| 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.
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]
| Year | School | Site | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Northwestern | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 1995 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 1996 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 1997 | Michigan | Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA | |
| 1998 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 1999 | Minnesota | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 2000 | Michigan | Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA | |
| 2001 | Iowa | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 2002 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 2003 | Iowa | Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA | |
| 2004 | Michigan State | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 2005 | Michigan | Wilpon Complex • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 2006 | Michigan | Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL | |
| 2007 | Ohio State | Buckeye Field • Columbus, OH | |
| 2008 | Northwestern | Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL | |
| 2013 | Wisconsin | Bowlin Stadium • Lincoln, NE | |
| 2014 | Minnesota | Drysdale Field • Evanston, IL | |
| 2015 | Michigan | Buckeye Field • Columbus, OH | |
| 2016 | Minnesota | Beard Field • State College, PA | |
| 2017 | Minnesota | Alumni Field • Ann Arbor, MI | |
| 2018 | Minnesota | Goodman Softball Complex • Madison, WI | |
| 2019 | Michigan | Andy Mohr Field • Bloomington, IN | |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | |||
| 2022 | Nebraska | Secchia Stadium • East Lansing, MI | |
| 2023 | Northwestern | Eichelberger Field • Champaign, IL | |
| 2024 | Michigan | Pearl Field • Iowa City, IA |
| School | Titles | Years Won | First Year in Tournament | Began Big Ten Play | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 11 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2019, 2024 | 1982 | 1982 | |
| Minnesota | 5 | 1999, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 | 1982 | 1982 | |
| Northwestern | 3 | 1982, 2008, 2023 | 1982 | 1982 | |
| Iowa | 2 | 2001, 2003 | 1982 | 1982 | |
| Michigan State | 1 | 2004 | 1982 | 1982 | |
| Nebraska | 1 | 2022 | 2013 | 2012 | |
| Ohio State | 1 | 2007 | 1982 | 1982 | |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 2013 | 2000 | 1996 | |
| Illinois | 0 | – | 2001 | 2001 | |
| Indiana | 0 | – | 1982 | 1982 | |
| Maryland | 0 | – | 2015 | 2015 | |
| Penn State | 0 | – | 1999 | 1992 | |
| Purdue | 0 | – | 1997 | 1995 | |
| Rutgers | 0 | – | 2015 | 2015 |
List of Big Ten Conference softball champions