1917 Big Ten Conference football season

August 2023 1917 Western Conference football season Football Ohio State Champion Football 1916 1918 The 1917 Big Ten Conference football season was the twenty-second season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1917 college football season. Michigan's return brought membership up to ten schools, and this was the first year the Western Conference was referred to as the "Big Ten". Season overview Ohio State repeated as conference champions with a 4-0 league record, 8-0-1 overall. Minnesota came in second at 4-1 (3-1 Big Ten) while Northwestern and Wisconsin tied for third at 3–2 in Big Ten play. Illinois and Chicago tied for fifth with league records of 2–2–1. At 5-2 (1-2 Big Ten), Indiana came in seventh. Michigan (0–1), Iowa (0–2), and Purdue (0–4) went winless in conference play. Ohio State September 29 w 1917 Case Case Ohio Field Columbus, OH 49–0 October 6 w 1917 Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops Ohio Wesleyan Ohio Field Columbus, OH 53–0 October 13 w Northwestern Ohio Field Columbus, OH 40–0 October 27 w 1917 Denison Big Red Denison Ohio Field Columbus, OH 67–0 November 3 w y Indiana Washington Park Indianapolis, IN 26–3 November 10 w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 16–3 November 17 w Illinois Ohio Field Columbus, OH rivalry 13–0 November 24 t y y Auburn Soldiers Field Montgomery, AL 0–0 10,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123381/auburn_tie_with_ohio_state_1917/ Auburn Tigers Play Ohio State To Scoreless Tie The Atlanta Constitution 3 November 25, 1917 Newspapers.com July 12, 2015 November 29 w y Camp Sherman (Chillicothe) Ohio Field Columbus, OH 28–0 Minnesota October 13 w y 1917 South Dakota State Jackrabbits South Dakota State Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN 64–0 October 20 w Indiana Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN 33–9 November 3 l y Wisconsin rivalry Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 7–10 12,000 November 17 w Chicago Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN 33–0 14,000–16,000 Gophers Swat Maroons, 33-0, Before 16,000: Stagg's Men Crushed by Attack of the Northmen Chicago Tribune Albon Holden November 18, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115282118/gophers-swat-maroons/ Newspapers.com November 24 w y Illinois Illinois Field Champaign, IL 27–6 4,500 Northwestern y y October 6 1917 Lake Forest Foresters Lake Forest<ncg> Northwestern Field Evanston, IL W 48 0 October 13 at Ohio State Ohio Field Columbus, OH L 0 40 October 27 Chicago Northwestern Field Evanston, IL L 0 7 12,000 Maroons' Drive Downs Purple, 7 to 0: Higgins Score Gives Chicago Hard Contest Chicago Tribune Maroon October 28, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115281713/maroons-drive-downs-purple-7-to-0/ Newspapers.com November 3 at Purdue Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN W 12 6 November 10 Michigan Agricultural<ncg> Northwestern Field Evanston, IL W 39 6 November 17 Iowa Northwestern Field Evanston, IL W 25 14 November 24 Michigan Northwestern Field Evanston, IL (rivalry) W 21 12 5,232 Wisconsin October 6 w y 1917 Beloit Beloit Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 34–0 October 13 t y Notre Dame Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 0–0 October 20 l y Illinois Illinois Field Champaign, IL 0–7 October 27 w Iowa Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 20–0 November 3 w y Minnesota Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 10–7 12,000 November 10 l Ohio State Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 3–16 November 24 w y Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL 18–0 Badger Squad Deals Defeat To Staggs, 18-0 Chicago Tribune Maroon November 25, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115282288/badger-squad-deals-defeat-to-staggs/ Newspapers.com Illinois y y October 6 Kansas<ncg> Illinois Field Champaign, IL W 22-0 October 13 Oklahoma<ncg> Illinois Field Champaign, IL W 44-0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-illinois-open-play-toppl/141815927/ The Chicago Tribune Illinois open play topples Oklahoma in 44 to 0 contest October 14, 1917 February 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 20 Wisconsin Illinois Field Champaign, IL W 7-0 October 27 Purdue Illinois Field Champaign, IL (rivalry) W 27-0 November 3 at Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL T 0-0 20,000 Maroons Battle Illini to 0-0 Score: Zuppkes Miss Winning Kick by Scant Foot Chicago Tribune Maroon November 4, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115281923/maroons-battle-illini-to-0-0-score/ Newspapers.com November 17 at Ohio State Ohio Field Columbus, OH (rivalry) L 0-13 November 24 Minnesota Illinois Field Champaign, IL L 6-27 4,500 November 29 at Camp Funston<ncg> Fort Riley, KS W 28-0 Funston Team Go Down To Their First Defeat The Topeka Daily Capital