Is the University of Virginia in the Big Ten like Ohio State?

No. The University of Virginia is not in the Big Ten; it is a longtime member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), while Ohio State competes in the Big Ten. UVA and Ohio State may meet in occasional nonconference games, early-season tournaments, or NCAA championship events, but they are not regular conference opponents.

For football, UVA’s recurring schedule is built around ACC schools such as Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, and Miami rather than Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State. Its most prominent annual rivalry is the Commonwealth Clash with Virginia Tech. Ohio State’s football experience is more centered on Big Ten traditions, including its annual rivalry with Michigan and frequent games against nationally prominent conference programs.

Both schools offer major-college athletics and compete at the NCAA Division I level, but their sports profiles have different emphases. Ohio State is especially identified with large-scale Big Ten football culture, while UVA has a highly visible athletic tradition across several sports, including basketball, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, and tennis. At UVA, students can still find strong game-day energy and high-level competition, but the conference identity, opponents, and rhythm of the season will feel distinctly ACC rather than Big Ten.