1997 Big Ten Conference football season information
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Sports season
1997 Big Ten Conference football season
League
NCAA Division I-A
Sport
Football
Number of teams
11
Top draft pick
Charles Woodson
Champion
Michigan
Runners-up
Ohio State
Season MVP
Charles Woodson
Top scorer
Curtis Enis
Football seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Big Ten Conference football standings
v
t
e
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
W
L
No. 1 Michigan $
8
–
0
12
–
0
No. 12 Ohio State
6
–
2
10
–
3
No. 16 Penn State
6
–
2
9
–
3
No. 15 Purdue
6
–
2
9
–
3
Wisconsin
5
–
3
8
–
5
Iowa
4
–
4
7
–
5
Michigan State
4
–
4
7
–
5
Northwestern
3
–
5
5
–
7
Minnesota
1
–
7
3
–
9
Indiana
1
–
7
2
–
9
Illinois
0
–
8
0
–
11
$ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
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.
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