November 30, 1917 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20925505/funston_team_go_down_to_their_first/ Newspapers.com Chicago y y October 13 Vanderbilt<ncg> Stagg Field Chicago, IL W 48-0 Maroons Crush Southern Team in 48-0 Game: Vanderbilt Knocked Flat by Stagg's Newly Buit Machine Chicago Tribune Maroon October 14, 1917 II-3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115281323/maroons-crush-southern-team/ Newspapers.com October 20 Purdue Stagg Field Chicago, IL(rivalry) W 27-0 Stagg's Maroons Upset Purdue, 27-0: Higgins Stars as Green Line Holds Foemen Chicago Tribune October 21, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115281525/staggs-maroons-upset-purdue-27-0/ Newspapers.com October 27 Northwestern Stagg Field Chicago, IL W 7-0 12,000 Maroons' Drive Downs Purple, 7 to 0: Higgins Score Gives Chicago Hard Contest Chicago Tribune Maroon October 28, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115281713/maroons-drive-downs-purple-7-to-0/ Newspapers.com November 3 Illinois Stagg Field Chicago, IL T 0-0 20,000 Maroons Battle Illini to 0-0 Score: Zuppkes Miss Winning Kick by Scant Foot Chicago Tribune Maroon November 4, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115281923/maroons-battle-illini-to-0-0-score/ Newspapers.com November 17 at Minnesota Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN L 0-33 16,000 Gophers Swat Maroons, 33-0, Before 16,000: Stagg's Men Crushed by Attack of the Northmen Chicago Tribune Albon Holden November 18, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115282118/gophers-swat-maroons/ Newspapers.com November 24 Wisconsin Stagg Field Chicago, IL L 0-18 Badger Squad Deals Defeat To Staggs, 18-0 Chicago Tribune Maroon November 25, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115282288/badger-squad-deals-defeat-to-staggs/ Newspapers.com Indiana Eastern September 29 w y 1917 Franklin Baptists Franklin (IN) Jordan Field Bloomington, IN 50–0 October 6 w y 1917 Wabash Little Giants Wabash Jordan Field Bloomington, IN 51–0 October 13 w y Saint Louis Jordan Field Bloomington, IN 40–0 Miller D. C. Crimson Eleven Is In Fair Shape https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116702368/the-indianapolis-star/ The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana October 13, 1917 13 January 17, 2023 Newspapers.com Indiana Wallops St. Louis Eleven from Start, 40-0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116702476/st-louis-globe-democrat/ St. Louis Globe-Democrat St. Louis, Missouri October 14, 1917 13 January 17, 2023 Newspapers.com October 27 l y Minnesota Northrop Field Minneapolis, MN 9–33 November 3 l y Ohio State Washington Park Indianapolis, IN 3–26 November 10 w 1917 DePauw DePauw Jordan Field Bloomington, IN 35–0 November 24 w y Purdue Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN rivalry 37–0 1917 Indiana Hoosiers Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/indiana/1917-schedule.html College Football @ Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference December 29, 2023 1917 Football Schedule https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/schedule/1917 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 Michigan October 6 w y 1917 Case Case Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI 41–0 4,035 October 10 w y Western State Normal Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI 17–13 2,906 October 13 w y 1917 Mount Union Purple Mount Union Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI 69–0 3,657 October 17 w y Detroit Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI 14–3 4,419 October 20 w y Michigan Agricultural Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 27–0 9,038 October 27 w y Nebraska Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI 20–0 5,022 November 3 w y Kalamazoo Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI 62–0 4,345 November 10 w y y Cornell Ferry Field Ann Arbor, MI 42–0 16,733 November 17 l y y Penn Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA 0–16 12,851 November 24 l y Northwestern Northwestern Field Evanston, IL rivalry 12–21 5,232 Iowa October 6 w y 1917 Cornell Purple Cornell (IA) Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 22–13 October 13 l y Nebraska Nebraska Field Lincoln, NE rivalry 0–47 October 20 l y 1917 Grinnell Pioneers Grinnell Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 0–10 October 27 l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI rivalry 0–20 November 3 l y Great Lakes Navy Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 14–23 November 10 w y South Dakota Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 35–0 November 17 l y Northwestern Northwestern Field Evanston, IL 14–25 November 24 w y y Iowa State Iowa Field Iowa City, IA rivalry 6–3 Purdue y y October 6 1917 Franklin Baptists Franklin (IN)<ncg> Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN W 54-0 October 13 1917 DePauw