The 2014 Big Ten Conference football season was the 119th season of college football play for the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The conference began its season on Thursday, August 28, as Minnesota and Rutgers opened their seasons. The remainder of the teams in the conference began their season on August 30.
This was the Big Ten's first season with 14 teams as Maryland and Rutgers joined the conference. It was also the first season with the two seven-team divisions; when Maryland and Rutgers joined, the conference reorganized its divisions on a pure geographic basis. The six schools in the Central Time Zone were joined by Purdue in the new West Division, with the other schools making up the East Division. Under the new setup, the only protected cross-division rivalry game will be Indiana–Purdue.
Ohio State routed Wisconsin, 59–0, to win 2014 Big Ten Football Championship Game in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes then advanced to the first ever College Football Playoff where they defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl semifinal game and then defeated Oregon in the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship to claim their eighth national championship in school history.
For the first time in several years, the Big Ten finished the season with two consensus top-five teams. In addition to Ohio State's consensus national title, Michigan State finished the season as the consensus #5 team in the nation.
Rankings
Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 FinalIllinois AP C CFP Not released Indiana AP RV C CFP Not released Iowa AP RV RV RV RV C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released Maryland AP RV RV C CFP Not released Michigan AP RV RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released Michigan State AP 8 7 13 11 9 10 8 8 8 8 7 12 10 10 7 7 5C 8 6 13 11 9 10 8 6 5 5 6 12 9 8 7 7 5CFP Not released 8 8 12 11 10 8 8Minnesota AP RV RV RV RV RV 22 RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 RV RV RV RV 22 25 RV RVCFP Not released 25 25 18 25Nebraska AP 22 19 RV 24 21 19 21 19 16 17 15 11 21 RV 25 25 RVC 22 18 21 22 19 17 21 19 16 16 14 11 19 RV 23 22 RVCFP Not released 15 13 16 23 Northwestern AP RV C RV CFP Not released Ohio State AP 5 8 22 23 22 20 15 13 13 13 13 8 7 7 6 5 1C 6 7 18 18 20 18 15 13 12 13 11 7 7 7 6 4 1CFP Not released 16 14 8 6 6 5 4Penn State AP RV RV RV RV RV RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released Purdue AP C CFP Not released Rutgers AP RV RV C RV RV RV RV RVCFP Not released Wisconsin AP 14 18 18 19 19 17 RV RV RV 25 22 14 14 11 17 13C 14 19 17 17 17 16 RV RV RV RV 24 22 15 14 11 17 13CFP Not released 25 20 16 14 13 18
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week No change in ranking from previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
Spring games (Attendance in parentheses)
April 5 Michigan (15,000)
April 11 Maryland (8,319)
April 12 Illinois (5,105) Indiana (9,231) Minnesota (5,000) Nebraska (61,772) Northwestern (N/A) Ohio State (61,058) Penn State (72,000) Purdue (7,175) Wisconsin (8,204)
April 26 Iowa (20,400) Michigan State (35,000) Rutgers (11,500)
Homecoming games TeamDateOpponentHC game recordAttendanceIllinoisOctober 25Minnesota44–57–2IndianaOctober 18Michigan State44–51–6IowaOctober 11Indiana55–42–52013 Iowa Football Media Guide . Retrieved 2014-07-02. Maryland October 18 IowaMichigan November 1 Indiana 86–27 Michigan StateSeptember 27Wyoming 64–31–3 MinnesotaOctober 18Purdue54–36–3NebraskaSeptember 27Illinois 77–22–4 Northwestern October 18 NebraskaOhio StateOctober 18 Rutgers67–19–5Penn State September 27 Northwestern68–21–5Purdue September 27 Iowa50–37–4RutgersNovember 1 Wisconsin52–28–2WisconsinOctober 25Maryland
Schedule
Index to colors and formattingBig Ten member wonBig Ten member lostBig Ten teams in bold All times Eastern time.
