Big Ten Soccer Roundup: Early Leaders Emerge as Conference Play Kicks Off

Jonathan Turner
Sep 16, 2025
2 min read

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Big Ten Soccer Roundup: Early Leaders Emerge as Conference Play Kicks Off

The Big Ten men’s and women’s soccer seasons are officially underway, and opening weekend results have already set the tone for a wide-open race on both sides of the table.

Men’s Soccer: Maryland, Michigan, Rutgers Start Strong

Five teams took maximum points in the first round of Big Ten men’s play, with Maryland, Michigan, Rutgers, UCLA and Washington each moving to 1–0–0 in the standings.

Maryland (4-0-1 overall) and Michigan (4-0-2) remain unbeaten on the season and look like early contenders.
Rutgers (4-1-1) kept pace with a strong home result.
Newcomers UCLA (1-3-2) and Washington (3-2-2) both notched wins in their first Big Ten matches.

Traditional power Indiana (5-1-1) stumbled in its opener, while Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State and Wisconsin also fell. Ohio State (3-3-0) had the bye. With heavyweights set to meet over the next two weeks, including Michigan hosting Indiana and Maryland visiting Washington, the early table is primed for quick movement.

Key Men’s Matches This Week

Michigan vs. Indiana — A showdown between two of the league’s most consistent programs, with the Hoosiers looking to bounce back.
Maryland at Washington — A cross-country clash highlighting the new Big Ten landscape.
Rutgers at Penn State — Early points on the line between two teams eager to climb into the top tier.

Women’s Soccer: Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, Washington Claim First Wins

On the women’s side, four teams grabbed early control of the standings. Penn State, Purdue, UCLA and Washington each opened league play with victories to move to 1–0–0.

Penn State defended its home turf to stay perfect at Jeffrey Field.
Purdue and Washington picked up valuable road wins.
UCLA, beginning its first Big Ten campaign, delivered a statement home result.

Meanwhile, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State and Rutgers each earned a point from opening-day draws, leaving a crowded middle pack.

Maryland, Oregon, USC and Wisconsin all dropped their openers and will look to rebound next weekend.

Key Women’s Matches This Week

Penn State at Michigan — The Wolverines test their defense against one of the league’s most dynamic attacks.
UCLA at Northwestern — A clash between a West Coast newcomer and a traditional Big Ten contender.
Purdue vs. Indiana — In-state bragging rights and valuable points on the line.

What’s Next

With expansion bringing the West Coast powers into the mix, the Big Ten’s men’s and women’s tables already feature a fresh look. Early success for UCLA and Washington shows they’re ready to contend immediately, while traditional contenders like Maryland, Michigan and Penn State remain firmly in the chase.

The coming weeks promise heavyweight showdowns that could quickly reshape both races as teams jockey for position in one of college soccer’s deepest conferences.