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The Big Ten Rugby Conference (B1G Rugby) is a collegiate rugby league composed primarily of universities that are members of the Big Ten academic and athletic institutions, but it operates independently from the official Big Ten athletic conference. The league was formed to build on the traditional rivalries among these universities, but because of travel challenges, not every original Big 10 is in the rugby conference. Only seven of the teams that made up the Big 10 NCAA conference starting in the 1950s are in the Big Ten Rugby Conference. To even things out, the rugby conference added Notre Dame, which is a University with similar history and background to the Big Ten Universities.

This conference is split into West and East, with teams playing three conference games each. The top two from each side then play in semifinals, and the bottom two from each side play in 5th-place semifinals. Then all of the teams meet for a day of championship rugby in which all eight are placed 1st through 8th.

Of the eight teams in B1G Rugby, five play in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) postseason, while the other three play toward a College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) postseason.

Men's D1A

Updated: October 28, 2025
Indiana in black and Ohio State in red and a very rpetty sunset.
College Men

Storming First Half Sees Ohio State Past Indiana

Ohio State rode a 35-point first half to defeat Indiana 42-25 on a chilly Friday night in Columbus, Ohio.

The victory doesn't affect the Big Ten standings but it does set up a nice narrative for what could well be the conference final.

Army and Navy Fall 2026. Photo David Hughes.
College Men

Intensity Ramps Up In D1A Fall

D1A rugby heats up a bit this week with conferences now playing in earnest, and some key statement opportunities around the division.

Navy gets the measure of SVU. Photo David Hughes.
College Men

Did Rematches Get Revenge in D1A Weekend?

Life University got back on the winning track, Military Academies kept rolling, there was a big result in the Big 10, and Penn State made a statement—all this and more in D1A Saturday.

Leading the way might well be Ohio State's 31-24 defeat of defending Big 10 champs Notre Dame. In these pages GRR has hinted at an improved Buckeye team and it definitely seemed to be on display here.

Walsh vs Rio Grande 2026. Photo Alex Goff.
College Men

Preseason Moves Onward but Some Conferences Kick Off

It's still preseason time for D1A and NCR D1 teams but now we're thinking a little bit more about conference matches as well as what progress teams can make in non-conference games.

Ohio State's Jayden Williams. Photo David Hughes.
College Men

Big 10 Names All-Conference Selections

The Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference has announced its 2025 All‑Conference Teams, honoring the standout student‑athletes who delivered exceptional performances throughout a competitive and fast‑rising season for collegiate rugby in the Midwest.

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