† denotes Homecoming game
Week 1
Week 2
Date Bye WeekSept. 6 Indiana
Week 3
Date Bye WeekSeptember 13 #13 Michigan State Northwestern #18 Wisconsin
Week 4
Date Bye WeekSeptember 20 #23 Ohio State
Week 5
Week 6
Date Bye WeekOctober 4 Iowa Minnesota Penn State
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 11 Maryland #21 Nebraska #15 Ohio State Rutgers
Week 8
Date Bye WeekOctober 18 Illinois Michigan Penn State Wisconsin
Week 9
Date Bye WeekOctober 25 Indiana Iowa Northwestern Purdue
Week 10
Date Bye WeekNovember 1 #8 Michigan State Minnesota
Week 11
Date Bye WeekNovember 8 Illinois Maryland #15 Nebraska Rutgers
Week 12
Date Bye WeekNovember 15 Michigan Purdue
Week 13
Week 14
Big Ten Championship Game
Bowl games Big Ten bowl games for the 2014 season are:
Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)Big Ten teamOpponentScoreAttendanceHeart of Dallas BowlDecember 26Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TXESPN1:00 p.m.IllinoisLouisiana TechLT 35–1831,297Quick Lane BowlDecember 26Ford Field • Detroit, MIESPN4:30 p.m.RutgersNorth CarolinaRUT 40–2123,876Pinstripe BowlDecember 27Yankee Stadium • New York, NYESPN4:30 p.m.Penn StateBoston CollegePSU 31–30 (OT)49,012Holiday BowlDecember 27Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CAESPN8:00 p.m.#25 Nebraska#24 USCUSC 45–4255,789Foster Farms BowlDecember 30Levi's Stadium • Santa Clara, CAESPN10:00 p.m.MarylandStanfordSTAN 45–2134,780Outback BowlJanuary 1Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPN212:00 p.m.#17 Wisconsin#19 AuburnWIS 34–31 (OT)44,023Citrus BowlJanuary 1Florida Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FLABC1:00 p.m.Minnesota#16 MissouriMIZZ 33–1748,624TaxSlayer BowlJanuary 2EverBank Field • Jacksonville, FLESPN3:20 p.m.IowaTennesseeTENN 45–2856,310New Year's Six BowlsCotton BowlJanuary 1AT&T Stadium • Arlington, TXESPN12:30 p.m.#7 Michigan State#4 BaylorMSU 42–4171,464College Football PlayoffSugar Bowl (Semifinal)January 1Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LAESPN9:00 p.m.#5 Ohio State#1 AlabamaOSU 42–3574,682CFP National ChampionshipJanuary 12AT&T Stadium • Arlington, TXESPN8:30 p.m.#5 Ohio State#3 OregonOSU 42–2085,689
Rankings are from AP Poll. All times Eastern Time Zone.
Records against FBS conferences 2014 records against FBS conferences:
Through games of January 12, 2015
ConferenceRecordACC5–1American6–0Big 121–3C-USA4–1Independents3–2MAC8–3Mountain West3–0Pac-122–6SEC3–3Sun Belt2–0Total37–19
Players of the Week Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams Freshman Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamWeek 1Ameer AbdullahRBNEBJohnathan AikenSRUTSam FickenPKPSUJ. T. BarrettQBOSUDaeSean HamiltonWRPSUWeek 2Wes LuntQBILLDrew OttDEIOWASam FoltzPNEBMike DudekWRILLDavid CobbRBMINWeek 3J.T. BarrettQBOSUTrevor WilliamsCBPSUDe'Mornay Pierson-ElPRNEBJ.T. BarrettQBOSUWeek 4Ameer AbdullahRBNEBWilliam LikelyCBMDChris GradonePNWTegray ScalesLBINDMelvin GordonRBWISChris StrevelerQBMINNWeek 5Ameer AbdullahRBNEBCole FarrandLBMDGriffin OakesPKINDAnthony WalkerLBNWJ.T. BarrettQBOSUWeek 6Gary NovaQBRUTGodwin IgwebuikeSNWKemoko TurayDERUTGodwin IgwebuikeSNWWeek 7Tevin ColemanRBINDJake RyanLBMICHMatt WilePKMICHJustin JacksonRBNWDamien WilsonLBMINNJalen MyrickKRMINNWeek 8J.T. BarrettQBOSUCedric ThompsonSMINNRyan SantosoPKMINNJ.T. BarrettQBOSUWeek 9Ameer AbdullahRBNEBJoey BosaDEOSUJustin DuVernoisPILLDaeSean HamiltonWRPSUWeek 10Corey ClementRBWISLouis Trinca-PasatDTIOWASam FickenPKPSUAkrum WadleyRBIOWAJake RyanLBMICHWeek 11J.T. BarrettQBOSUVince BiegelLBWISPaul GriggsPKPURJ.T. BarrettQBOSUWeek 12Melvin GordonRBWISJoe SchobertLBWISJack MitchellPKNWJ.T. BarrettQBOSUWeek 13Melvin GordonRBWISBriean Boddy-CalhounCBMINNDavid ReisnerPKILLJalin MarshallWR/PROSUIbraheim CampbellSNWBrad CraddockPKMDWeek 14Gary NovaQBRUTNate GerrySNEBDe'Mornay Pierson-ElPRNEBJ.T. BarrettQBOSUR.J. SheltonKRMSU
