December 8, 2025- Amid the nation’s worst blood shortage in a generation, the University of Wisconsin rallied Big Ten students, fans and alumni to take action, winning the Abbott and the Big Ten Conference “We Give Blood” competition and inspiring 15,476 blood donations that could save up to 46,428 lives. Overall donations in the competition surged 319% compared to 2024, marking a dramatic expansion of efforts to confront the national blood shortages. In just the first 22 days of the initiative, donations surpassed last year’s total as the entire Big Ten community united to strengthen the blood supply.
The University of Wisconsin held off the 2024 champion, the University of Nebraska, in a close battle and will receive $1 million from Abbott to advance student or community health. Overall, the conference recorded 83,043 blood donations, which could help save up to 250,000 lives in Big Ten communities and across the country, as each donation has the potential to save up to three lives. Several schools stayed neck and neck throughout the competition, with classic rivals like The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan locked in close races.