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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.
1972 Big Ten Conference football season | |
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Sport | American football |
Number of teams | 10 |
Top draft pick | Dave Butz |
Co-champions | Michigan, Ohio State |
Runners-up | Purdue |
Season MVP | Otis Armstrong |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 Michigan + | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 9 Ohio State + | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan State | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1972 Michigan Wolverines football team, under coach Bo Schembechler, compiled a 10–1 record, tied for the Big Ten championship, led the conference in scoring defense (5.2 points allowed per game), and was ranked No. 6 in the final AP and Coaches Polls. Michigan won its first ten games with four conference shutouts, and was ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll prior to its 14–11 road loss to Ohio State. Defensive back Randy Logan and offensive tackle Paul Seymour were consensus first-team All-Americans. Schembecher won the first Big Ten Football Coach of the Year award.
The 1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, under head coach Woody Hayes, compiled a 9–2 record, tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, led the conference in scoring offense (25.5 points per game), and was ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll. The Buckeyes received the conference's berth in the 1973 Rose Bowl and lost to national champion USC, 42–17. Linebacker Randy Gradishar was a consensus first-team All-American.
Purdue running back Otis Armstrong led the Big Ten with 1,361 rushing yards, received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the conference's most valuable player, and was a consensus first-team All-American.
Conf. Rank | Team | Head coach | AP final | AP high | Overall record | Conf. record | PPG | PAG | MVP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 (tie) | Michigan | Bo Schembechler | #6 | #3 | 10–1 | 7–1 | 24.0 | 5.2 | Randy Logan |
1 (tie) | Ohio State | Woody Hayes | #9 | #3 | 9–2 | 7–1 | 25.5 | 15.5 | George Hasenohrl |
3 | Purdue | Bob DeMoss | NR | #18 | 6–5 | 6–2 | 22.3 | 12.3 | Otis Armstrong |
4 | Michigan State | Duffy Daugherty | NR | #18 | 5–5–1 | 5–2–1 | 14.4 | 14.2 | Gail Clark |
5 | Minnesota | Cal Stoll | NR | NR | 4–7 | 4–4 | 16.8 | 27.6 | John King |
6 (tie) | Indiana | John Pont | NR | NR | 5–6 | 3–5 | 18.5 | 24.7 | Glenn Scolnik |
6 (tie) | Illinois | Bob Blackman | NR | NR | 3–8 | 3–5 | 17.9 | 25.2 | Larry McCarren Larry Allen |
8 | Iowa | Frank Lauterbur | NR | NR | 3–7–1 | 2–6–1 | 9.9 | 18.9 | Dan Dickel |
9 | Wisconsin | John Jardine | NR | NR | 4–7 | 2–6 | 13.8 | 20.8 | Rufus Ferguson |
10 | Northwestern | Alex Agase | NR | NR | 2–9 | 1–8 | 13.3 | 26.4 | Jim Lash Jim Anderson |
Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1972 season[1]
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1972 season[1]
PPG = Average of points scored per game; conference leader's average displayed in bold[1]
PAG = Average of points allowed per game; conference leader's average displayed in bold[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]
On September 16, 1972, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference teams. The non-conference games resulted in one win and one loss.
On September 23, 1972, the Big Ten football teams played nine non-conference games, resulting in three wins and six losses. Ohio State had a bye week.
On September 30, 1972, the Big Ten teams played 10 non-conference games, resulting in four wins and six losses.
On October 7, 1972, the Big Ten teams played two conference games and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in three wins and three losses.
On October 14, 1972, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 21, 1972, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 28, 1972, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 4, 1972, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 11, 1972, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 18, 1972, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 25, 1972, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On January 1, 1973, USC defeated Ohio State, 42–17, in the 1973 Rose Bowl. USC running back Sam Cunningham scored four touchdowns and was named the player of the game.
