1913 Western Conference football season

August 2023 1913 Western Conference football season Football 9 Chicago Champion Football 1912 1914 The 1913 Western Conference football season was the eighteenth season of college football played by the member schools of the Western Conference (later known as the Big Ten Conference) and was a part of the 1913 college football season. This was Ohio State's first year as members of the conference. Season overview The Chicago Maroons won the Western title with a perfect 7–0 record, of which all seven victories were conference wins. Chicago was also retroactively named as the 1913 national champion by the Billingsley Report and as a co-national champion by Parke H. Davis.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf 2020 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records The National Collegiate Athletic Association 112–114 July 2020 Indianapolis January 12, 2021 November 1, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201101032438/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf live Iowa and Minnesota finished behind Chicago with 5-2 records and both went 2–1 in Western play. Purdue fell right behind with a 4-1-2 record, (2–1–2). Illinois ended their season at 4-2-1 (2–2–1). Wisconsin wound up 3-3-1 (1–2–1) while newcomer Ohio State came in at 4-2-1 (1–2). Indiana finished at 3-4 (2–4) while Northwestern followed at 1–6, with all six losses coming at the hands of Western rivals. Chicago y y October 4 Indiana Marshall Field Chicago, IL W 21-7 10,000 Maroons Beat Indiana, 21 to 7, in Opening Game The Inter Ocean Le Count Lovellette October 5, 1913 Sports 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98725418/maroons-beat-indiana-21-to-7-in/ Newspapers.com October 18 Iowa Marshall Field Chicago, IL W 23-6 Maroons Victors After Hard Fight With Iowa, 23 to 6 Chicago Tribune October 19, 1913 III-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98725119/maroons-victors-after-hard-fight-with/ Newspapers.com October 25 Purdue Marshall Field Chicago, IL (rivalry) W 6-0 18,000 Kicks by Russell Down Purdue, 6-0, Before Big Crowd Chicago Tribune R.W. Lardner October 26, 1913 III-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98725919/kicks-by-russell-down-purdue-6-0/ Newspapers.com November 1 Illinois Marshall Field Chicago, IL W 28-7 January 2026 November 8 at Northwestern Northwestern Field Evanston, IL W 14-0 January 2026 November 15 at Minnesota Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN W 13-7 21,000 January 2026 November 22 Wisconsin Marshall Field Chicago, IL W 19-0 January 2026 Iowa October 4 w y 1913 Iowa State Teachers Iowa State Teachers Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 45–3 January 2026 October 6 w y 1913 Cornell Purple Cornell (IA) Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 76–0 January 2026 October 18 l y Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL 6–23 Maroons Victors After Hard Fight With Iowa, 23 to 6 Chicago Tribune October 19, 1913 III-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98725119/maroons-victors-after-hard-fight-with/ Newspapers.com October 25 w y Northwestern Northwestern Field Evanston, IL 78–6 January 2026 November 8 w Indiana Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 60–0 January 2026 November 15 w y y Iowa State Iowa Field Iowa City, IA rivalry 45–7 January 2026 November 22 l y y Nebraska Nebraska Field Lincoln, NE rivalry 0–12 January 2026 Minnesota section January 2026 September 27 w y South Dakota Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN 14–0 7,000 October 4 w y Iowa State Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN 25–0 3,000 October 18 l y y Nebraska Nebraska Field Lincoln, NE rivalry 0–7 9,000 October 25 w y 1913 North Dakota Flickertails North Dakota Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN 30–0 2,500 November 1 w y Wisconsin Randall Field Madison, WI rivalry 21–3 11,000 November 15 l Chicago Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN 