1917 Big Ten Conference football season

1917 Western Conference football season
Sport	Football
Champion	Ohio State
Football seasons
←  1916 1918  →

1917 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Ohio State $	4	–	0	–	0			8	–	0	–	1
Minnesota	3	–	1	–	0			4	–	1	–	0
Northwestern	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	2	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	2	–	0			4	–	2	–	1
Illinois	2	–	2	–	1			5	–	2	–	1
Chicago	2	–	2	–	1			3	–	2	–	1
Indiana	1	–	2	–	0			5	–	2	–	0
Michigan	0	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Iowa	0	–	2	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
Purdue	0	–	4	–	0			3	–	4	–	0
$ – Conference champion

The 1917 Big Ten Conference football season was the twenty-second season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1917 college football season. Michigan's return brought membership up to ten schools, and this was the first year the Western Conference was referred to as the "Big Ten".

Season overview

Ohio State repeated as conference champions with a 4-0 league record, 8-0-1 overall.

Minnesota came in second at 4-1 (3-1 Big Ten) while Northwestern and Wisconsin tied for third at 3–2 in Big Ten play.

Illinois and Chicago tied for fifth with league records of 2–2–1. At 5-2 (1-2 Big Ten), Indiana came in seventh.

Michigan (0–1), Iowa (0–2), and Purdue (0–4) went winless in conference play.

Ohio State

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 29	Case	Ohio Field Columbus, OH	W 49–0
October 6	Ohio Wesleyan	Ohio Field Columbus, OH	W 53–0
October 13	Northwestern	Ohio Field Columbus, OH	W 40–0
October 27	Denison	Ohio Field Columbus, OH	W 67–0
November 3	vs. Indiana	Washington Park Indianapolis, IN	W 26–3
November 10	at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 16–3
November 17	Illinois	Ohio Field Columbus, OH (rivalry)	W 13–0
November 24	vs. Auburn *	Soldiers Field Montgomery, AL	T 0–0	10,000	[1]
November 29	Camp Sherman (Chillicothe)*	Ohio Field Columbus, OH	W 28–0
*Non-conference game

Minnesota

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 13	South Dakota State *	Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN	W 64–0
October 20	Indiana	Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN	W 33–9
November 3	at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	L 7–10	12,000
November 17	Chicago	Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN	W 33–0	14,000–16,000	[2]
November 24	at Illinois	Illinois Field Champaign, IL	W 27–6	4,500
*Non-conference game

Northwestern

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 6	Lake Forest *	Northwestern Field Evanston, IL	W 48–0
October 13	at Ohio State	Ohio Field Columbus, OH	L 0–40
October 27	Chicago	Northwestern Field Evanston, IL	L 0–7	12,000	[3]
November 3	at Purdue	Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN	W 12–6
November 10	Michigan Agricultural *	Northwestern Field Evanston, IL	W 39–6
November 17	Iowa	Northwestern Field Evanston, IL	W 25–14
November 24	Michigan	Northwestern Field Evanston, IL (rivalry)	W 21–12	5,232
*Non-conference game

Wisconsin

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 6	Beloit *	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	W 34–0
October 13	Notre Dame *	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	T 0–0
October 20	at Illinois	Illinois Field Champaign, IL	L 0–7
October 27	Iowa	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	W 20–0
November 3	Minnesota	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	W 10–7	12,000
November 10	Ohio State	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 3–16
November 24	at Chicago	Stagg Field Chicago, IL	W 18–0		[4]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

Illinois

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 6	Kansas *	Illinois Field Champaign, IL	W 22–0
October 13	Oklahoma *	Illinois Field Champaign, IL	W 44–0		[5]
October 20	Wisconsin	Illinois Field Champaign, IL	W 7–0
October 27	Purdue	Illinois Field Champaign, IL (rivalry)	W 27–0
November 3	at Chicago	Stagg Field Chicago, IL	T 0–0	20,000	[6]
November 17	at Ohio State	Ohio Field Columbus, OH (rivalry)	L 0–13
November 24	Minnesota	Illinois Field Champaign, IL	L 6–27	4,500
November 29	at Camp Funston *	Fort Riley, KS	W 28–0		[7]
*Non-conference game

Chicago

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 13	Vanderbilt *	Stagg Field Chicago, IL	W 48–0		[8]
October 20	Purdue	Stagg Field Chicago, IL(rivalry)	W 27–0		[9]
October 27	Northwestern	Stagg Field Chicago, IL	W 7–0	12,000	[3]
November 3	Illinois	Stagg Field Chicago, IL	T 0–0	20,000	[6]
November 17	at Minnesota	Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN	L 0–33	16,000	[2]
November 24	Wisconsin	Stagg Field Chicago, IL	L 0–18		[4]
*Non-conference game

