1979 Big Ten Conference football season


The 1979 Big Ten Conference football season was the 84th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season.
The 1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team compiled an 11–1 record, won the Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the 1980 Rose Bowl, and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP and UPI polls. Quarterback Art Schlichter led the team with 2,246 yards of total offense, finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, and was selected as a first-team All-American by the NEA and The Sporting News. Offensive guard Ken Fritz was a consensus All-American. Earl Bruce, in his first year as head coach, was selected as the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Doug Donley led the Big Ten with 800 receiving yards, and Vlade Janakievski led the conference with 97 points scored. Defensive lineman Jim Laughlin was selected as the team's most valuable player.
The 1979 Purdue Boilermakers football team, under head coach Jim Young, finished in second place in the Big Ten, compiled a 10–2 record, defeated Tennessee in the 1979 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, led the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense, and was ranked No. 10 in the final AP and UPI polls. Quarterback Mark Hermann led the conference with 2,377 passing yards and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Tight end Dave Young was selected as the team's most valuable player.
The 1979 Michigan Wolverines football team, under head coach Bo Schembechler, compiled an 8–4 record, finished third in the Big Ten, lost to North Carolina in the 1979 Gator Bowl, and was ranked No. 18 in the final AP poll. Linebacker Ron Simpkins was selected as the team's most valuable player and as a consensus All-American. Defensive end Curtis Greer was also selected as a first-team All-American by multiple selectors. Butch Woolfolk ranked second in the Big Ten with 990 rushing yards.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Conf. RankTeamHead coachAP finalAP highOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAGMVP
1Ohio StateEarle Bruce#4#111–18–032.510.5Jim Laughlin
2PurdueJim Young#10#510–27–123.918.8Dave Young
3MichiganBo Schembechler#18#68–46–226.012.6Ron Simpkins
4IndianaLee Corso#19#198–45–326.221.0Tim Clifford
5IowaHayden FryNRNR5–64–421.719.6Dennis Mosley
6MinnesotaJoe SalemNRNR4–6–13–5–124.024.6Mark Carlson
7 Michigan StateDarryl RogersNR#75–63–521.823.0Danny Bass
7 WisconsinDave McClainNRNR4–73–518.928.3Tom Stauss
9IllinoisGary MoellerNRNR2–8–11–6–114.224.2L. McCullough
10NorthwesternRick VenturiNRNR1–100–910.535.1Chuck Kern

Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1979 season
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1979 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 8

On September 8, 1979, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two wins.
On September 15, 1979, the Big Ten teams played one conference games and eight non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in four wins and four losses, giving the Big Ten a 6–4 record to that point in the season.
On September 22, 1979, the Big Ten teams played 10 non-conference games, resulting in six wins and four losses. The results gave the Big Ten a 12–8 record to that point in the season
On September 29, 1979, the Big Ten teams played one conference game and eight non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in four wins and four losses, giving the Big Ten a 16–12 record to that point in the season.
On October 6, 1979, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 13, 1979, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 20, 1979, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On October 27, 1979, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 3, 1979, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 10, 1979, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.
On November 17, 1979, the Big Ten teams played five conference games.

1980 Rose Bowl

1979 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl

1979 Gator Bowl

1979 Holiday Bowl

Statistical leaders

Passing yards

1. Mark Herrmann, Purdue
2. Mark Carlson, Minnesota
3. Tim Clifford, Indiana
4. Art Schlichter, Ohio State
5. John Wangler, Michigan

Rushing yards

1. Dennis Mosley, Iowa
2. Butch Woolfolk, Michigan
3. Steve Smith, Michigan State
4. Calvin Murray, Ohio State
5. Garry White, Minnesota

Receiving yards

1. Doug Donley, Ohio State
2. Tom Stauss, Wisconsin
3. Todd Sheets, Northwestern
4. Doug Marsh, Michigan
5. Bart Burrell, Purdue

Total offense

1. Art Schlichter, Ohio State
2. Tim Clifford, Indiana
3. Mark Carlson, Minnesota
4. Mark Herrmann, Purdue
5. John Wangler, Michigan

