The most powerful, influential moment of the 2010s for Nebraska athletics came early in the decade, when Nebraska bolted from the Big 12 Conference to join the Big Ten Conference, a move that would offer more stability and financial gain, while also expanding opportunities for student-athletes, both in sports and academics. The Big Ten’s board of presidents and chancellors unanimously welcomed Nebraska to the Big Ten on June 11, 2010, and the move became official on July 1, 2011, giving the conference 12 schools. The announcement came the same week fellow Big 12 member Colorado said it was joining what would become the Pac 12, marking the beginning of conference realignment across the nation that would dominate headlines throughout the first half of the decade.

In football, Nebraska joined the Big Ten as a member of the Legends Division, along with Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern. The Leaders Division featured Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The Huskers won the Legends Division in only their second season but lost to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game. The divisional format was short lived, as Maryland and Rutgers joined the conference in 2014, giving us the current West Division/East Division format.

Nebraska’s first Big Ten home football game resulted in the largest comeback in school history in a 34-27 win over Ohio State at Memorial Stadium. The No. 14 Huskers trailed 27-6 early in the third quarter when linebacker Lavonte David stripped and recovered a fumble at the Ohio State 23-yard line. That led to a quick touchdown, and the Husker offense caught fire from there, with running back Rex Burkhead contributing a couple of highlight-reel touchdowns.

It’s probably no surprise that one of Nebraska’s most consistently successful programs throughout the decade collected the athletic department’s first team regular-season Big Ten championship. John Cook’s volleyball team won the title in the Huskers’ inaugural Big Ten season, the first of three Big Ten volleyball championships. Baseball (2017), Women’s Gymnastics (2011, 2012, 2014, 2017), Soccer (2013), Softball (2014), Women’s Tennis (2013), Men’s Track and Field (2013, 2015, 2016, 2019) and Women’s Track and Field (2012) have also won regular-season Big Ten Championships, with Women’s Basketball and Soccer each winning a Big Ten Tournament title.