1968 Big Ten Conference football season | |
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Sport | American football |
Number of teams | 10 |
Top draft pick | Leroy Keyes |
Champion | Ohio State |
Season MVP | Ron Johnson |
1968 Big Ten Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Ohio State $ | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Michigan | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 10 Purdue | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan State | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 0 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1968 Big Ten Conference football season was the 73rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1968 NCAA University Division football season.
The 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, under head coach Woody Hayes, compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the Big Ten championship, defeated USC in the 1969 Rose Bowl, and was recognized as the consensus national champion. Offensive end Dave Foley was a consensus first-team All-American, and offensive tackle Rufus Mayes was also recognized as a first-team All-American by two selectors. Running back Jim Otis led the team with 985 rushing yards and 102 points scored, and Rex Kern led the team with 1,506 yards of total offense. Linebacker Jack Tatum was a first-team All-Big Ten player.
The 1968 Michigan Wolverines football team, under head coach Bump Elliott, finished in second place with an 8–2 record and was ranked No. 12 in the final AP Poll. Michigan was ranked No. 4 before losing to Ohio State, 50–14, in the final game of the season. In a victory over Wisconsin, Ron Johnson set an NCAA record with 347 rushing yards. Johnson led the Big Ten with 1,391 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the conference's most valuable player. Quarterback Dennis Brown led the conference with 1,562 passing yards and 1,777 yards of total offense. Defensive back Tom Curtis set a new Big Ten single season record with 10 interceptions.
The 1968 Purdue Boilermakers football team, under head coach Jack Mollenkopf, was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll before losing to Ohio State in week four. The Boilermakers finished in third place and were ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll. Leroy Keyes rushed for 1,003 yards (second to Ron Johnson) and finished second in the 1968 Heisman Trophy voting (behind O. J. Simpson). Keyes was the first Big Ten player selected in the 1969 NFL/AFL Draft with the third overall pick. Keyes and middle guard Chuck Kyle were both selected as first-team consensus All-Americans. Quarterback Mike Phipps totaled 1,096 passing yards.
Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | AP final | AP high | Overall record | Conf. record | PPG | PAG | MVP |
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1 | Ohio State | Woody Hayes | #1 | #1 | 10–0 | 7–0 | 32.3 | 15.0 | Mark Stier |
2 | Michigan | Bump Elliott | #12 | #4 | 8–2 | 6–1 | 27.7 | 15.5 | Ron Johnson |
3 (tie) | Purdue | Jack Mollenkopf | #10 | #1 | 8–2 | 5–2 | 29.1 | 16.7 | Leroy Keyes |
3 (tie) | Minnesota | Murray Warmath | NR | #15 | 6–4 | 5–2 | 20.7 | 19.0 | Wayne King |
5 (tie) | Indiana | John Pont | NR | #13 | 6–4 | 4–3 | 25.0 | 26.2 | Harry Gonso Al Gage |
5 (tie) | Iowa | Ray Nagel | NR | NR | 5–5 | 4–3 | 32.2 | 28.9 | Ed Podolak |
7 | Michigan State | Duffy Daugherty | NR | #12 | 5–5 | 2–5 | 20.2 | 15.1 | Al Brenner |
8 (tie) | Illinois | Jim Valek | NR | NR | 1–9 | 1–6 | 10.7 | 33.3 | Rich Johnson |
8 (tie) | Northwestern | Alex Agase | NR | NR | 1–9 | 1–6 | 10.9 | 32.5 | Jack Rudnay |
10 | Wisconsin | John Coatta | NR | NR | 0–10 | 0–7 | 8.6 | 31.0 | Ken Criter |
Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1968 season [1]
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1968 season [1]
PPG = Average of points scored per game [1]
PAG = Average of points allowed per game [1]
MVP = Most valuable player as voted by players on each team as part of the voting process to determine the winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy; trophy winner in bold [2]
The Big Ten Conference football teams opened their seasons with nine non-conference games resulting in five wins and five losses. Northwestern's game was played on Friday, September 20, 1968, and the other eight games were played on Saturday, September 21, 1968. Ohio State had a bye week.
