Dartmouth Announces Historic Move to Big 10 Athletic Conference

On Tuesday, Dartmouth Athletic Director Joseph Gornstein announced that Dartmouth will be leaving the Ivy League athletic conference and moving to the Big 10 conference this fall.

This move follows other athletic powerhouses from around the country, such as Oregon and Washington, who announced earlier in the month that they would be joining the Big 10. UCLA and USC will also join the conference in 2024.

In both 2019 and 2021, Dartmouth was the highest-ranked football team in the Ivy League. 

“With our program’s record over the past few decades, it makes sense that we take it to the next level,” said Dartmouth Football coach Robert Lipp. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but no one can say we haven’t consistently put out the strongest college football team in the country. Or, at least among small liberal arts colleges in the Northeast.” 

Dartmouth’s entrance into the Big 10 opens opportunities to play more teams from around the country. In fact, the University of Michigan team has been invited to play right here at Memorial Field for the homecoming game on Oct. 21.

“Originally, we were supposed to play Columbia, one of our lesser Ivy League rivals,” said Dartmouth linebacker Jason Katz ‘24. “But now, a completely new team from halfway across the country is coming in to play us. It’ll be great for morale when we crush them into the dirt!”

Dartmouth Athletics PR Director Ashley Goldman is confident that the University of Michigan team doesn’t know what they’re in for.

“Sure, they may have the largest stadium in the country. But who’s counting? I just know that their minds will be blown when they see Memorial Field. What we lack in size, we make up for in spirit!”

University of Michigan wide receiver and senior Louis Conners is surprised by their new rival, but is looking forward to the Homecoming Game.

“They’re really joining the Big 10? Really?” He then shrugged and added, “I mean, a win is a win.”  

It would seem that Dartmouth Football agrees with Conners on the satisfaction of a powerful victory. Running back Josh Kolak ‘26 added that, “after last year’s heartbreaking loss to Harvard, a powerful win over a brand new enemy will bring Dartmouth Football right back to the top!”

As of press time, Indiana University Bloomington is expected to take Dartmouth’s place in the Ivy League due to its unfortunate 2-7 record last season, mirroring the Big Green’s 3-7.

— CB ’26