A casual fan's guide to the expanded Big Ten

Zoom in: We put together a guide to bring you up to speed on new teams, traditions, mascots and players you might not know.

University of Illinois

Location: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

Mascot: N/A. They retired Chief Illiniwek in 2007.

Most notable players: Defensive standouts Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph are gone, so the Illini defense will count on Florida State transfer Dennis Briggs. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is back after ending last season injured.

Last championship: The Illini have won Rose Bowls, but nothing bigger.

The big picture: The Illini took a step back last year after pushing for a Big Ten title in 2022. Coach Bret Bielema returns for his fourth season, but many of the stars that helped him have early success have either graduated or transferred.

• It also doesn't help that Illinois has a brutal season that features road games at Penn State and Oregon, as well as a home game versus Michigan.

The vibe: It's the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium this season, so that should bring some excitement to campus.

1 tradition to know: Block I is the place to be near on game days. The student section gets really creative with sign stunts and chants.

Indiana University

Location: Bloomington, Indiana

Mascot: Officially, none. Unofficially, a "Hoosier" or a bison.

Most notable player: Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who transferred from Ohio University and has earned some pre-season hype.

Last championship: Nationally? Is this a joke? Never. Two Big Ten conference championships — 1945 and 1967.

The big picture: It's the first year under Curt Cignetti, who was previously head coach at James Madison and has never had a losing season during his coaching career. With eight home games, and an easy non-conference schedule, hopes are high for Hoosier fans.

The vibe: IU is a basketball school, but every fall fans make a good effort to be a football school. Most of that effort is in the notorious tailgating fields. The grass lots are where the party is at. The paved lots are for older alums and other fans who don't mind paying extra for a little less craziness.

University of Iowa

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Mascot: Herky the Hawk

Most notable player: Jay Higgins is the team's star linebacker and helped shape the Hawkeyes to have one of the nation's best defenses last year.

• The Indy native tied a school record with 171 tackles last year and the All-American linebacker is planning on a strong senior year.

Last championship: Big Ten Championship in 2004.

The big picture: This is the first time in decades that Kirk Ferentz won't be coaching the season opener after he was suspended due to impermissible recruiting contact.

• All eyes will be on Seth Wallace, the assistant head football coach, instead.

The vibe: Be prepared to bring some Casey's pizzas and Busch Lights and have a good time.

• Iowa is known for its heavy drinking, but the football games are also known for their family-friendly atmosphere.

1 tradition to know: The Hawkeye Wave is one of the best college football tradition nationwide, hands down.

University of Maryland

Location: College Park, Maryland

Mascot: Testudo, a diamondback terrapin

Last championship: 1953, but won the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2001.

The big picture: The team has made bowl game appearances for the last three years — and won all of them. This year, their schedule could allow the Terps to qualify for a bowl game again, but that will likely depend on how the team performs without star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.

• The good news is Maryland gets to avoid playing Ohio State this year — a team they have lost to every year since joining the Big Ten in 2014, except for the shortened 2020 season when the teams did not meet.

The vibe: Check out Terp Alley about two hours before kickoff to catch the team walking into the stadium, surrounded by the dance team, cheerleaders and marching band.

1 tradition to know: Rub the bronze diamondback terrapin on campus for good luck.

University of Michigan

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Mascot: None

Key players: Quarterback Alex Orji, defensive lineman Mason Graham

Last championship: 2023

The big picture: Michigan's title defense will be with a new coach Sherrone Moore, new quarterback and lots of other new faces. But the expanded college football playoffs and U of M's blue blood status make the Wolverines a good bet to make the postseason.

• A win against Ohio State would be their fourth straight.

The vibe: Michigan tailgates have a wine-and-cheese reputation. But the students know how to party.

• The fanbase has adopted the air of invincibility of former coach Jim Harbaugh, who continues to deny knowledge of the sign-stealing scheme.