On September 28, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams played 10 non-conference games resulting in four wins and six losses, bringing the conference's record against non-conference opponents to 9–11 on the season.
On October 5, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams played three conference games and four non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in three wins and one loss, bringing the conference's record against non-conference opponents to 12–12 on the season.
On October 12, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two losses, bringing the conference's record against non-conference opponents to 12–14 on the season.
On October 19, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in one win and one loss, bringing the conference's record against non-conference opponents to 13–15 on the season.
On October 26, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games both resulted in victories, bringing the conference's record against non-conference opponents to 15–15 on the season.
On November 2, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams played five conference games.
On November 9, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams played five conference games.
On November 16, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams played five conference games.
On November 23, 1968, the Big Ten Conference football teams concluded their regular seasons with five conference games.
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The 1969 Rose Bowl matched No. 1 Ohio State against No. 2 USC led by Heisman Trophy winner O. J. Simpson. The Buckeyes defeated the Trojans, 27–16, before a crowd of 102,063 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Simpson rushed for 171 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run. USC had five turnovers, including two by O. J. Simpson. [23]
On December 24, 1968, the University of Michigan announced that head football coach Bump Elliott would assume a new job as associate athletic director and that a new football coach was being sought. [24] Two days later, the university announced that Bo Schembechler had been hired as Elliott's replacement. [25]
The Big Ten's individual statistical leaders for the 1968 season include the following: [1]
Rank | Name | Team | Yards [1] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Dennis Brown | Michigan | 1,562 |
2 | Dave Shelbourne | Northwestern | 1,358 |
3 | Larry Lawrence | Iowa | 1,307 |
4 | Harry Gonso | Indiana | 1,109 |
5 | Mike Phipps | Purdue | 1,096 |
Rank | Name | Team | Yards [1] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ron Johnson | Michigan | 1,391 |
2 | Leroy Keyes | Purdue | 1,003 |
3 | Jim Otis | Ohio State | 985 |
4 | Rich Johnson | Illinois | 973 |
5 | Ed Podolak | Iowa | 937 |
Rank | Name | Team | Yards [1] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jade Butcher | Indiana | 713 |
2 | Jim Mandich | Michigan | 565 |
3 | Bruce Hubbard | Northwestern | 551 |
4 | Al Bream | Iowa | 518 |
5 | Chip Litten | Minnesota | 481 |
Rank | Name | Team | Yards [1] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Dennis Brown | Michigan | 1,777 |
2 | Dave Shelbourne | Northwestern | 1,514 |
3 | Rex Kern | Ohio State | 1,506 |
4 | Larry Lawrence | Iowa | 1,468 |
5 | Harry Gonso | Indiana | 1,432 |
Rank | Name | Team | Points [1] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ron Johnson | Michigan | 114 |
2 | Jim Otis | Ohio State | 102 |
3 | Leroy Keyes | Purdue | 90 |
4 | Jade Butcher | Indiana | 60 |
4 | Larry Lawrence | Iowa | 60 |
4 | Jim Carter | Minnesota | 60 |
The following players were picked by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1968 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Offense
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Quarterback | Dennis Brown | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Running back | Ron Johnson | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Running back | Leroy Keyes | Purdue | AP, UPI |
Running back | Ed Podolak | Iowa | AP |
Running back | Perry Williams | Purdue | UPI |
Offensive end | Jade Butcher | Indiana | AP, UPI |
Offensive end | Jim Mandich | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Offensive tackle | Rufus Mayes | Ohio State | AP, UPI |
Offensive tackle | Dave Foley | Ohio State | AP, UPI |
Offensive guard | Gary Roberts | Purdue | AP, UPI |
Offensive guard | Jon Meskimen | Iowa | AP |
Offensive guard | Dick Enderle | Minnesota | UPI |
Center | Jack Rudnay | Northwestern | AP, UPI |
Defense
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Defensive end | Phil Seymour | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Defensive end | Bob Stein | Minnesota | AP, UPI |
Defensive tackle | Charles Bailey | Michigan State | AP |
Defensive tackle | Tom Goss | Michigan | AP |
Defensive tackle | Bill Yanchar | Purdue | UPI |
Middle guard | Chuck Kyle | Purdue | AP, UPI [DT] |
Linebacker | Ken Criter | Wisconsin | AP, UPI |
Linebacker | Jack Tatum | Ohio State | AP, UPI |
Linebacker | Noel Jenke | Minnesota | AP |
Linebacker | Tom Stincic | Michigan | UPI |
