1983 Big Ten Conference football season


The 1983 Big Ten Conference football season was the 88th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season.
The 1983 Big Ten champion was Illinois. The Illini compiled a 10-2 record. They were led quarterback Jack Trudeau with 2,446 passing yards, running back Thomas Rooks with 842 rushing yards, and wide receiver David Williams with 870 receiving yards. The 1983 Illini are the only Big Ten team to go 9-0 in regular season conference play, until Wisconsin went 9-0 in 2017.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1983 season
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1983 season
PPG = Average of points scored per game
PAG = Average of points allowed per game

Pre-season

Regular season

Bowl games

Four Big Ten teams played in bowl games as follows:
The Big Ten's individual statistical leaders include the following:

Passing yards

1. Jack Trudeau, Illinois
2. Chuck Long, Iowa
3. Randy Wright, Wisconsin
4. Steve Bradley, Indiana
5. Scott Campbell, Purdue

Rushing yards

1. Keith Byars, Ohio State
2. Rick Rogers, Michigan
3. Mel Gray, Purdue
4. Thomas Rooks, Illinois
5. Gary Ellerson, Wisconsin

Receiving yards

1. Dave Moritz, Iowa
2. Al Toon, Wisconsin
3. David Williams, Illinois
4. Duane Gunn, Indiana
5. Len Kenebrew, Indiana

Total offense

1. Randy Wright, Wisconsin
2. Steve Bradley, Indiana
3. Chuck Long, Iowa
4. Jack Trudeau, Illinois
5. Mike Tomczak, Ohio State

Passing efficiency rating

1. Chuck Long, Iowa
2. Jack Trudeau, Illinois
3. Mike Tomczak, Ohio State
4. Steve Smith, Michigan
5. Randy Wright, Wisconsin

Rushing yards per attempt

1. Steve Smith, Michigan
2. Eric Jordan, Purdue
3. Owen Gill, Iowa
4. Keith Byars, Ohio State
5. Thomas Rooks, Illinois

Yards per reception

1. Ronnie Harmon, Iowa
2. Cedric Anderson, Ohio State
3. Daryl Turner, Michigan State
4. Al Toon, Wisconsin
5. Dave Moritz, Iowa

Points scored

1. Keith Byars, Ohio State
2. Tom Nichol, Iowa
3. Chris White, Illinois
4. Bob Bergeron, Michigan
5. Gary Ellerson, Wisconsin
5. Thomas Rooks, Illinois

All-conference players

All-Americans

1984 NFL Draft

The 1984 NFL Draft was held May 1-2, 1984. The following Big Ten players were selected in the first round of the draft:
NamePositionTeamRoundOverall pick
Carl BanksLinebackerMichigan State13
John AltOffensive tackleIowa121
William RobertsGuardOhio State127