1984 Big Ten Conference 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.
The 1984 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, under head coach Earle Bruce, compiled a 9–3 record, won the Big Ten championship, led the conference in scoring offense, lost the 1985 Rose Bowl to USC, and was ranked No. 13 in the final AP poll. Running back Keith Byars set a Big Ten record with 1,764 rushing yards, won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten's most valuable player, was selected as a consensus All-American, and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. Offensive guard Jim Lachey was also selected as a consensus All-American.
The 1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, under head coach Hayden Fry, compiled an 8–4–1 record, led the conference in scoring defense, defeated Texas in the 1984 Freedom Bowl, and was ranked No. 15 in the final UPI poll. Linebacker Larry Station was a consensus All-American. Chuck Long was the first-team All-Big Ten quarterback and led the conference with a 156.4 passing efficiency rating, and Ronnie Harmon was a first-team All-Big Ten running back.
The 1984 Illinois Fighting Illini football team, under head coach Mike White, compiled a 7–3 record and finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten. Wide receiver David Williams set Big Ten records with 101 receptions and 1,278 receiving yards and was a consensus All-American.
The 1984 Purdue Boilermakers football team compiled a 7–5 record, tied with Illinois for second place in the Big Ten, and lost to Virginia in the 1984 Peach Bowl. Leon Burtnett was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, and quarterback Jim Everett led the conference with 3,256 passing yards.
Six Big Ten teams played in bowl games, compiling a 1–5 record in those games.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Conf. RankTeamHead coachAP finalAP highOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAGMVP
1Ohio StateEarle Bruce#13#29–37–232.616.7Keith Byars
2 IllinoisMike WhiteNRNR7–36–329.419.0David Williams
2 PurdueLeon BurtnettNR#147–56–323.823.6Jim Everett
4 IowaBob Commings#16#58–4–15–3–127.615.5Ronnie Harmon
4 WisconsinDave McClainNR#207–4–15–3–120.217.2Al Toon
6 MichiganBo SchembechlerNR#36–65–417.816.7Mike Mallory
6 Michigan StateGeorge PerlesNRNR6–65–416.116.9James Morrissey
8MinnesotaLou HoltzNRNR4–73–617.628.7Rickey Foggie
9NorthwesternDennis GreenNRNR2–92–712.531.7Keith Cruise
10IndianaBill MalloryNRNR0–110–916.830.7Joe Fitzgerald

Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1984 season
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1984 season
PPG = Average of points scored per game; conference leader's average displayed in bold
PAG = Average of points allowed per game; conference leader's average displayed in bold
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

Regular season

September 1

On September 1, 1984, the Big Ten football season began with a single conference game.
On September 8, 1984, the Big Ten football teams played 10 non-conference games, resulting in eight wins and two losses.
On September 15, 1984, the Big Ten teams played 10 non-conference games, resulting in two wins and eight losses.
On September 22, 1984, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On September 29, 1984, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 6, 1984, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 13, 1984, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 20, 1984, the Big Ten football teams played five conference games.
On October 27, 1984, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 3, 1984, the Big Ten football teams played five conference games.
On November 10, 1984, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 17, 1984, the Big Ten teams played four conference games. Illinois and Northwestern did not play.
On December 1, 1984, the Big Ten's regular season came to an end with a single non-conference game.
Six of ten Big Ten football teams participated in post-season bowl games.

1985 Rose Bowl

On January 1, 1985, Ohio State lost to USC, 20-17, before a crowd of 102,594 in the 1985 Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Ohio State quarterback Mike Tomczak threw three interceptions.

1984 Peach Bowl

On December 31, 1984, Purdue lost to Virginia, 27-24, before a crowd of 41,107 in the 1984 Peach Bowl at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta. Purdue quarterback Jim Everett passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns, but the Boilermakers gained just 75 yards rushing and committed four turnovers in their first bowl loss.

1984 Hall of Fame Classic

On December 29, 1984, Wisconsin lost to Kentucky, 20-19, before a crowd of 47,300 in the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

1984 Freedom Bowl

On December 26, 1984, Iowa defeated Texas, 55–17, in the 1984 Freedom Bowl at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California.

1984 Cherry Bowl

On December 22, 1984, Michigan State lost to Army, 10–6, before a crowd of 70,336 at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.

1984 Holiday Bowl

On December 21, 1984, Michigan lost to BYU, 24-17, before a crowd of 61,248 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. Robbie Bosco, playing with an injured leg, led BYU's winning touchdown drive in the final quarter, ending with a touchdown pass from Bosco to Kelly Smith with 1:23 remaining. After the bowl season, BYU was recognized as the 1984 consensus national champion.

