2006 Big Ten Conference football season

August 2023 2006 Big Ten Conference football season #193980 #FFFFFF NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football BigTen.png 125px August, 2006through January, 2007 11 ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 2007 NFL Draft 2007 NFL Draft Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) Cleveland Browns, first round (3rd overall) Regular Season Ohio State Season Champions Runner-up Troy Smith (Offensive) and LaMarr Woodley (Defensive) Football 2005 2007 The 2006 Big Ten Conference football season was the 111th season for the Big Ten Conference. The season began on Thursday, August 31, 2006 when Northwestern played Miami (Ohio) and Minnesota played Kent State. The season concluded on January 8, 2007 when Big Ten champion Ohio State lost in the BCS National Championship Game to the Florida Gators. Preseason Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez was also the head coach of the team the previous season in 2005. After 15 years of coaching he decided to step down as head coach of the football team and chose Bret Bielema to succeed him.2005-07-28 Wisconsin coach Alvarez to retire from football https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2118728 2024-12-04 ESPN.com Associated Press en In June 2006 Northwestern head coach Randy Walker unexpectedly died when he suffered an apparent heart attack. Northwestern alum and linebacker coach at the time Pat Fitzgerald was named his successor. The hiring made Fitzgerald the youngest Division I-A at the time of the hiring.https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2512178 Northwestern promotes Fitzgerald to succeed Walker 7 July 2006 Following a disappointing season in which his team went 7-5 Lloyd Carr promoted defensive backs coach Ron English to defensive coordinator. Bowl games Date Bowl Game Big Ten Team Opp. Team Score Dec. 29, 2006 Insight Bowl Minnesota Texas Tech 41-44(OT) Dec. 29, 2006 Champs Sports Bowl Purdue Maryland 7-24 Dec. 30, 2006 Alamo Bowl Iowa Texas 24-26 Jan. 1, 2007 Outback Bowl Penn State Tennessee 20-10 Jan. 1, 2007 Capital One Bowl Wisconsin Arkansas 17-14 Jan. 1, 2007 Rose Bowl Michigan USC 18-32 Jan. 8, 2007 BCS National Championship Ohio State Florida 14-41 Awards Heisman Trophy: Troy Smith, Ohio State Walter Camp Award: Troy Smith, Ohio State Associated Press College Football Player of the Year Award: Troy Smith, Ohio State Bronko Nagurski Trophy: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State Chuck Bednarik Award: Paul Posluszny, Penn State Davey O'Brien Award: Troy Smith, Ohio State John Mackey Award: Matt Spaeth, Minnesota Lombardi Award: LaMarr Woodley, Michigan Mosi Tatupu Award: A. J. Trapasso, Ohio State Outland Trophy: Joe Thomas, Wisconsin Ted Hendricks Award: LaMarr Woodley, Michigan References