1938 Big Ten Conference football season


The 1938 Big Ten Conference football season was the 43rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1938 college football season.
The Big Ten Conference championship went to Bernie Bierman's 1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team. Minnesota compiled a 6–2 record, outscored its opponents 97 to 38, and was ranked No. 10 in the final AP Poll. Guard Frank Twedell was a first-team All-American. Twedell and quarterback Wilbur Moore were first-team picks for the All-Big Ten team.
Michigan, in its first year under head coach Fritz Crisler, compiled a 6–1–1 record, outscored opponents 131 to 40, led the conference in scoring offense, and was ranked No. 16 in the final AP Poll. The team's only setbacks were a 7-6 loss to Minnesota and a scoreless tie with Northwestern. Michigan guard Ralph Heikkinen was a consensus first-team All-American. Sophomore backs Tom Harmon and Forest Evashevski were both first-team All-Big Ten players.
Northwestern, under head coach Pappy Waldorf, compiled a 4–2–2 record, outscored opponents 93 to 32, led the conference in scoring defense, and was ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll. Tackle Bob Voigts was a first-team All-American.
Wisconsin fullback Howard Weiss received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the conference. Ralph Heikkinen finished in second place in the voting and Larry Buhler of Minnesota was third.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Key

PPG = Average of points scored per game

PAG = Average of points allowed per game

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

Regular season

September 23–24

On September 23 and 24, 1938, the Big Ten began play with four non-conference games, resulting in two wins and two losses.
On October 1, 1938, the Big Ten football teams played one conference game and seven non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in six wins and a tie. Iowa had a bye.
On October 8, 1938, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in one win and one loss.
On October 15, 1938, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and four non-conference teams. The non-conference games resulted in two losses and two ties.
On October 22, 1938, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and three non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two losses and one win. Minnesota had a bye week.
On October 29, 1938, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two wins.
On November 5, 1938, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and three non-conference games. The three non-conference games resulted in two losses and one win. Illinois had a bye week.
On November 12, 1939, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and three non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two losses and a win. Purdue had a bye week.
On November 19, 1938, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. Both non-conference games were losses.
No Big Ten teams participated in any bowl games during the 1938 season. On December 3, 1938, the faculty committee of the Big Ten universities rejected a proposal from the Pacific Coast Conference for the two conference's champions to compete in the Rose Bowl. The Big Ten reaffirmed its ban on postseason games and its rule that all football games must be completed on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

All-Big Ten players

The following players were picked by the Associated Press and/or the United Press as first-team players on the 1938 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
The only Big Ten player selected as a consensus first-team player on the 1938 College Football All-America Team was:
Other Big Ten players to receive first-team honors from at least one selector were:
The following Big Ten players were selected in the first nine rounds of the 1939 NFL Draft:

NamePositionTeamRoundOverall pick
Larry BuhlerBackMinnesota19
Bob HaakTackleIndiana215
Joe MihalTacklePurdue319
Howard WeissFullbackWisconsin322
Lynn HovlandGuardWisconsin539
George FaustBackMinnesota642
Tony IppolitoBackPurdue754
Alex SchoenbaumTackleOhio State755
Frank TwedellTackleMinnesota759
Wilbur MooreBackMinnesota978