# 2021 Big Ten Conference men's soccer season

The 2021 Big Ten Conference men's soccer season is the 31st season of men's varsity soccer in the conference. The season began in August 2021 and concluded in November 2021.
The season will culminate with the 2021 Big Ten Men's Soccer Tournament to determine the conference's automatic berth into the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament.

## Background
### Previous season

The previous season was the 30th season of men's varsity soccer in the conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Big Ten regular season was postponed and began on February 3, 2021 and concluded on April 17, 2021. The season culminated with the 2020 Big Ten Men's Soccer Tournament to determine the conference's automatic berth into the 2020 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament. Indiana defeated Penn State in the Big Ten Men's Soccer Championship Game.
With the Big Ten title, Indiana earned the conference's automatic berth into the 2020 NCAA Tournament, where Maryland, and Penn State joined as at-large berths. Maryland was eliminated in the Second Round, while Penn State were eliminated in the Third Round, and Indiana lost in the 2020 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship Game.

## Head coaches

    As of the 2021 season
| Team | Head coach | Previous job | Years at school | Overall record | Record at school | Big Ten record | NCAA Tournaments | NCAA College Cups | NCAA Titles |
| Indiana | Todd Yeagley | Wisconsin | 10 | 129–54–36 (.671) | 122–45–34 (.692) | 35–15–18 (.647) | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Maryland | Sasho Cirovski | Hartford | 27 | 412–156–60 (.704) | 386–143–53 (.709) | 24–9–7 (.688) | 25 | 9 | 3 |
| Michigan | Chaka Daley | Providence | 8 | 151–165–48 (.481) | 61–54–21 (.526) | 23–20–9 (.529) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan State | Damon Rensing | Michigan State (asst.) | 11 | 117–66–30 (.620) | 117–66–30 (.620) | 31–26–13 (.536) | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Northwestern | Tim Lenahan | Lafayette | 19 | 305–209–72 (.582) | 169–140–51 (.540) | 36–60–20 (.397) | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio State | Brian Maisonneuve | Indiana (asst.) | 3 | 1–15–2 (.111) | 1–15–2 (.111) | 0–7–1 (.063) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Penn State | Jeff Cook | Bethlehem Steel (asst.) | 3 | 127–104–36 (.543) | 6–9–2 (.412) | 3–3–2 (.500) | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Rutgers | Jim McElderry | Fordham | 2 | 127–125–37 (.503) | 0–0–0 (–) | 0–0–0 (–) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | John Trask | UIC | 11 | 129–96–55 (.559) | 75–72–29 (.509) | 26–28–10 (.484) | 2 | 0 | 0 |

## Preseason
### Preseason poll

The preseason poll was released on August 23, 2021. Indiana was selected unanimously as the favorite to win the Big Ten.
| | Team Ranking |
| 1. | Indiana |
| 2. | Penn State |
| 3. | Michigan |
| 4. | Maryland |
| 5. | Michigan State |
| 6. | Rutgers |
| 7. | Ohio State |
| 8. | Northwestern |
| 9. | Wisconsin |

### Preseason national polls

The preseason national polls were released in August 2021.
| | United Soccer | CSN | Top Drawer Soccer |
| Indiana | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Maryland | — | 28 | — |
| Michigan | — | — | — |
| Michigan State | — | — | — |
| Northwestern | — | — | — |
| Ohio State | — | — | — |
| Penn State | 11 | 12 | 10 |
| Rutgers | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — | — |

## Postseason
### Big Ten Tournament

The Big Ten Tournament was held from November 7–14, 2021.
| Quarterfinals November 7 | Quarterfinals November 7 | Quarterfinals November 7 | Semifinals November 10 | Semifinals November 10 | Semifinals November 10 | Championship November 14 | Championship November 14 | Championship November 14 |
| 1 | Penn State | 2 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Michigan State | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Michigan State | 0 | 1 | Penn State | 2 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Michigan | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Michigan | 2 | 4 | Michigan | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 1 | | | | 1 | Penn State | 3 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Indiana | 0 |
| 3 | Indiana | 1 | | | | | | | 3 | Indiana | 0 |
| 6 | Rutgers | 0 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Rutgers | 0 | 3 | Indiana (a.e.t.) | 1 | | | |
| | | | 7 | Northwestern | 0 | | | |
| 2 | Maryland | 0 (2) | 7 | Northwestern | 0 | | | |
| 7 | Northwestern (pen.) | 0 (3) | | | | | | |