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.