Michigan State University

Location: East Lansing, Michigan

Mascot: Sparty

Key player: New quarterback Aidan Chiles

Last championship: 1966

The big picture: New coach Jonathan Smith was hired from Oregon State to rebuild the program after last year's 4-8 finish. Smith is counting on Chiles, an 18-year-old Oregon State transfer, to lead the offense despite playing only 91 snaps last season.

The vibe: Spartans can be a feisty bunch on game day. With U of M down the road, MSU is accustomed to the underdog role. But the embarrassment surrounding former coach Mel Tucker's firing last season still looms over Spartan Stadium. The fanbase's support could fall off quickly if MSU gets off to a slow start.

University of Minnesota

Location: Minneapolis

Mascot: Goldy Gopher

Last championship: 1960 (national title); 1967 (Big Ten title)

The big picture: Last year's disappointing 6-7 record should put some pressure on head coach P.J. Fleck, who enters his eighth season in Minnesota.

• The return of star running back Darius Taylor, who missed much of last year with an injury, should help the team.
• But the Gophers have a tough schedule this year and should find themselves again on the bubble of making a bowl game.

The vibe: Huntington Bank Stadium turns 15 this season and having games on campus has helped get more students to games and brought better tailgating.

• Ultimately, fans have shown up when the team wins, but when things go south, the stadium can feel pretty dead. Students have plenty of entertainment options, with campus located near the heart of the city.

University of Nebraska

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska

Mascot: Two, actually! Herbie Husker and Lil' Red.

Most notable players: The true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola will helm the offense. He committed to Ohio State and Georgia before flipping to Nebraska. He's one of the best prospects in the 2024 class.

Last championship: They've won five, but their last was in 1997.

The big picture: The cornhuskers enter year two under the direction of former NFL coach Matt Rhule. He got Raiola to come to Lincoln, but he also scored transfers like Texas wide receiver Isaiah Neyor and USC cornerback Ceyair Wright.

Yes, but: It's not a given that will translate into wins. Rhule's first year was underwhelming as the Cornhuskers lost the final four games to end 5-7.

• They have tough matchups this year versus Colorado, Ohio State and USC.

The vibe: Big Red football is legendary. They dominated the Big Eight conference for years, but haven't seen that same success since they moved to the Big Ten in 2011.

1 tradition to know: For years, fans would release red helium balloons into the air after the first Cornhusker score at Memorial Stadium, but due to a helium shortage, the practice was discontinued in 2022.

Northwestern University

Location: Evanston, Illinois

Mascot: Willie the Wildcat, although it used to be a real live bear pup.

Most notable players: Defensive end Adrian Hubbard and quarterback Mike Wright, who transferred in from Mississippi State.

Last championship: For Women's Lacrosse? 2023. For football? Never.

• But Northwestern has won eight Big Ten championships, most recently in 2000.

The big picture: The Wildcats had a surprisingly good year in 2023 under new coach David Braun, who was promoted to head coach after the university fired Pat Fitzgerald over a hazing scandal. The team found a defensive identity under Braun and rattled off five straight wins to end last season, including the Las Vegas Bowl.

The vibe: Northwestern will play games on a makeshift soccer field on campus. Ryan Field has been demolished and a new stadium should be ready for the 2026 campaign. They will also play two games at Wrigley Field this season.

1 tradition to know: Rattle those keys! NU Fans rattle their keys during the opening kickoff. Sure, it's no keg stand at a tailgate, but it is something!

Ohio State University

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Mascot: Brutus Buckeye

Key players: Take your pick. This team is stacked, with about as many five-star recruits as the rest of the Big Ten combined.

Last championship: 2014

The big picture: Head coach Ryan Day's record may be 56-8, but Buckeyes fans are getting restless after three straight losses to their despised rivals up north.

• Big Ten Championship? Deep College Football Playoff run? Both are very possible, but to many, none of that matters unless Day's team can whip the Wolverines.

The vibe: A sea of scarlet and gray tailgaters takes over campus long before kickoff. If somebody shouts "O-H" into the distance, a hearty "I-O" is a mandatory response. (Give it a try.)

