1997 Big Ten Conference football season


The 1997 Big Ten Conference football season was the 102nd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season.
The 1997 Big Ten champion was Michigan. Led by head coach Lloyd Carr, Michigan compiled a perfect 12–0 record, defeated Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl, and was declared the national champion in the AP Poll. Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy.
Ohio State finished in a tie for second place with a 10–3 record and lost to Florida State in the 1998 Sugar Bowl. Ohio State's defense was led by consensus All-American linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer.
Penn State also tied for second place and was led by Curtis Enis who rushed for 1,363 yards and led the conference with 120 points scored. The Nittany Lions began the 1997 season ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll and ended it with a loss to Florida in the 1998 Florida Citrus Bowl.
Purdue also tied for second place under first-year head coach Joe Tiller who was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. Purdue quarterback Billy Dicken led the conference with 3,136 passing yards, and wide receiver Brian Alford led the conference with 1,228 receiving yards.
Iowa was ranked as high as No. 4 in the AP Poll during the season and fielded the conference's most potent offensive with an average of 34.3 points scored per game. Iowa running back Tavian Banks led the conference with 1,639 rushing yards.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1997 season
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1997 season
PPG = Average of points scored per game
PAG = Average of points allowed per game

Pre-season

Regular season

Bowl games

Seven Big Ten teams played in bowl games as follows:
The Big Ten's individual statistical leaders include the following:

Passing yards

1. Billy Dicken, Purdue
2. Mike McQueary, Penn State
3. Jay Rodgers, Indiana
4. Brian Griese, Michigan 2042
5. Todd Schultz, Michigan State

Pass efficiency rating

1. Joe Germaine, Ohio State
2. Mike McQueary, Penn State
3. Brian Griese, Michigan
4. Billy Dicken, Purdue
5. Todd Schultz, Michigan State

Rushing yards

1. Tavian Banks, Iowa
2. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin
3. Curtis Enis, Penn State
4. Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State
5. Robert Holcombe, Illinois

Rushing yards per attempt

1. Kendall Matthews, Purdue
2. Tavian Banks, Iowa
3. Curtis Enis, Penn State
4. Michael Wiley, Ohio State
5. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin

Receiving yards

1. Brian Alford, Purdue
2. Dee Miller, Ohio State
3. David Boston, Ohio State
4. Tutu Atwell, Minnesota
5. Brian Musso, Northwestern

Receiving yards per reception

1. Damon Gibson, Iowa
2. Joe Jurevicius, Penn State
3. Tony Simmons, Wisconsin
4. Brian Alford, Purdue
5. O. J. Conner, Indiana

Total yards

1. Billy Dicken, Purdue
2. Mike McQueary, Penn State
3. Mike Samuel, Wisconsin
4. Brian Griese, Michigan
5. Jay Rodgers, Indiana

Scoring

1. Curtis Enis, Penn State
2. Tavian Banks, Iowa
3. Dan Stultz, Ohio State
4. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin
5. David Boston, Ohio State
5. Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State

All-conference players

Seventeen players were selected as first-team All-Big Ten players by both the coaches and the media:
Four Big Ten players were selected as consensus All-Americans:
Other Big Ten players receiving first-team honors were:
The 1998 NFL Draft was held in April 1998. The following Big Ten players were selected in the first four rounds of the draft:
NamePositionTeamRoundOverall pick
Charles WoodsonDefensive backMichigan14
Curtis EnisRunning backPenn State15
Robert HolcombeFullbackIllinois237
Flozell AdamsOffensive tackleMichigan State238
Tony SimmonsWide receiverWisconsin252
Joe JureviciusWide receiverPenn State255
Brian AlfordWide receiverPurdue370
Mike GoffOffensive tackleIowa378
Chris FloydFullbackMichigan381
Brian GrieseQuarterbackMichigan391
Tavian BanksRunning backIowa4101
Glen SteeleDefensive tackleMichigan4105
Donald HayesWide receiverWisconsin4106
Tim DwightWide receiverIowa4114