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The Big Ten Conference is the oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives in 1896, it predates the founding of its regulating organization, the NCAA. It is based in the Chicago area in Rosemont, Illinois. For many decades the conference consisted of ten prominent universities, which accounts for its name. On August 2, 2024, the conference expanded to 18 member institutions and 2 affiliate institutions. The conference competes in the NCAA Division I and its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A, the highest level of NCAA competition in that sport.
Robert Carl Zuppke was an American football coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 1913 until 1941, compiling a career college football record of 131–81–12. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, Zuppke coached his teams to national titles in 1914, 1919, 1923, and 1927. Zuppke's teams also won seven Big Ten Conference championships. While at the University of Illinois, Zuppke was a member of the Alpha-Gamma chapter of Kappa Sigma. Among the players Zuppke coached at Illinois was Red Grange, the era's most celebrated college football player. The field at the University of Illinois's Memorial Stadium is named Zuppke Field in his honor. Zuppke is credited for many football inventions and traditions, including the huddle and the flea flicker. In 1914, he reintroduced the I formation.
Patrick Keary Jerel Colbert is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the wide receivers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).
David Walter Bowens is a former American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL draft. He played college football at Michigan.
Dana Cortez Howard is an American former professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Rams and the Chicago Bears. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 1995 NFL draft.
The 2004 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game held on January 1, 2004 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was the 90th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 28-14. USC quarterback Matt Leinart was named the Rose Bowl Player of the Game.
Jerry R. Kill is an American football coach. He was most recently the head coach at New Mexico State University. He played college football at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, from 1979 to 1982. Kill served as the head coach at Saginaw Valley State University, Emporia State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Northern Illinois University and the University of Minnesota, as well as serving as the interim head coach for the final four games of the 2021 season at TCU.
The Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) was a college athletic conference that existed from 1908 to 1970 in the United States.
Todd Carter is a former American football placekicker. He was signed by Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football for Grand Valley State University.
William Christopher Johnson is an American football coach and former fullback who is the running backs coach for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League (USFL). After graduating from West Virginia University in 2011, Johnson sat out an entire year prior to being granted permission to participate in West Virginia’s 2012 Pro Day. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in March 2012 after his second consecutive Pro Day appearance. He was also a member of the New York Giants.
Steve Szabo is a former American football player and coach. He played football and lacrosse for the United States Naval Academy from 1961 to 1965. After four years of military service, Szabo held coaching positions with 18 collegiate and professional football teams from 1969 to 2011. He served as the head football coach at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 1987, compiling a record of 15–15–1.
Jeff Hecklinski is an American football coach and former player. He was most recently the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at San Diego State University from 2020–2022.
John Leslie Cornell Jr. is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). Cornell originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Cornell played college football at Illinois. Cornell is currently head coach of the Quincy Notre Dame Raiders.
Brandon Alexander "BT" Jordan is an American football player who most recently was a defensive assistant coach for the Ohio State football team. He was a pass rush specialist coach for Michigan State in 2022. In 2023, he was hired by the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League as a pass rush specialist. After spending one season in Seattle, Jordan left the Seahawks to return to the college ranks as a defensive assistant for the Ohio State football team. He played college football at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and attended Merrillville High School in Merrillville, Indiana. He has also been a member of the Wichita Wild, Chicago Slaughter and BC Lions.
Michael Brandon Peters is an American former college football quarterback. He played at Michigan before transferring to Illinois.
Rod Smith is an American football coach and former player who is currently the offensive coordinator at Jacksonville State University. Prior to that, he was an offensive analyst at the University of Virginia. Smith has also served as the interim head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.
Nate Hobbs is an American professional football cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and was selected by the Raiders in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Payton Thorne is an American football quarterback for the Auburn Tigers. Thorne played for the Michigan State Spartans from 2019 to 2022.
Bryce Baringer is an American professional football punter for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan State.
Trevor Keegan is an American professional football offensive guard for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023. Keegan was twice named to the All-Big Ten team. He was selected by the Eagles in the 2024 NFL draft.
