The Big Ten Conference Trivia Quiz

Answer: Michigan State

The Big Ten was down to only nine teams after the University of Chicago withdrew its membership in 1946. The addition of Michigan State in 1949 restored the conference members to ten teams, where it remained until Penn State was added in 1990. Michigan State has had great success as a member of the Big Ten, winning national championships in 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, and 1966.

Answer: Minnesota

It is fairly obvious that the University of Minnesota, located in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, is the northernmost of the ten schools. But it is perhaps less obvious that it is also the westernmost school. This is because Iowa City, the home of the University of Iowa, is in the eastern part of Iowa, and therefore is about 60 miles east of the twin cities.

Answer: Ohio State

Ohio State running back Archie Griffin won the Heisman as a Junior in 1974, and again as a Senior in 1975. OSU also had Heisman Trophy winners with Vic Janowicz in 1950, and Howard "Hopalong" Cassady in 1955. Since Griffin's era the trend has been for players to turn pro after winning the Heisman, so it is doubtful there will ever be another repeat winner.

Woody Hayes coached the Buckeyes for 28 seasons, from 1951 to 1978. He was fired after he punched a Clemson player during the 1978 Gator Bowl. His offensive style was characterized as "three yards and a cloud of dust", so it is appropriate that his two-time Heisman winner was a running back.

Answer: Indiana

Indiana won NCAA basketball national championships in 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987, but it never won an outright Big Ten football title during the 1949-1990 period, although it did tie with two other teams in 1967 and went on to represent the Big Ten in the 1968 Rose Bowl, where it lost to USC.

It has an annual rivalry game on the football field with in-state rival Purdue called the Old Oaken Bucket, the name derived from an 1817 poem by Samuel Woodworth.

Answer: Wisconsin

Alan Ameche went on the play six successful seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts.

Answer: Northwestern

It is safe to say that Northwestern is more known for its academics than its athletics (not that there's anything wrong with that!).

Answer: Purdue

Purdue actually finished second in the Big Ten to Michigan State in 1966, but a conference rule against the same team going two years in a row gave the Rose Bowl nod to the Boilermakers. Bob Griese went on to have an outstanding 14-year pro career with the Miami Dolphins, including Super Bowl appearances in three straight years.

Answer: Michigan

With a capacity in excess of 100,000, Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the United States. The Wolverines have had an exceptionally successful football program, representing the Big Ten 11 times in the Rose Bowl during the 1949-1990 time period.

Answer: Illinois

Nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", Red Grange had successful pro football and then acting careers following his All-American years with the Illini from 1923 to 1925. In 2008 ESPN named Grange the best player in college football history.

Answer: Iowa

The period 1956-1960 was the golden age for the Iowa Hawkeyes. They finished in the top five of the national rankings in four of those years, and won three Big Ten Conference titles. After the 1960 season Evashevski left coaching to become the Athletic Director, and Hawkeye fortunes went into a tailspin.