Indiana

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
September 29	Franklin (IN) *	Jordan Field Bloomington, IN	W 50–0
October 6	Wabash *	Jordan Field Bloomington, IN	W 51–0
October 13	Saint Louis *	Jordan Field Bloomington, IN	W 40–0	[10] [11]
October 27	at Minnesota	Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN	L 9–33
November 3	vs. Ohio State	Washington Park Indianapolis, IN	L 3–26
November 10	DePauw	Jordan Field Bloomington, IN	W 35–0
November 24	at Purdue	Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)	W 37–0
*Non-conference game

^{[12] [13] [14]}

Michigan

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
October 6	Case *	Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 41–0	4,035
October 10	Western State Normal *	Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 17–13	2,906
October 13	Mount Union *	Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 69–0	3,657
October 17	Detroit *	Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 14–3	4,419
October 20	Michigan Agricultural *	Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	W 27–0	9,038
October 27	Nebraska *	Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 20–0	5,022
November 3	Kalamazoo *	Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 62–0	4,345
November 10	Cornell *	Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI	W 42–0	16,733
November 17	at Penn *	Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA	L 0–16	12,851
November 24	at Northwestern	Northwestern Field Evanston, IL (rivalry)	L 12–21	5,232
*Non-conference game Homecoming

Iowa

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
October 6	Cornell (IA) *	Iowa Field Iowa City, IA	W 22–13
October 13	Nebraska *	Nebraska Field Lincoln, NE (rivalry)	L 0–47
October 20	Grinnell *	Iowa Field Iowa City, IA	L 0–10
October 27	at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI (rivalry)	L 0–20
November 3	Great Lakes Navy *	Iowa Field Iowa City, IA	L 14–23
November 10	South Dakota *	Iowa Field Iowa City, IA	W 35–0
November 17	at Northwestern	Northwestern Field Evanston, IL	L 14–25
November 24	Iowa State *	Iowa Field Iowa City, IA (rivalry)	W 6–3
*Non-conference game Homecoming

Purdue

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 6	Franklin (IN) *	Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN	W 54–0
October 13	DePauw *	Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN	W 7–6
October 21	at Chicago	Stagg Field Chicago, IL (rivalry)	L 0–27		[9]
October 27	at Illinois	Illinois Field Champaign, IL (rivalry)	L 0–27
November 3	Northwestern	Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN	L 6–12
November 17	Wabash *	Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN	W 28–0
November 24	Indiana	Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)	L 0–37
*Non-conference game

^[15]

Bowl games

No Western Conference schools participated in any bowl games during the 1917 season.

All-American honors

Main article: 1917 College Football All-America Team

Ends

Charles Bolen.

• Charles Bolen , Ohio State (MS; WE-1; JV-2; PP-1; DJ)

Tackles

• George Hauser , Minnesota (WE-1; JV-1; PP-1)
• Albert Benbrook, Michigan; Ft. Sheridan (College Football Hall of Fame) (PPS)

Guards

• Frank Culver, Michigan (JV-2; PP-1)
• Ernest Allmendinger, Michigan; Ft. Sheridan (WC-1)
• C. G. Higgins, Chicago (MS; WE-2)
• John Ulrich, Northwestern (WE-2)

Centers

• Paul Des Jardien, Chicago; Ft. Sheridan (College Football Hall of Fame) (PPS)
• Oscar P. Lambert, Michigan (WE-2)

Quarterbacks

• Archie Weston, Michigan (WE-1)

Fullbacks

Chic Harley.

• Chic Harley , Ohio State (College Football Hall of Fame) (WE-1; JV-1; PP-1; DJ)
• Cedric C. Smith, Michigan; Great Lakes (WC-1)
• Bob Koehler, Northwestern (WE-2)

Key

NCAA recognized selectors for 1917

• WC = Collier's Weekly All Service team as selected by Walter Camp ^[16]
• JV = Jack Veiock of the International News Service ^{[17] [18] [19]}
• PP = Paul Purman, noted sports writer whose All-American team was syndicated in newspapers across the United States, of the Newspaper Editors Association ^{[17] [18] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]}
• PPS = Paul Purman's All Service selection ^[17]
• MS = Frank Menke Syndicate, by Frank G. Menke ^{[17] [18]}

Other selectors

• WE = Walter Eckersall, of the Chicago Tribune ^[28]
• DJ = Dick Jemison, of the Atlanta Constitution . ^[17]
• NYT = All Service eleven of The New York Times . ^[17]

Bold = Consensus All-American ^[29]

• 1 – First-team selection
• 2 – Second-team selection
• 3 – Third-team selection

All-Big Ten selections

Main article: 1917 All-Western college football team

Ends

• Charles Bolen , Ohio State (FM, HP, LA, LGS, PD)
• W. M. Kelley, Wisconsin (FM, GWA, LA, LGS, PD)
• Charles Laun, Iowa (GWA)
• Alan Boyd, Michigan (HP)