Passing efficiency rating

1. Art Schlichter, Ohio State
2. Mark Carlson, Minnesota
3. Tim Clifford, Indiana
4. Mark Herrmann, Purdue
5. Phil Suess, Iowa

Rushing yards per attempt

1. Garry White, Minnesota
2. Ben McCall, Purdue
3. Lawrence Reid, Michigan
4. Mike Holmes, Illinois
5. Derek Hughes, Michigan State

Yards per reception

1. Doug Donley, Ohio State
2. Gary Williams, Ohio State
3. Eugene Byrd, Michigan State
4. Doug Marsh, Michigan
5. Tom Stauss, Wisconsin

Points scored

1. Vlade Janakievski, Ohio State
2. Dennis Mosley, Iowa
3. Butch Woolfolk, Michigan
4. Marion Barber, Jr., Minnesota
5. Derek Hughes, Michigan State

Awards and honors

All-Big Ten honors

The following players were picked by the Associated Press and/or the United Press International as first-team players on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Offense
PositionNameTeamSelectors
QuarterbackArt SchlichterOhio StateAP, UPI
Running backDennis MosleyIowaAP, UPI
Running backButch WoolfolkMichiganAP, UPI
FullbackDave MohappOhio StateUPI
Split endElmer BaileyMinnesotaAP
FlankerDoug DonleyWisconsinAP, UPI
Tight endDave YoungPurdueAP
Tight endMark BrammerMichigan StateUPI
CenterJay HilgenbergIowaAP
CenterTom WaughOhio StateUPI
GuardKen FritzOhio StateAP, UPI
GuardDale SchwanPurdueAP
GuardJohn ArbeznikMichiganUPI
TackleSteve McKenziePurdueAP, UPI
TackleRay SnellWisconsinAP, UPI

Defense
PositionNameTeamSelectors
Defensive lineCurtis GreerMichiganAP, UPI
Defensive lineKen LoushinPurdueAP, UPI
Defensive lineKeena TurnerPurdueAP
Defensive lineLuther HensonOhio StateUPI
Defensive lineCalvin ClarkPurdueAP
Defensive lineJim LaughlinOhio StateAP, UPI
Defensive lineMike TrgovacMichiganUPI
LinebackerRon SimpkinsMichiganAP, UPI
LinebackerDan BassMichigan StateAP, UPI
LinebackerLeven WeissIowaAP
Defensive backMike GuessOhio StateAP, UPI
Defensive backMike JollyMichiganAP, UPI
Defensive backTim WilburIndianaAP
Defensive backTodd BellOhio StateUPI
Defensive backVince SkillingsOhio StateUPI

All-American honors

At the end of the 1979 season, two Big Ten players were consensus first-team picks for the 1979 College Football All-America Team. The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:
PositionNameTeamSelectors
Offensive guardKen FritzOhio StateAP, FWAA, UPI, NEA, WCFF
LinebackerRon SimpkinsMichiganAP, FWAA, UPI, WCFF

Other Big Ten players who were named first-team All-Americans by at least one selector were:
PositionNameTeamSelectors
QuarterbackArt SchlichterOhio StateNEA, TSN
Offensive guardRay SnellWisconsinTSN
Defensive endCurtis GreerMichiganAFCA, FWAA, NEA

Other awards

The 1980 NFL Draft was held in New York on April 29-30, 1979. The following players were among the first 100 picks:
NamePositionTeamRoundOverall pick
Curtis GreerDefensive endMichigan16
Ray SnellGuardWisconsin122
Doug MarshTight endMichigan233
Angelo FieldsOffensive tackleMichigan State238
Keena TurnerLinebackerPurdue239
Ralph ClaytonWide receiverMichigan247
Mike FriedWide receiverIndiana362
Mark BrammerTight endMichigan State367
Ray SydnorTight endWisconsin383
Jim LaughlinLinebackerOhio State491
Mike JollyDefensive backMichigan496
Elmer BaileyWide receiverMinnesota4100