• Before you head to Ohio Stadium, check out the Skull Session at nearby St. John Arena to get hyped.
• We hope you like the song "Hang on Sloopy."

1 tradition to know: Nobody will judge if you go just to see the band perform "Script Ohio" and cheer as somebody "dots the i," a beloved tradition dating back to the '30s.

University of Oregon

Location: Eugene, Oregon

Mascot: "The Oregon Duck" or simply "The Duck." Based on Disney's Donald Duck character via a one-of-a-kind license agreement.

Most notable player: Wide receiver Tez Johnson and quarterback Dillon Gabriel are both ones to watch this year. It's Gabriel's first year as a Duck — coming from the University of Oklahoma — and he's an early favorite for the Heisman.

• Johnson played alongside former Duck and now Broncos quarterback Bo Nix last season, racking up 86 catches across 1,200 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.

Last championship: Seven Pac-12 Conference championships, the last in 2019.

The big picture: The new conference is a massive change for UO athletes, who will likely travel more often and face a wider range of competition.

• Fans aren't happy.

The vibe: Some tailgaters march with the football team two hours before the game down to Moshofsky Center at Autzen Stadium, where there's beer, wine, $3 hot dogs and $5 burgers.

• While Autzen is known for being very loud and rowdy, tailgating before the game is typically family-friendly.

1 tradition to know: We throw the O — the most perfect letter, even if it's not first in the alphabet. Singing "Shout" between the third and fourth quarter is a surefire way to get fans fired up.

• Plus: The Duck on a Harley leads the team out onto the field each game.

Penn State University

Location: State College, Pennsylvania

Mascot: Nittany Lion

Most notable player: Quarterback Drew Allar

Last championship: 1986

The big picture: No. 8 Penn State is starting in the top 10 of the AP preseason poll for the third time in the last five seasons.

• The Nittany Lions won 10 games last year for the fifth time under head coach James Franklin, but two of their three losses were to Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan.
• They settled for a Peach Bowl appearance after many expected them to make the College Football Playoff.

The vibe: A raucous, rollicking environment. Truly one of the best places in the country to watch a college football game, especially under the lights.

1 tradition to know: The annual "White Out" game. Football broadcaster Chris Fowler dubbed it "monochromatic mayhem," Sports Illustrated the "Greatest Show in College Sports."

• It's 110,000 boisterous fans, all clad in white. Plus, they energize the crowd by playing Zombie Nation's "Kernkraft 400," a song now synonymous with Penn State, during key moments in the game.

Purdue University

Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Mascot: The Boilermaker Special and Purdue Pete

Last championship: No real ones, but the Boilermakers were recognized as national co-champion by college football historian Parke Davis in 1931.

The big picture: Purdue comes into this season under the guidance of second-year head coach Ryan Walters, who is quick to acknowledge the collective chip on the team's shoulder after pundits put his program at the bottom of every Big Ten power ranking.

• Purdue went just 3-6 in the conference, 4-8 overall last season.

The vibe: Despite a disappointing 2023, expect Ross-Ade Stadium to be rocking all 2024 as the West Lafayette campus continues to be a great place for tailgating, team spirit and chanting "Boiler Up!" for hours.

• The Purdue All-American Marching Band also puts on an awesome free show on Slayter Hill before home games.

Rutgers University

Location: New Brunswick, New Jersey

Mascot: Sir Henry the Scarlet Knight

Most notable player: Running back Kyle Monangai

Last championship: 1869, when Ulysses S. Grant was president.

• The season lasted eight days and consisted of just two games between Rutgers and Princeton. They were co-champions since they each won one.

The big picture: Rutgers was once a college-football punchline, but now they've got what is at least a puncher's chance to make noise in the reconstituted Big Ten.

• Head coach Greg Schiano, in his second stint with the team, has restored respectability to the program. Led by a potent ground game, the Scarlet Knights last year capped their first winning season since 2014 with a victory over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl.
• Monangai, a fifth-year senior, skipped out on the NFL Draft to return this year. He eclipsed 100 yards seven times last season, including against Ohio State, en route to the Big Ten rushing title.

