The University will once again participate in the nationwide Abbott and Big Ten Conference “We Give Blood” contest, which begins on Wednesday. The competition will see 18 Big Ten universities go head-to-head, and contest organizers will calculate which school’s students, staff, alumni and fans donate the most blood during the fall college football season.
The winning school will receive $1 million in funding from Abbott towards student and community health at the respective university campus.
Abbott and the Big Ten launched the drive in 2024 as a response to blood shortages in the United States, and the contest has since saved over 60,000 lives. Last year, Abbott awarded the University of Nebraska–Lincoln the $1 million check, tallying close to 4,000 donors.
The 2025 We Give Blood drive will begin on Wednesday and continue until December 5. Anyone across the country can donate in support of a Big Ten school of their choice. Organizers will announce the winner on December 6 at the Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game.
Abbott has labeled it a rivalry “on and off the football field” as the Big Ten schools race for first place. More information is available on the Big Ten website.
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