Big Ten softball tournament explained

Big Ten softball tournament
Sport:Softball
Conference:Big Ten Conference
Number Of Teams:12
Format:Single elimination
Current Stadium:Eichelberger Field
Current Location:Champaign, Illinois
Years:1982, 1995–2008, 2013–present
Most Recent:2024
Current Champion:Michigan
Most Championships:Michigan (11)
Television: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.

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 and UCLA join the Big Ten Conference for the 2024–25 school year, UCLA 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
1982NorthwesternWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1995MichiganWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1996MichiganWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1997MichiganPearl Field • Iowa City, IA
1998MichiganWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
1999MinnesotaWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2000MichiganPearl Field • Iowa City, IA
2001IowaWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2002MichiganWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2003IowaPearl Field • Iowa City, IA
2004Michigan StateWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2005MichiganWilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI
2006MichiganDrysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2007Ohio StateBuckeye Field • Columbus, OH
2008NorthwesternDrysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2013WisconsinBowlin Stadium • Lincoln, NE
2014MinnesotaDrysdale Field • Evanston, IL
2015MichiganBuckeye Field • Columbus, OH
2016MinnesotaBeard Field • State College, PA
2017MinnesotaAlumni Field • Ann Arbor, MI
2018MinnesotaGoodman Softball Complex • Madison, WI
2019MichiganAndy Mohr FieldBloomington, IN
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022NebraskaSecchia StadiumEast Lansing, MI
2023NorthwesternEichelberger FieldChampaign, IL
2024MichiganPearl Field • Iowa City, IA

By school

SchoolTitlesYears WonFirst Year in TournamentBegan Big Ten Play
Michigan111995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2019, 202419821982
Minnesota51999, 2014, 2016, 2017, 201819821982
Northwestern31982, 2008, 202319821982
Iowa22001, 200319821982
Michigan State1200419821982
Nebraska1202220132012
Ohio State1200719821982
Wisconsin1201320001996
Illinois020012001
Indiana019821982
Maryland020152015
Penn State019991992
Purdue019971995
Rutgers020152015

See also

List of Big Ten Conference softball champions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Softball Record Book . September 12, 2019 . June 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170606000935/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/w-softbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/Softball_Record_Book.pdf . dead .
  2. Web site: Softball Record Book . https://web.archive.org/web/20210811201949/https://bigten.org/documents/2021/7/29/2022_B1G_Softball_Record_Book.pdf . dead . August 11, 2021 . May 27, 2022.
  3. Web site: 2021 B1G Softball Record Book, pg. 3 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210813162853/https://bigten.org/documents/2020/9/22//2021_B1G_Softball_Record_Book.pdf?id=6822 . dead . August 13, 2021 . June 2, 2022.
  4. Web site: 2022 PSU Softball Media Guide . June 2, 2022.
  5. Web site: USC to Make Historic Move to Big Ten Conference in 2024 . June 30, 2022 . USC Athletics . en.
  6. Web site: UCLA to Join Big Ten Conference at Start of 2024-25 Season . June 30, 2022 . UCLA . en.
  7. Web site: Chan, Chris . Why USC has No Softball Team . July 7, 2022 . Softball Nation . en.