Statistical leaders

The Big Ten's individual statistical leaders include the following:

Passing yards

1. Jim Everett, Purdue
2. Chuck Long, Iowa
3. Jack Trudeau, Illinois
4. Steve Bradley, Indiana
5. Mike Howard, Wisconsin

Rushing yards

1. Keith Byars, Ohio State
2. Thomas Rooks, Illinois
3. Owen Gill, Iowa
4. Ronnie Harmon, Iowa
5. Marck Harrison, Wisconsin

Receiving yards

1. David Williams, Illinois
2. Steve Griffin, Purdue
3. Len Kenebrew, Indiana
3. Al Toon, Wisconsin
5. Randy Grant, Illinois

Total offense

1. Jim Everett, Purdue
2. Jack Trudeau, Illinois
3. Chuck Long, Iowa
4. Steve Bradley, Indiana
5. Mike Howard, Wisconsin

Passing efficiency rating

1. Chuck Long, Iowa
2. Jack Trudeau, Illinois
3. Mike Tomczak, Ohio State
4. Jim Everett, Purdue
5. Mike Howard, Wisconsin

Rushing yards per attempt

1. Larry Emery, Wisconsin
2. John Wooldridge, Ohio State
3. Keith Byars, Ohio State
4. Bob Perryman, Michigan
5. Casey Cummings, Northwestern

Yards per reception

1. Dwayne McMullen, Minnesota
2. Len Kenebrew, Indiana
3. Randy Grant, Illinois
4. Steve Griffin, Purdue
5. Rick Brunner, Purdue

Points scored

1. Keith Byars, Ohio State
2. Chris White, Illinois
3. Tom Nichol, Iowa
4. Rich Spangler, Ohio State
5. Todd Gregoire, Wisconsin

Awards and honors

All-Big Ten honors

The following players were picked by the Associated Press and/or the United Press International as first-team players on the 1984 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Offense
PositionNameTeamSelectors
QuarterbackChuck LongIowaAP, UPI
Running backKeith ByarsOhio StateAP, UPI
Running backRonnie HarmonIowaAP, UPI
Running backThomas RooksIllinoisUPI
CenterKirk LowdermilkOhio StateAP, UPI
GuardChris BabyarIllinoisAP, UPI
GuardJim LacheyOhio StateAP, UPI
TackleJeff DellenbachWisconsinAP, UPI
TackleJim JurigaIllinoisAP
TackleMark KrerowiczOhio StateUPI
Tight endCap BosoIllinoisAP
ReceiverAl ToonWisconsinAP, UPI
ReceiverDavid WilliamsIllinoisAP, UPI

Defense
PositionNameTeamSelectors
Defensive lineKeith CruiseNorthwesternAP, UPI
Defensive linePaul HuffordIowaAP, UPI
Defensive lineGeorge LittleIowaAP, UPI
Defensive lineKevin BrooksMichiganUPI
Defensive lineDarryl SimsWisconsinAP
LinebackerPepper JohnsonOhio StateAP, UPI
LinebackerMike MalloryMichiganAP, UPI
LinebackerLarry StationIowaAP, UPI
LinebackerJim MorrisseyMichigan StateUPI
LinebackerJoe FitzgeraldIndianaAP
Defensive backMike StoopsIowaAP, UPI
Defensive backRod WoodsonPurdueAP
Defensive backDevon MitchellIowaAP
Defensive backPhil ParkerMichigan StateUPI
Defensive backRichard JohnsonWisconsinUPI

All-American honors

At the end of the 1984 season, four Big Ten players were consensus first-team picks for the 1984 College Football All-America Team. The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:
PositionNameTeamSelectors
Running backKeith ByarsOhio StateAFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WC, GNS, NEA, TSN
ReceiverDavid WilliamsIllinoisAFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFF, GNS, NEA, TSN
Offensive guardJim LacheyOhio StateFWAA, UPI, GNS
LinebackerLarry StationIowaAFCA, AP, UPI, WCFF

Other Big Ten players who were named first-team All-Americans by at least one selector were:
PositionNameTeamSelectors
Tight endJon HayesIowaGNS
Defensive backRichard JohnsonWisconsinFWAA, NEA, TSN

Other awards

The 1985 NFL Draft was held in New York on April 30 and May 1, 1985 in New York City, New York. The following players were among the first 100 picks:
NamePositionTeamRoundOverall pick
Kevin AllenOffensive tackleIndiana19
Al ToonWide ReceiverWisconsin110
Richard JohnsonCornerbackWisconsin111
Jim LacheyOffensive tackleOhio State112