The story
From earlier Ivy colleges (1933), as Ivy League first used by AP sports editor Alan J. Gould (1935). The title became official after the formation of the athletic conference in 1954. From the tradition of Ivy Day at many older colleges and universities, where ivy is planted to honor academic excellence.
First known use, by meaning
- from 1935 An association of eight universities in the USA, known for high quality.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.