The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a private research university in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney,

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 1900.

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, founded in 1883.

The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, founded in 1847.

Michigan State University (MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan.

The University of Virginia (U.Va. or UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson.