Research Publications

Founded in 1896, the Big Ten Conference is one of the cornerstone collegiate athletic leagues in the United States, initially grouping together universities from the Midwest known for both their academic and athletic excellence, particularly in football. Over the years, the conference has expanded several times, growing its footprint and boosting its influence in collegiate sport.

Significant additions over the decades have included powerhouse football programs like Penn State in 1990, Nebraska in 2011, and Maryland and Rutgers in 2014. Each of these expansions broadened the Big Ten's geographic and market reach, pulling in new fan bases and opening up additional television markets.

2024 marks the most drastic change yet with the addition of USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington from the Pac-12. This expands the Big Ten's territory from coast to coast, increasing travel for athletic teams. It also reflects a larger trend of collegiate sport decisions being increasingly driven by financial considerations over traditional regional rivalries and geographic boundaries., 

Institutions like the University of Michigan (U-M) are increasingly committed to sustainability, raising questions about how to reconcile environmental goals with the realities of increased carbon emissions resulting from conference expansion. This report aims to explore these challenges by estimating the impact of travel-related emissions for U-M football, examining the alignment of increased travel emissions with sustainability commitments, and proposing strategies to mitigate environmental impacts while maintaining the conference’s competitive spirit.