Snowy Big 10 Finals Crown Champions

11.10.2025College Men

Notre Dame wins snowy 2025 Big 10 final.

South Ben, Ind.– The 2025 Big Ten Universities Rugby Championship wrapped up Sunday in a snowstorm.

After the first two of the four matches on the day were done we had seen two entertaining matches in chilly but clear weather.

And then the snows came. The 3rd-4th match between Wisconsin and Michigan was played as the flakes fell, but the true snow dumping came during the final, which was played in almost blizzard coniditons.

Shield Final: Purdue 24, Illinois 19

Purdue kicked off Championship Sunday with a hard-fought 24–19 victory over Illinois in the Shield Final. In a back-and-forth contest, the resilient Boilermakers held off a late Illini surge to close the match and their season on a high note

Bowl Final: Ohio State 73, Michigan State 19

Ohio State delivered the day’s most dominant performance in the Bowl Final, overwhelming Michigan State 73-19 with a relentless display of speed and precision.

Hooker Paddy McMahon scored three tries, wing and captain Jack Dulik raced in for two, and fullback Tommy Kilbane nine of 11 conversions and scored a try for 23 points.

The Buckeyes’ backline carved through the Spartans’ defense, turning the contest into a showcase of attacking flair.

Plate Final: Wisconsin 22, Michigan 21

In perhaps the most dramatic finish of the day, Wisconsin edged Michigan 22–21 in the Plate Final to claim third place overall.

The Badgers’ composure under pressure proved decisive as they held off the Wolverines over the final 20 minutes and thwarted a last-minute breakaway to secure the narrowest of victories.

Cup Final: Notre Dame 12, Indiana 0

In a rematch of last year’s semifinal, the Cup Final saw host Notre Dame shut out Indiana in a gritty 12–0 victory amid relentless snow. With visibility obscured and footing treacherous, the Irish relied on tactical discipline and unwavering defense to stifle the Hoosiers’ attack.

Their ability to adapt to the harsh conditions and execute under pressure proved decisive, securing the conference title on home turf. Notre Dame broke through in the 29th minute with a powerful lineout maul finished by loosehead prop Andrew Cansfield, giving the Irish a 5–0 lead that held through much of the match.

As conditions worsened and scoring chances became scarce, it was No. 8 Jack Waterhouse who delivered the dagger, blasting through the line for a long-range try in the 75th minute to seal the win.

With the victory, Notre Dame gets a bye to the NCR D1 quarterfinals. Indiana also qualifies for the NCR D1 postseason, but will have a play-in game Nov. 22.