DePauw<ncg> Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN W 7-6 October 21 at Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL (rivalry) L 0-27 Stagg's Maroons Upset Purdue, 27-0: Higgins Stars as Green Line Holds Foemen Chicago Tribune October 21, 1917 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115281525/staggs-maroons-upset-purdue-27-0/ Newspapers.com October 27 at Illinois Illinois Field Champaign, IL (rivalry) L 0-27 November 3 Northwestern Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN L 6-12 November 17 1917 Wabash Little Giants Wabash<ncg> Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN W 28-0 November 24 Indiana Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN (Old Oaken Bucket) L 0-37 2022 Purdue Football Record Book https://purduesports.com/documents/2022/8/23/2022_Purdue_Record_Book.pdf Purdue University Athletics 82 January 29, 2023 Bowl games No Western Conference schools participated in any bowl games during the 1917 season. All-American honors 1917 College Football All-America Team Ends thumb|upright=.6|Charles Bolen. Charles Bolen, Ohio State (MS; WE-1; JV-2; PP-1; DJ) Tackles George Hauser, Minnesota (WE-1; JV-1; PP-1) Albert Benbrook, Michigan; Ft. Sheridan (College Football Hall of Fame) (PPS) Guards Frank Culver, Michigan (JV-2; PP-1) Ernest Allmendinger, Michigan; Ft. Sheridan (WC-1) C. G. Higgins, Chicago (MS; WE-2) John Ulrich, Northwestern (WE-2) Centers Paul Des Jardien, Chicago; Ft. Sheridan (College Football Hall of Fame) (PPS) Oscar P. Lambert, Michigan (WE-2) Quarterbacks Archie Weston, Michigan (WE-1) Fullbacks thumb|upright=.6|Chic Harley. Chic Harley, Ohio State (College Football Hall of Fame) (WE-1; JV-1; PP-1; DJ) Cedric C. Smith, Michigan; Great Lakes (WC-1) Bob Koehler, Northwestern (WE-2) Key NCAA recognized selectors for 1917 WC = Collier's Weekly All Service team as selected by Walter Camphttps://books.google.com/books?id=bZxCAQAAIAAJ&q=All-America&pg=PA141 Collier's Weekly War and Football 60 32 January 5, 1918 JV = Jack Veiock of the International News ServiceJack Veiock Veiock's All-American Elevens for 1917 Season Logansport Pharos-Reporter 1917-12-11 PP = Paul Purman, noted sports writer whose All-American team was syndicated in newspapers across the United States, of the Newspaper Editors AssociationESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1150Paul Purman East, West, South Give Stars To The Times-Tribune All-American Football Team For 1917 Season Waterloo Times-Tribune 1917-11-29Paul Purman East, West, South Give Stars To The Sentinel All-American Football Team For 1917 Season The Fort Wayne Sentinel 1917-11-29East, West, South Give Stars To The Sheboygan Press All-American Team For 1917 Season Sheboygan Press 1917-11-30The East, West and South Give Greatest Stars To The News Special All-American Football Team For 1917 Season Des Moines Daily News 1917-11-29Purman's 1917 'All-American' Team The Daily Alaska Dispatch 1917-12-11Captain Hauser Picked for Team: Paul Purnam, Special Writer, Gives Tackle Position to Gopher Captain The Duluth News Tribune 1917-12-04East, West, South Give Stars to Purman's All-American Team Albuquerque Morning Journal 1917-12-03East West South Give Stars to the Herald All American Football Team for 1917 Season Grand Forks Herald 1917-11-30 PPS = Paul Purman's All Service selectionSpalding's Football Guide MS = Frank Menke Syndicate, by Frank G. Menke Other selectors WE = Walter Eckersall, of the Chicago Tribune"All" Teams Picked By Walter Eckersall Lincoln Daily Star 1917-12-16 DJ = Dick Jemison, of the Atlanta Constitution. NYT = All Service eleven of The New York Times. Bold = Consensus All-AmericanFootball Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 6 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf 1 – First-team selection 2 – Second-team selection 3 – Third-team selection All-Big Ten selections 1917 All-Western college football team Ends Charles Bolen, Ohio State (FM, HP, LA, LGS, PD) W. M. Kelley, Wisconsin (FM, GWA, LA, LGS, PD) Charles Laun, Iowa (GWA) Alan Boyd, Michigan (HP) Tackles George Hauser, Minnesota (FM, HB, GWA, LA, LGS, PD) Harold J. Courtney, Ohio State (LA, LGS, PD [guard]) Guards Charles Higgins, Chicago (FM, GWA, LA, PD) Elmert T. Rundquist, Illinois (FM [tackle], LA, LGS) Conrad L. Eklund, Minnesota (GWA, LGS, PD [tackle]) John Ulrich, Northwestern (FM) Joseph Hanish, Michigan (HP) Whiting, Camp Grant – Chicago (REAL) Centers Frank Culver, Michigan (HP) Pottinger, Great Lakes Naval Training Station – Wisconsin (REAL) Quarterbacks Archie Weston, Michigan (FM, LA [halfback], LGS) Eber Simpson, Wisconsin (LA, PD) Howard Yerges Sr., Ohio State (GWA) Halfbacks Chic Harley, Ohio State (FM, GWA, HP, LA, LGS) (CFHOF) Eber Simpson, Wisconsin (GWA) James B. Craig, Fort Sheridan / Michigan (REAL) Fullbacks Bob Koehler, Northwestern (FM, GWA, LA, LGS) Cedric C. Smith, Great Lakes Naval Training Station / Michigan (REAL) References