<P> The Chicago Maroons football represents the University of Chicago in college football . The Maroons , which play in NCAA Division III , are football - only member of the Midwest Conference starting with the 2017 season . From 1892 to 1939 , the Maroons were a major college football power . The University of Chicago was a founding member of the Big Ten Conference and the Maroons were coached by Amos Alonzo Stagg , one of the game 's pioneers , for 41 seasons . In 1935 , halfback Jay Berwanger became the first recipient of the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy , later known as the Heisman Trophy . Nonetheless , in the late 1930s , university president Robert Maynard Hutchins decided that big - time college football and the university 's commitment to academics was not a good fit . The University of Chicago abolished its football program in 1939 and withdrew from the Big Ten in 1946 . Football returned to the University of Chicago in 1963 in the form of a club team , which was upgraded to varsity status in 1969 . The Maroons began competing in Division III in 1973 . </P>
<P> The Chicago Maroons football represents the University of Chicago in college football . The Maroons , which play in NCAA Division III , are football - only member of the Midwest Conference starting with the 2017 season . From 1892 to 1939 , the Maroons were a major college football power . The University of Chicago was a founding member of the Big Ten Conference and the Maroons were coached by Amos Alonzo Stagg , one of the game 's pioneers , for 41 seasons . In 1935 , halfback Jay Berwanger became the first recipient of the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy , later known as the Heisman Trophy . Nonetheless , in the late 1930s , university president Robert Maynard Hutchins decided that big - time college football and the university 's commitment to academics was not a good fit . The University of Chicago abolished its football program in 1939 and withdrew from the Big Ten in 1946 . Football returned to the University of Chicago in 1963 in the form of a club team , which was upgraded to varsity status in 1969 . The Maroons began competing in Division III in 1973 . </P>
when did the university of chicago leave the big ten
when did the university of chicago leave the big ten
1946
1946