7–13 21,000 November 22 w y Illinois Illinois Field Champaign, IL 19–9 3,500 Purdue y y October 4 1913 Wabash Little Giants Wabash<ncg> Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN W 26-0 January 2026 October 11 at Northwestern Northwestern Field Evanston, IL W 34-0 January 2026 October 18 Wisconsin Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN T 7-7 January 2026 October 25 at Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL (rivalry) L 0-6 18,000 Kicks by Russell Down Purdue, 6-0, Before Big Crowd Chicago Tribune R.W. Lardner October 26, 1913 III-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98725919/kicks-by-russell-down-purdue-6-0/ Newspapers.com November 8 1913 Rose Polytechnic Rose Polytechnic<ncg> Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN W 62-0 January 2026 November 15 at Illinois Illinois Field Champaign, IL (rivalry) T 0-0 January 2026 November 22 at Indiana Jordan Field Bloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket) W 42-7 Goss Ralston Purdue Team Slaughters State Rivals in annual Battle at Bloomington https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90281293/the-indianapolis-star/ The Indianapolis Sunday Star Indianapolis, Indiana November 23, 1913 45 December 9, 2021 Newspapers.com Goss Ralston Purdue Team Slaughters Rivals (continued) https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90281318/the-indianapolis-star/ The Indianapolis Sunday Star Indianapolis, Indiana November 23, 1913 46 December 9, 2021 Newspapers.com 2022 Purdue Football Record Book https://purduesports.com/documents/2022/8/23/2022_Purdue_Record_Book.pdf Purdue University Athletics 81 January 29, 2023 Illinois y y October 4 Kentucky<ncg> Illinois Field Champaign, IL W 21-0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-zuppkes-eleven-in-victo/147650929/ Chicago Tribune Zuppke's eleven in victory; Illini defeat Kentucky, 21–0, in first game of year October 5, 1913 May 18, 2024 Newspapers.com October 11 Missouri<ncg> Illinois Field Champaign, IL (rivalry) W 24-7 October 18 Northwestern Illinois Field Champaign, IL W 37-0 Illinois Swamps Purple Team, 37-0 The Inter Ocean October 19, 1913 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20936578/illinois_swamps_purple_team_370/ Newspapers.com October 25 at Indiana Washington Park Indianapolis, IN (rivalry) W 10-0 8,500 Outplayed, Indiana Loses to Illinois by 10-to-0 Score The Indianapolis Star October 26, 1913 Sports 1–2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20936064/outplayed_indiana_loses_to_illinois_by/ Newspapers.com November 1 at Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL L 7-28 20,000 Maroon Machine Topples Illinois In Last Half, 28-7 Chicago Tribune Walter Eckersall Walter Eckersall November 2, 1913 III-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20936163/maroon_machine_topples_illinois_in_last/ Newspapers.com November 15 Purdue<hc> Illinois Field Champaign, IL (rivalry) T 0-0 7,000 Illinois Holds Purdue To a Tie Chicago Tribune November 16, 1913 III-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20936290/illinois_holds_purdue_to_a_tie/ Newspapers.com November 22 Minnesota Illinois Field Champaign, IL L 9-19 3,500 Gophers' Passes Beat Illini, 19-9 Chicago Tribune November 23, 1913 III-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20936458/gophers_passes_beat_illini_199/ Newspapers.com Wisconsin October 4 w y 1913 Lawrence Vikings Lawrence Randall Field Madison, WI 58–7 January 2026 January 2026 October 11 w y 1913 Marquette Golden Avalanche Marquette Randall Field Madison, WI 13–0 January 2026 October 18 t y Purdue Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN 7–7 January 2026 October 25 l y Michigan Agricultural Randall Field Madison, WI 7–12 Clever M.A.C. Team Is Winner Over Wisconsin Wisconsin State Journal W.R. Replinger October 26, 1913 1, 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35413194/clever_mac_team_is_winner_over/ Newspapers.com November 1 l y