Defensive back | Al Brenner | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Defensive back | Tom Curtis | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Defensive back | Ted Provost | Ohio State | AP |
Defensive back | Nate Cunningham | Indiana | UPI |
At the end of the 1968 season, three Big Ten players secured consensus first-team honors on the 1968 College Football All-America Team. [26] The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Offensive end | Dave Foley | Ohio State | AFCA, AP, CP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, FN, Time, WCFF |
Running back | Leroy Keyes | Purdue | AFCA, AP, CP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, FN, Time, TSN, WCFF |
Middle guard | Chuck Kyle | Purdue | AFCA, CP, FWAA, UPI, WCFF |
Other Big Ten players who were named first-team All-Americans by at least one selector were:
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Offensive tackle | Rufus Mayes | Ohio State | Time, TSN |
Running back | Ron Johnson | Michigan | FWAA, FN |
Defensive tackle | Bob Stein | Minnesota | WCFF |
Defensive back | Al Brenner | Michigan State | AFCA, NEA |
In December 1968, the Heisman Trophy was awarded to O. J. Simpson of USC. Two Big Ten players finished among the top six in the voting for the trophy. They were: Purdue running back Leroy Keyes (second) and Michigan running back Ron Johnson (sixth). [27]
The following Big Ten players were among the first 100 picks in the 1969 NFL/AFL Draft: [28]
Name | Position | Team | Round | Overall pick |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leroy Keyes | Running back | Purdue | 1 | 3 |
Rufus Mayes | Offensive tackle | Ohio State | 1 | 14 |
Ron Johnson | Running back | Michigan | 1 | 20 |
Dave Foley | Offensive tackle | Ohio State | 1 | 26 |
Ed Podolak | Running back | Iowa | 2 | 48 |
Tom Stincic | Linebacker | Michigan | 3 | 68 |
Rich Johnson | Running back | Illinois | 3 | 78 |
Dennis Hale | Defensive back | Minnesota | 4 | 85 |
Jim Sniadecki | Linebacker | Indiana | 4 | 86 |
Perry Williams | Running back | Purdue | 4 | 90 |
The 1980 Northwestern Wildcats team was an American football team that represented Northwestern University during the 1980 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Rick Venturi, the Wildcats finished in last place in the Big Ten Conference, compiled a 0–11 record, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 444 to 151. The team played its home games at Dyche Stadium in Evanston, Illinois.
The 1964 Big Ten Conference football season was the 69th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1964 NCAA University Division football season.
The 1980 Big Ten Conference football season was the 85th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season.
The 1948 Big Nine Conference football season was the 53rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Nine Conference and was a part of the 1948 college football season.
The 1938 Big Ten Conference football season was the 43rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1938 college football season.
The 1939 Big Ten Conference football season was the 44th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1939 college football season.
The 1949 Big Nine Conference football season was the 54th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Nine Conference and was a part of the 1949 college football season.
The 1950 Big Ten Conference football season was the 55th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1950 college football season.
The 1956 Big Ten Conference football season was the 61st season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1956 NCAA University Division football season.
The 1955 Big Ten Conference football season was the 60th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1955 college football season.
The 1954 Big Ten Conference football season was the 59th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1954 college football season.
The 1971 Big Ten Conference football season was the 76th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1971 NCAA University Division football season.
The 1972 Big Ten Conference football season was the 77th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1972 NCAA University Division football season.
The 1973 Big Ten Conference football season was the 78th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1973 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1974 Big Ten Conference football season was the 79th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1974 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1975 Big Ten Conference football season was the 80th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1975 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1976 Big Ten Conference football season was the 81st season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1976 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1977 Big Ten Conference football season was the 82nd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1977 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1978 Big Ten Conference football season was the 83rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season.
The 1984 Big Ten Conference football season was the 89th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season.