Big Ten softball tournament

Last updated
Big Ten softball tournament
Sport Softball
Conference Big Ten Conference
Number of teams12
Format Single elimination
Current stadium Bittinger Stadium
Current location West Lafayette, Indiana
Played1982, 1995–2008, 2013–present
Last contest 2025
Current champion Michigan
Most championships Michigan (12)
TV partner(s) BTN

The Big Ten softball tournament is the conference championship tournament in softball for the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I softball tournament.

Contents

History

The Big Ten softball tournament began in 1982 and then took a hiatus until the tournament was reinstated in 1995. The tournament was held from 1995–2008 until the Big Ten switched back to using the regular season champion for the automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament. The Big Ten reinstated the conference tournament in 2013 and has been held at the conclusion of the regular season ever since. Tournaments held in 1982 and 1995–2003 used a double elimination format. Tournaments from 2004–2008 and 2013–present have used a single elimination format. [1] [2]

The inaugural tournament in 1982 included Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Ohio State, which were the only Big Ten schools with varsity softball programs at the time. [3] Penn State started Big Ten play in 1992 after a few years of independence and playing in the Atlantic 10 Conference. [4] Purdue began their program in 1995, followed by Wisconsin in 1996 and Illinois in 2001. Nebraska left the Big 12 Conference and joined the Big Ten for the 2012 season, and then Maryland and Rutgers came on board in 2015 from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East Conference, respectively.

When USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington join the Big Ten Conference for the 2024–25 school year, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington will begin league play for the 2025 season. [5] [6] As of 2022, USC does not have a softball program nor any intention of starting one up after performing a study around 2002. [7]

Champions

By year

YearSchoolSite
1982 Northwestern Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1995 Michigan Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1996 Michigan Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1997 Michigan Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA
1998 Michigan Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1999 Minnesota Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2000 Michigan Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA
2001 Iowa Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2002 Michigan Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2003 Iowa Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA
2004 Michigan State Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2005 Michigan Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2006 Michigan Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2007 Ohio State Buckeye Field • Columbus, OH
2008 Northwestern Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2013 Wisconsin Bowlin Stadium • Lincoln, NE
2014 Minnesota Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2015 Michigan Buckeye Field • Columbus, OH
2016 Minnesota Beard Field • State College, PA
2017 Minnesota Alumni Field • Ann Arbor, MI
2018 Minnesota Goodman Softball ComplexMadison, WI
2019 Michigan Andy Mohr FieldBloomington, IN
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022 Nebraska Secchia StadiumEast Lansing, MI
2023 Northwestern Eichelberger FieldChampaign, IL
2024 Michigan Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA
2025 Michigan Bittinger StadiumWest Lafayette, IN

By school

SchoolTitlesYears WonFirst Year in TournamentBegan Big Ten Play
Michigan 121995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2019, 2024, 202519821982
Minnesota 51999, 2014, 2016, 2017, 201819821982
Northwestern 31982, 2008, 202319821982
Iowa 22001, 200319821982
Michigan State 1200419821982
Nebraska 1202220132012
Ohio State 1200719821982
Wisconsin 1201320001996
Illinois 020012001
Indiana 019821982
Maryland 020152015
Penn State 019991992
Purdue 019971995
Rutgers 020152015
Oregon 020252025
UCLA 020252025
Washington 020252025

See also

List of Big Ten Conference softball champions

References

  1. "Softball Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  2. "Softball Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  3. "2021 B1G Softball Record Book, pg. 3" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  4. "2022 PSU Softball Media Guide" . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  5. "USC to Make Historic Move to Big Ten Conference in 2024". USC Athletics. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  6. "UCLA to Join Big Ten Conference at Start of 2024-25 Season". UCLA. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  7. Chan, Chris. "Why USC has No Softball Team". Softball Nation. Retrieved July 7, 2022.