Today marks the beginning of a significant chapter in the history of the Big Ten Conference as we celebrate the full integration of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We are thrilled to officially welcome Nebraska, an institution whose values seamlessly mirror those that the conference has held for more than 115 years.

Nebraska’s strong academic reputation and history of athletic success make the school exceptionally well-suited for membership. Since its formation in 1896, the Big Ten’s mission has always been to excel in athletics without compromising the priority its member institutions assign to their academic standards and commitment to student academic success. This balance of academics and athletics is integral to the Big Ten’s identity. Over the years, Big Ten student-athletes have been pushed to not only succeed on the field of play and in the classroom, but throughout the world as well. We humbly honor those that have done it well, and we strive every day to provide all of our student-athletes with the tools that they will need to become leaders for the rest of their lives—in their homes, jobs, communities and around the world.

Nebraska brings to the Big Ten its own rich history and traditions. Among other things, Nebraska adds to the Big Ten’s football legacy that now includes 18 Heisman Trophy winners and 215 College Football Hall of Famers. Nebraska Heisman Trophy winners Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier and Eric Crouch are names that we all know well and respect. We are proud to count them among our many accomplished student-athletes. The university also strengthens the conference academically. All Big Ten universities, including our newest member, own Tier One Status as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching – a distinction awarded to just over 100 universities nationwide.

The addition of Nebraska not only gives the Big Ten Conference 12 member institutions for the first time in its history, it also brings the total number of conference-sponsored athletic teams to 298. Other than the Ivy League, the Big Ten has the most broad-based athletic programs in the United States. This upcoming academic year, Big Ten universities will provide over $120 million in direct financial aid to more than 9,500 student-athletes competing for 25 conference championships.

The Big Ten is excited to showcase Nebraska through its many media agreements. Over 900 conference events are nationally produced and distributed annually, more than any other conference. In addition to athletic competition, BTN—the first nationally distributed conference-owned television network—provides an avenue for the university to showcase its many academic accomplishments to a national audience.

Nebraska fans will find that the Big Ten is a conference dedicated not only to academic and athletic excellence, but also to sportsmanship, gender equity and the overall student-athlete experience. The conference and its member institutions facilitate competitive environments that are fair and respectful. A national leader in gender equity, the Big Ten has created 2,000 new opportunities for women and established 28 new teams since 1992. At the forefront of student-athlete welfare, the Big Ten was first to establish a conference-wide concussion management plan.

The Big Ten last added an institution—Penn State University—in 1990, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. Having had innumerable interactions with the staff and fans from Nebraska over the last year, we are confident that this union will be equally successful. The Big Ten is impressed by the quality of those associated with the university and humbled by the passion of its fans. We know that Husker Nation will make a tremendous addition to the best fan base in the country, and we look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

We welcome you to the Big Ten with open arms, Nebraska, and look forward to starting this new chapter of our history together.

Sincerely, James E. Delany Big Ten Conference Commissioner