Tackles

• George Hauser , Minnesota (FM, HB, GWA, LA, LGS, PD)
• Harold J. Courtney, Ohio State (LA, LGS, PD [guard])

Guards

• Charles Higgins, Chicago (FM, GWA, LA, PD)
• Elmert T. Rundquist, Illinois (FM [tackle], LA, LGS)
• Conrad L. Eklund, Minnesota (GWA, LGS, PD [tackle])
• John Ulrich, Northwestern (FM)
• Joseph Hanish, Michigan (HP)
• Whiting, Camp Grant – Chicago (REAL)

Centers

• Frank Culver, Michigan (HP)
• Pottinger, Great Lakes Naval Training Station – Wisconsin (REAL)

Quarterbacks

• Archie Weston , Michigan (FM, LA [halfback], LGS)
• Eber Simpson, Wisconsin (LA, PD)
• Howard Yerges Sr., Ohio State (GWA)

Halfbacks

• Chic Harley , Ohio State (FM, GWA, HP, LA, LGS) (CFHOF)
• Eber Simpson, Wisconsin (GWA)
• James B. Craig, Fort Sheridan / Michigan (REAL)

Fullbacks

• Bob Koehler , Northwestern (FM, GWA, LA, LGS)
• Cedric C. Smith, Great Lakes Naval Training Station / Michigan (REAL)

References

1. "Auburn Tigers Play Ohio State To Scoreless Tie". The Atlanta Constitution. November 25, 1917. p. 3. Retrieved July 12, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
2. Albon Holden (November 18, 1917). "Gophers Swat Maroons, 33-0, Before 16,000: Stagg's Men Crushed by Attack of the Northmen". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Maroon (October 28, 1917). "Maroons' Drive Downs Purple, 7 to 0: Higgins Score Gives Chicago Hard Contest". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Maroon (November 25, 1917). "Badger Squad Deals Defeat To Staggs, 18-0". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Illinois open play topples Oklahoma in 44 to 0 contest". The Chicago Tribune. October 14, 1917. Retrieved February 21, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
6. Maroon (November 4, 1917). "Maroons Battle Illini to 0-0 Score: Zuppkes Miss Winning Kick by Scant Foot". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Funston Team Go Down To Their First Defeat". The Topeka Daily Capital. November 30, 1917. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Maroon (October 14, 1917). "Maroons Crush Southern Team in 48-0 Game: Vanderbilt Knocked Flat by Stagg's Newly Buit Machine". Chicago Tribune. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Stagg's Maroons Upset Purdue, 27-0: Higgins Stars as Green Line Holds Foemen". Chicago Tribune. October 21, 1917. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Miller, D. C. (October 13, 1917). "Crimson Eleven Is In Fair Shape". The Indianapolis Star . Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 13. Retrieved January 17, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
11. "Indiana Wallops St. Louis Eleven from Start, 40-0". St. Louis Globe-Democrat . St. Louis, Missouri. October 14, 1917. p. 13. Retrieved January 17, 2023– via Newspapers.com .
12. "1917 Indiana Hoosiers Schedule and Results". College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference . Retrieved December 29, 2023.
13. "1917 Football Schedule". Indiana University . Retrieved December 29, 2023.
14. "Indiana Football 2023 Record Book" (PDF). Indiana University. p. 12. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
15. "2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 82. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
16. "War and Football". Collier's Weekly. 60: 32. January 5, 1918.
17. Spalding's Football Guide
18. ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1150
19. Jack Veiock (December 11, 1917). "Veiock's All-American Elevens for 1917 Season". Logansport Pharos-Reporter.
20. Paul Purman (November 29, 1917). "East, West, South Give Stars To The Times-Tribune All-American Football Team For 1917 Season". Waterloo Times-Tribune.
21. Paul Purman (November 29, 1917). "East, West, South Give Stars To The Sentinel All-American Football Team For 1917 Season". The Fort Wayne Sentinel.
22. "East, West, South Give Stars To The Sheboygan Press All-American Team For 1917 Season". Sheboygan Press. November 30, 1917.
23. "The East, West and South Give Greatest Stars To The News Special All-American Football Team For 1917 Season". Des Moines Daily News. November 29, 1917.
24. "Purman's 1917 'All-American' Team". The Daily Alaska Dispatch. December 11, 1917.
25. "Captain Hauser Picked for Team: Paul Purnam, Special Writer, Gives Tackle Position to Gopher Captain". The Duluth News Tribune. December 4, 1917.
26. "East, West, South Give Stars to Purman's All-American Team". Albuquerque Morning Journal. December 3, 1917.
27. "East West South Give Stars to the Herald All American Football Team for 1917 Season". Grand Forks Herald. November 30, 1917.
28. ""All" Teams Picked By Walter Eckersall". Lincoln Daily Star. December 16, 1917.
29. "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2017.