1. Mitch Anderson, Northwestern (1,335)
2. Rudy Steiner, Wisconsin (1,080)
3. Ted McNulty, Indiana (906)
4. Mike Wells, Illinois (837)
5. Dennis Franklin, Michigan (818)[1]
1. Otis Armstrong, Purdue (1,361)
2. John King, Minnesota (1,164)
3. Rufus Ferguson, Wisconsin (1,004)
4. Archie Griffin, Ohio State (867)
5. Champ Henson, Ohio State (795)[1]
1. Glenn Scolnik, Indiana (727)
2. Jim Lash, Northwestern (667)
3. Garvin Roberson, Illinois (569)
4. Jeff Mack, Wisconsin (528)
5. Billy Joe DuPree, Michigan State (406)[1]
1. Otis Armstrong, Purdue (1,361)
2. Dennis Franklin, Michigan (1,315)
3. Greg Hare, Ohio State (1,180)
4. Mitch Anderson, Northwestern (1,176)
5. John King, Minnesota (1,164)[1]
1. Champ Henson, Ohio State (120)
2. John King, Minnesota (72)
3. Ed Shuttlesworth, Michigan (66)
4. Otis Armstrong, Purdue (54)
5. Ken Starling, Indiana (48)[1]
The following players were picked by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1972 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Offense
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Quarterback | Mike Wells | Illinois | AP, UPI |
Running back | Otis Armstrong | Purdue | AP, UPI |
Running back | Rufus Ferguson | Wisconsin | AP |
Running back | John King | Minnesota | AP |
Running back | Ed Shuttlesworth | Michigan | UPI |
Flanker | Glenn Scolnik | Indiana | AP [end], UPI |
Split end | Jim Lash | Northwestern | UPI |
Tight end | Steve Craig | Northwestern | AP [end], UPI |
Tight end | Billy Joe DuPree | Michigan State | UPI |
Tackle | Paul Seymour | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Tackle | John Hicks | Ohio State | AP, UPI |
Guard | Joe DeLamielleure | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Guard | Tom Coyle | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Guard | Charles Bonica | Ohio State | UPI |
Center | Larry McCarren | Illinois | AP, UPI |
Defense
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Lineman | Steve Baumgartner | Purdue | AP [front four], UPI [defensive end] |
Lineman | Dave Butz | Purdue | AP [front four], UPI [defensive tackle] |
Lineman | Fred Grambau | Michigan | AP [front four], UPI [defensive tackle] |
Lineman | George Hasenohrl | Ohio State | AP [front four], UPI [defensive tackle] |
Lineman | Clint Spearman | Michigan | UPI [end] |
Linebacker | Greg Bingham | Purdue | AP [middle guard], UPI |
Linebacker | Gail Clark | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Linebacker | Randy Gradishar | Ohio State | AP, UPI |
Linebacker | Dave Lokanc | Wisconsin | AP |
Defensive back | Randy Logan | Michigan | AP, UPI |
Defensive back | Bill Simpson | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Defensive back | Brad Van Pelt | Michigan State | AP, UPI |
Defensive back | Dave Brown | Michigan | UPI |
At the end of the 1972 season, Big Ten players secured six of the consensus first-team picks for the 1972 College Football All-America Team.[17] The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Defensive back | Brad Van Pelt | Michigan State | AFCA, AP, FWAA, NEA, UPI, WCFF, Time, TSN |
Defensive tackle | Dave Butz | Purdue | AFCA, NEA, UPI, WCFF, Time, TSN |
Running back | Otis Armstrong | Purdue | AP, FWAA, UPI, WCFF, TSN |
Linebacker | Randy Gradishar | Ohio State | AFCA, AP, FWAA, UPI, FN |
Offensive tackle | Paul Seymour | Michigan | AFCA, FWAA, NEA, Time, TSN |
Defensive back | Randy Logan | Michigan | AFCA, UPI, WCFF, FN |
Other Big Ten players who were named first-team All-Americans by at least one selector were:
Position | Name | Team | Selectors |
---|---|---|---|
Offensive tackle | John Hicks | Ohio State | AP, WCFF, NEA [offensive guard] |
Offensive guard | Joe DeLamielleure | Michigan State | TSN |
Defensive tackle | George Hasenohrl | Ohio State | FN |
Placekicker | Chris Gartner | Indiana | TSN |
Running back Otis Armstrong of Purdue finished eighth in the voting for the 1972 Heisman Trophy.[18]
The following Big Ten players were among the first 100 picks in the 1973 NFL draft:[19]
Name | Position | Team | Round | Overall pick |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dave Butz | Defensive tackle | Purdue | 1 | 5 |
Paul Seymour | Tight end | Michigan | 1 | 7 |
Otis Armstrong | Running back | Purdue | 1 | 9 |
Darryl Stingley | Wide receiver | Purdue | 1 | 19 |
Billy Joe Dupree | Tight end | Michigan State | 1 | 20 |
Joe DeLamielleure | Guard | Michigan State | 1 | 26 |
Brad Van Pelt | Linebacker | Michigan State | 2 | 40 |
Gary Hrivnak | Defensive tackle | Purdue | 2 | 48 |
Steve Baumgartner | Defensive end | Purdue | 2 | 51 |
Randy Logan | Defensive back | Michigan | 3 | 55 |
Jim Lash | Wide receiver | Northwestern | 3 | 65 |
Tom MacLeod | Linebacker | Minnesota | 3 | 74 |
Gregg Bingham | Linebacker | Purdue | 4 | 79 |
Mike Wells | Quarterback | Illinois | 4 | 80 |
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