1972 Big Ten Conference 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 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. Season overview Results and team statistics Key AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1972 season AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1972 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 16 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. Michigan 7, Northwestern 0. Michigan defeated Northwestern, 7–0, before a crowd of 71,757 at Michigan Stadium. Dennis Franklin threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Bo Rather. The touchdown was set up by an interception by Michigan linebacker Craig Mutch which he returned 18 yards to Northwestern's 31-yard line. Northwestern's Jim Trimble rushed for 103 yards on 20 carries. Dennis Franklin, starting his first game, became the first African-American quarterback to play for Michigan. Ohio State 21, Iowa 0 Indiana 27, Minnesota 23 Michigan State 24, Illinois 0 Bowling Green 17, Purdue 14 Wisconsin 31, Northern Illinois 7 September 23 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. Michigan 26, UCLA 9. Michigan (ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll) defeated UCLA (ranked