Intriguing Big Ten Championship Day Set for South Bend

11.03.2025College Men

Indiana has found the right feel in their attack pattern.

Author: Alex Goff

The final matchups are confirmed for the 2025 Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference Championship, with some familiar rivalries rounding out the fall.

The Championship Day will be hosted by the University of Notre Dame, with four matches deciding 7th/8th, 5th/6th, 3rd/4th, and the conference champs.

Shield Match - Purdue vs Illinois

Purdue and Illinois will open Championship Sunday in the Shield match. Both teams have shown flashes of promise throughout the season and now look to close out their campaigns with a strong performance.

Bowl Final - Michigan State vs Ohio State

The Bowl Final brings together Michigan State and Ohio State in a contest that highlights contrasting styles.

The Spartans, known for their forward dominance and set-piece execution, will look to control the tempo. Ohio State counters with speed and precision, aiming to stretch the field and capitalize on open play. With both teams hungry for postseason redemption, this matchup is expected to be tightly contested from start to finish.

Plate Final - Michigan vs Wisconsin

The Michigan Wolverines square off against the Wisconsin Badgers in a Plate Final that promises physicality and pace. Michigan’s rise this season has been marked by aggressive attacking phases and improved defensive structure. Wisconsin, a perennial contender, brings a disciplined and balanced approach, aiming to capture the Plate title with clinical execution and composure under pressure.

Cup Final - Indiana vs Notre Dame

In the headline match of the day, the Indiana Hoosiers take on Eastern Division champions Notre Dame in a rematch of last year’s semifinal. Indiana enters with renewed focus and a deep, experienced roster, while the Irish look to extend their conference winning streak and attempt to capture the title on home turf. With both squads boasting dynamic backlines and tactical prowess, the Cup Final is poised to be a showcase of elite collegiate rugby.

For Notre Dame, this has been one of their strongest seasons, with a powerful second-row/back-row unit and their offense is building and building.

The same can be said about Indiana.

Wisconsin

FINAL

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Notre Dame

Michigan State

FINAL

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Illinois

Purdue

FINAL

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Ohio State

Michigan

FINAL

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Indiana

Purdue

FINAL

11.09.25

Illinois

Michigan State

FINAL

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Ohio State

Wisconsin

FINAL

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Michigan

Indiana

FINAL

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Notre Dame

The Hoosiers' 38-10 win over a tough Michigan side was impressive.

Head Coach Luke Gross puts a lot of the credit for their offensive output on Nick Taylor. The former Chicago Hound has installed a new 2-4-2 attack pattern. It took some time for everyone to get fully comfortable with it, and it's starting to come together.

"It’s taken us this long to really hit our stride," said Gross. "We had moments of brilliance, but now it’s starting to click. And the thing is, a by-product of us trying to get that attack pattern to work, our defense is pretty strong."

Gross points to his side's 15-5 win over Wisconsin when they were backed up to their tryline for about 30 minutes and "we never cracked. That's become a point of pride for the boys."

Some very blunt film sessions have helped there, too.

So a more expansive offense and some pride in defense resulted in a fairly comprehensive win over the Wolverines.

"We have pretty strong backs, so if our forwards hold their own we do well," said Gross.

USA age-graders Emir Yuksel and Owen Welburn have continued to defend well in the back row. Captain Dalen Blanding is an interesting case in that he is relatively new to the game, and certainly is somewhat new to playing tighthead prop, he leads from the front.

"He is just a workhorse," said Gross. "His attitude, his work rate, and his leadership qualities are why he's captain."

Meanwhile, thanks to some injuries at hooker freshman Garrett Pederson has thrust into a starting role and was very good against Michigan.

On the attack, the halfback combination of Joey Ries and Tommy Hannon is what makes it work. And with seniors such as Parker Wall at center and Will Logan at lock they have embraced the new challenges.

One more remains, a very good Notre Dame side.

"It’s going to be a tough one," said Gross. "We're going to have to bring."

Junior Varsity Championship

Ohio State’s 2nd side will face Indiana in a rematch of last year’s thrilling contest, continuing a competitive rivalry between two deep programs. This JV championship remains a point of pride for the teams.