Minnesota Randall Field Madison, WI rivalry 3–21 11,000 January 2026 November 8 w Ohio State Randall Field Madison, WI 12–0 January 2026 November 22 l y Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL 0–19 January 2026 Ohio State October 4 w 1913 Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops Ohio Wesleyan* Ohio Field Columbus, OH 58–0 3,500 Ohio Wesleyan Swamped By State, Which Piles Biggest Score In History https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cleveland-leader/167863448/ The Cleveland Leader Cleveland, Ohio October 5, 1913 2, sport section March 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 w 1913 Western Reserve Western Reserve* Ohio Field Columbus, OH 14–8 January 2026 October 18 t 1913 Oberlin Yeomen Oberlin* Ohio Field Columbus, OH January 2026 0–0 November 1 l Indiana Ohio Field Columbus, OH 6–7 January 2026 November 8 l y Wisconsin Randall Field Madison, WI 0–12 January 2026 November 15 w 1913 Case Case* Ohio Field Columbus, OH 18–0 Saturday's Games https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042373/1913-11-17/ed-1/seq-8/ November 21, 2024 The Evening times November 17, 1913 8 November 22 w Northwestern Ohio Field Columbus, OH 58–0 Chronicling America Football Results https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016014/1913-11-24/ed-1/seq-3/ November 21, 2024 The Topeka state journal November 24, 1913 Topeka, Kansas 3 Indiana Eastern September 27 w y 1913 DePauw DePauw Jordan Field Bloomington, IN 48–3 January 2026 October 4 l y Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL 7–21 10,000 Maroons Beat Indiana, 21 to 7, in Opening Game The Inter Ocean Le Count Lovellette October 5, 1913 Sports 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98725418/maroons-beat-indiana-21-to-7-in/ Newspapers.com October 25 l y Illinois Washington Park Indianapolis, IN rivalry 0–10 8,500 Outplayed, Indiana Loses to Illinois by 10-to-0 Score The Indianapolis Star October 26, 1913 Sports 1–2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20936064/outplayed_indiana_loses_to_illinois_by/ Newspapers.com November 1 w y Ohio State Ohio Field Columbus, OH 7–6 January 2026 November 8 l y Iowa Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 0–60 January 2026 November 15 w y Northwestern Northwestern Field Evanston, IL 21–20 Chronicling America Football Games Today https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1913-11-15/ed-1/seq-27/ November 21, 2024 The day book November 15, 1913 Chicago, Illinois 27Chronicling America Northwestern Outplayed Indiana https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1913-11-17/ed-1/seq-9 November 21, 2024 The day book November 17, 1913 Chicago, Illinois 9 November 22 l Purdue Jordan Field Bloomington, IN rivalry 7–42 Goss Ralston Purdue Team Slaughters State Rivals in annual Battle at Bloomington https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90281293/the-indianapolis-star/ The Indianapolis Sunday Star Indianapolis, Indiana November 23, 1913 45 December 9, 2021 Newspapers.com Goss Ralston Purdue Team Slaughters Rivals (continued) https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90281318/the-indianapolis-star/ The Indianapolis Sunday Star Indianapolis, Indiana November 23, 1913 46 December 9, 2021 Newspapers.com 1913 Indiana Hoosiers Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/indiana/1913-schedule.html College Football @ Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference December 29, 2023 1913 Football Schedule https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/schedule/1913 Indiana University December 29, 2023 Indiana Football 2023 Record Book https://static.iuhoosiers.com/custompages/pdf/fb/2023/23-FB-Record_Book_Full.pdf Indiana University 12 December 29, 2023 Northwestern y y October 4 1913 Lake Forest Foresters Lake Forest<ncg> Northwestern Field Evanston, IL W 10-0 January 2026 October 11 Purdue Northwestern Field Evanston, IL L 0-34 January 2026 October 18 at Illinois