The 1954 Big Ten Conference football season was the 59th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference (also known as the Western Conference) and was a part of the 1954 college football season.
The 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, under head coach Woody Hayes, won the conference football championship, compiled a 10–0, was ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll, and defeated USC in the 1955 Rose Bowl. Halfback Howard Cassady was selected as the team's most valuable player and was a consensus first-team All-American.
The 1954 Wisconsin Badgers football team, under head coach Ivy Williamson, compiled a 7–2 record and was ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll. Fullback Alan Ameche won the 1954 Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference. Ameche broke Ollie Matson's career rushing record, finishing his tenure at Wisconsin with 3,212 rushing yards.
Purdue quarterback Len Dawson led the conference with 1,464 passing yards.
Season overview
Results and team statistics
Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1954 season
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1954 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
Preseason
Two Big Ten teams changed head coaches between the 1953 and 1954 seasons:
In December 1953, Wes Fesler resigned as Minnesota's head coach to accept a position as a partner, vice president and sports director at Minneapolis radio station WDGY. In January 1954, Murray Warmath signed a four-year contract as Minnesota's new head football coach. In January 1954, Michigan State's head coach Clarence Munn was elevated to a new position as the school's athletic director. Longtime line coach Duffy Daugherty became the new head football coach.
Regular season
September 25
On September 25, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played two conference games and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in five wins and one loss.
Ohio State 28, Indiana 0. Wisconsin 52, Marquette 14. Michigan 14, Washington 0. Minnesota 19, Nebraska 7. Iowa 14, Michigan State 10. Purdue 31, Missouri 0. Northwestern 27, Iowa State 14. Penn State 14, Illinois 12.
October 2
On October 2, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played one conference game and eight non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in five wins and three losses, giving the Big Ten a 10–4 record in non-conference games played to that date.
Ohio State 21, California 13. Wisconsin 6, Michigan State 0. Army 26, Michigan 7. Minnesota 46, Pittsburgh 7. Iowa 48, Montana 6. Purdue 27, Notre Dame 14. Indiana 34, Pacific 6. USC 12, Northwestern 7. Stanford 12, Illinois 2.
October 9
On October 9, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two wins, giving the Big Ten a 12–4 record in non-conference games played to that date.
Ohio State 40, Illinois 7. Wisconsin 13, Rice 7. Michigan 14, Iowa 13. Minnesota 26, Northwestern 7. Purdue 13, Duke 13. Michigan State 21, Indiana 14.
October 16
On October 16, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two losses, giving the Big Ten a 12–6 record in non-conference games played to that date.
Ohio State 20, Iowa 14. Wisconsin 20, Purdue 6. Michigan 7, Northwestern 0. Minnesota 19, Illinois 6. Missouri 20, Indiana 14. Notre Dame 20, Michigan State 19.
October 23
On October 23, 1954, 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, giving the Big Ten a 13–7 record in non-conference games played to that date.
Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 14. Michigan 34, Minnesota 0. Iowa 27, Indiana 14. Purdue 27, Michigan State 13. Pittsburgh 14, Northwestern 7. Illinois 34, Syracuse 6.
October 30
On October 30, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played against each other in five conference games.
Ohio State 14, Northwestern 7. Iowa 13, Wisconsin 7. Indiana 13, Michigan 9. Minnesota 19, Michigan State 13. Purdue 28, Illinois 14.