The vibe: Schiano is wildly popular in Piscataway, so expect the stands at SHI Stadium to be fuller as excitement builds for what some pundits have billed the "most underrated team" in the country.

• And if they're a letdown, well, you can always Stuff Yer Face with a stromboli.

1 tradition to know: Rutgers is the birthplace of college football.

University of California, Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles

Mascot: Joe and Josie Bruin

Key person: First year head coach DeShaun Foster

Last championship: 1954, during the days of President Eisenhower.

The big picture: Saying UCLA is a basketball school might be an understatement, but that's the truth. During the Chip Kelly era starting in 2018 and ending last season, the Bruins won one bowl game. At their best in 2022, they peaked at No. 12 in the college football playoff rankings, which at least this year would get them into the postseason tournament.

The vibe: Playing their home games at Rose Bowl Stadium is majestic in itself. You can tailgate at the stadium beforehand and take in all the history of "The Granddaddy of them All." The main chant for the Bruins is pretty standard: eight claps, followed by "U-C-L-A! U-C-L-A! Fight, fight, fight!"

• And any day USC loses is a good day.

University of Southern California

Location: Los Angeles

Mascot: Tommy Trojan and the majestic white horse Traveler, which is accompanied by a Trojan Warrior

Key player: Quarterback Miller Moss

Last championship: 2004

The big picture: USC football has been seemingly defined by eras of great players from Marcus Allen and Junior Seau to Reggie Bush and Caleb Williams.

• Now, Moss is looking to build on the success Williams had under head coach Lincoln Riley which saw him put over 8,000 yards passing, 72 touchdowns, just 10 interceptions and one Heisman Trophy.
• When Williams opted out of last season's Holiday Bowl, Moss was able to shine — throwing for six touchdowns, a record for that game.

The vibe: Tailgating before the game on campus requires reserving a pass three-weeks in advance to avoid fees. You can also set up shop around the Coliseum, though space can be limited. Arrive at the game early to see Traveler make his entrance and take in the history of the Trojans football program.

University of Washington

Location: Seattle

Mascot: Harry the Husky and Dubs II, an Alaskan malamute

Key people: Quarterback Will Rogers and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick

Last championship: 1991. They lost the 2023 title game to the University of Michigan.

The big picture: Washington has some big shoes to fill this season after losing quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Rome Odunze to the NFL draft along with head coach Kalen DeBoer to the University of Alabama. Those subtractions plus a rather stacked Big Ten could make for a rocky first year in the new conference for the Huskies.

The vibe: Not often do you get a chance to enjoy a time honored tradition at the place where it took off. But if you make it to a Huskies game and participate in the wave, you'll be doing just that. The school claims it made the wave famous in 1981, and it's still going strong.

• Plus, throw your voice behind the "Go Huskies" chant as one side yells, "Go!" and the other says, "Huskies!"

University of Wisconsin

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Mascot: Bucky Badger

Key players: This is a traditional Big Ten team so no shockers that they are offensive tackle Riley Mahlman and edge rusher John Pius.

Last championship: Technically none, but if you ask some diehards they might claim 1942 when they were selected by the Helms Athletic Foundation as the national champion.

The big picture: Seeing a game at Camp Randall Stadium is an absolute treat for any college football fan. The campus is beautifully situated between Lake Monona and Lake Mendota, and Wisconsin embodies the Big Ten culture of physical football that's won in the trenches.

The vibe: Get ready to jump around. It's a college tradition like no other and when the first riff of the House of Pain song hits the ears of nearly 80,000 fans, you can't help but leave your feet. Also be prepared to see red and white striped overalls everywhere around Madison on game day.

Axios reporters Isaac Avilucea, Lindsey Erdody, Meira Gebel, Joe Guillen, Nick Halter, Justin Kaufmann, Justin L. Mack, Linh Ta, Ross Terrell and Alissa Widman Neese contributed to this story.