Illinois Field Champaign, IL (rivalry) L 0-37 January 2026 October 25 Iowa Northwestern Field Evanston, IL L 6-78 January 2026 November 8 Chicago Northwestern Field Evanston, IL L 0-14 January 2026 November 15 Indiana Northwestern Field Evanston, IL L 20-21 Chronicling America Football Games Today https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1913-11-15/ed-1/seq-27/ November 21, 2024 The day book November 15, 1913 Chicago, Illinois 27Chronicling America Northwestern Outplayed Indiana https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1913-11-17/ed-1/seq-9 November 21, 2024 The day book November 17, 1913 Chicago, Illinois 9 November 22 at Ohio State Ohio Field Columbus, OH L 0-58 January 2026 Bowl games No Western Conference schools participated in any bowl games during the 1913 season. All-American honors Bob Butler, Tackle, Wisconsin (WC–2; HW-1; MFP-1; SBH-1; TT-2) Huntington, End, Chicago (INS-2) Paul Des Jardien, Center, Chicago (College Football Hall of Fame) (WC–1; HW-1; INS-1; TT-2) Ray Keeler, Guard, Wisconsin (INS-1; MFP-2) Nelson Norgren, Halfback, Chicago (WC–3; INS-2; MFP-2; FY-1) Elmer Oliphant, Halfback, Purdue (College Football Hall of Fame) (TT-2) Paul Russell, Quarterback, Chicago (HW-1; INS-2) Lorin Solon, End, Minnesota (WC–3; INS-2; MFP-1; FY-1) Key NCAA recognized selectors for 1913 WC = Collier's Weekly as selected by Walter CampCamp Picks All-American Eleven: 2 Western Men on All-America Football Team The Indianapolis Star 1913-12-14 INS = Frank G. Menke, sporting editor of the International News ServiceMenke Picks His All-American Team: Harvard Champion Team Gets Only Three Places Naugatuck Daily News 1913-12-03 Other selectors HW = Harper's Weekly, as selected by football critic Herman ReedButler of Wisconsin on All-American Racine Journal-News 1913-12-24 MFP = Milwaukee Free PressBadger Tackle Among Stars: Butler, Wisconsin's Great Lineman, Placed on All-American Team Wisconsin State Journal 1913-12-02 FY = Fielding H. Yost, head coach at the University of MichiganYost Picks His All-Star Team Logansport Journal-Tribune 1913-12-03 PHD = Parke H. Davis, Princeton's representative on the football rules committee, in the New York HeraldBob McWhorter Is Picked on All-American Eleven Atlanta Constitution 1913-12-09Spalding's Official Football Guide 1914 21 https://archive.org/stream/officialnational06nati#page/21/mode/1up/search/hogsett TT = Tom Thorp, former captain of Columbia football team and head football coach at Fordham UniversityTom Thorp Picks Team From Cream of Football World The Lima Daily News 1913-12-03 SBH = S. B. Hunt in the Newark Sunday Call TET = Trenton Evening-Times, selected by a "well known gridiron critic whose name is withheld by special request"Times' All-American Eleven Trenton Evening Times 1913-12-04 Bold = Consensus All-AmericanJanuary 2026 1 – First-team selection 2 – Second-team selection 3 – Third-team selection All-Western selections 1913 All-Western college football team Ends Lorin Solon, Minnesota (CDN-1, CON, CRH, CT, ECP-1, IO-2, WE-1) Clark Shaughnessy, Minnesota (CDN-2 [fullback], CRH, ECP-1 [guard]) (CFHOF) Norman K. Wilson, Illinois (ECP-2) Earl Huntington, Chicago (CDN-2, WE-2) Harold Ofstie, Wisconsin (CDN-2, IO-1) Harold Pogue, Illinois (IO-2) Tackles Bob Butler, Wisconsin (CDN-1, CON, CRH, CT, ECP-1, IO-1, WE-1) Archie Kirk, Iowa (ECP-2, IO-2) Harold Ernest Goettler, Chicago (CDN-2) Guards Ray Keeler, Wisconsin (CDN-2, CON, CRH, ECP-2, IO-1, WE-2) [CAA] Harris, Chicago (CDN-1, ECP-2, IO-2) Boles Rosenthal, Minnesota (IO-1) H. B. Routh, Purdue (IO-2) Centers Paul Des Jardien, Chicago (CDN-1, CON, CRH, CT, ECP-1, IO-1, WE-1) [CAA, CFHOF] C. E. Glossop, Purdue (CDN-2, ECP-2) Quarterbacks Pete Russell, Chicago (ECP-1, WE-2) Samuel Gross, Iowa (CDN-2) Wilbur Hightower, Northwestern (IO-2) Halfbacks Nelson Norgren, Chicago (CDN-1, CON, CRH, CT, ECP-1, IO-1, WE-1) William McAlmon, Minnesota (ECP-2) Gray, Chicago (CDN-2, ECP-2) Elmer Oliphant, Purdue (IO-2) (CFHOF) References