Players of the Year 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year awards
AwardPlayerSchoolGraham-George Offensive Player of the YearMelvin GordonWisconsinNagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the YearJoey BosaOhio StateThompson-Randle El Freshman of the YearJ.T. BarrettOhio StateGriese-Brees Quarterback of the YearJ.T. BarrettOhio StateRichter-Howard Receiver of the YearTony LippettMichigan StateAmeche-Dayne Running Back of the YearMelvin GordonWisconsinKwalick-Clark Tight End of the YearMaxx WilliamsMinnesotaRimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the YearBrandon ScherffIowaSmith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the YearJoey BosaOhio StateButkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the YearMike HullPenn StateTatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the YearKurtis DrummondMichigan StateBakken-Andersen Kicker of the YearBrad CraddockMarylandEddleman-Fields Punter of the YearPeter MortellMinnesotaDave McClain/Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the YearJerry KillMinnesota
All-Conference Players Coaches All-Conference Selections
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Position Player Class Team First Team Offense (Coaches) QB J.T. Barrett FR Ohio State RB Tevin Coleman JR Indiana RB MELVIN GORDON JR Wisconsin WR Tony Lippett SR Michigan State WR Kenny Bell SR Nebraska TE Maxx Williams SO Minnesota C Jack Allen JR Michigan State OG Pat Elflein SO Ohio State OG Kyle Costigan SR Wisconsin OT Brandon Scherff SR Iowa OT Rob Havenstein SR Wisconsin First Team Defense (Coaches) DL Shilique Calhoun JR Michigan State DL Randy Gregory JR Nebraska DL JOEY BOSA SO Ohio State DL Anthony Zettel SR Penn State LB Jake Ryan SR Michigan LB Mike Hull SR Penn State LB Derek Landisch SR Wisconsin DB William Likely SO Maryland DB Kurtis Drummond SR Michigan State DB Trae Waynes JR Michigan State DB Doran Grant SR Ohio State First Team Special Teams (Coaches) PK Brad Craddock JR Maryland P Peter Mortell JR Minnesota
Position Player Class Team Second Team Offense (Coaches) QB Connor Cook JR Michigan State RB David Cobb SR Minnesota RB Ameer Abdullah SR Nebraska WR Stefon Diggs JR Maryland WR Devin Funchess JR Michigan TE Jeff Heuerman SR Ohio State C Austin Blythe JR Iowa OG Travis Jackson SR Michigan State OG Zac Epping SR Minnesota OT Taylor Decker JR Ohio State OT Jack Conklin SO Michigan State Second Team Defense (Coaches) DL Carl Davis SR Iowa DL Louis Trinca-Pasat SR Iowa DL Maliek Collins SO Nebraska DL Michael Bennett SR Ohio State LB Quinton Alston SR Iowa LB Taiwan Jones SR Michigan State LB Damien Wilson SR Minnesota DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun JR Minnesota DB Eric Murray JR Minnesota DB Ibraheim Campbell SR Northwestern DB Frankie Williams JR Purdue DB Michael Caputo JR Wisconsin DB Darius Hillary JR Wisconsin Second Team Special Teams (Coaches) PK Sam Ficken SR Penn State P Justin DuVernois SR Illinois
Honorable Mention: Illinois: V’Angelo Bentley, Mikey Dudek, Teddy Karras, Mason Monheim, Jihad Ward; Indiana: Antonio Allen, Dan Feeney, Collin Rahrig, Bobby Richardson, Shane Wynn; Iowa: Andrew Donnal, Jordan Lomax, John Lowdermilk, Drew Ott, Tevaun Smith; Maryland: Cole Farrand, Andre Monroe; Michigan: Brennan Beyer, Will Hagerup, Raymon Taylor; Michigan State: Ed Davis, Jeremy Langford, Josiah Price, Marcus Rush, Mike Sadler; Minnesota: Cameron Botticelli, Josh Campion, Theiren Cockran, Tommy Olson; Nebraska: Zaire Anderson, Jake Cotton, Sam Foltz, Nate Gerry, Alex Lewis, Josh Mitchell; Northwestern: Chi Chi Ariguzo, Justin Jackson, Dean Lowry, Nick Van Hoose, Brandon Vitabile, Dan Vitale; Ohio State: Darryl Baldwin, Cameron Johnston, Joshua Perry, Devin Smith, Evan Spencer; Penn State: Adrian Amos, Deion Barnes, DaeSean Hamilton, Jesse James, Jordan Lucas; Purdue: Landon Feichter, Paul Griggs; Rutgers: Leonte Carroo, Kaleb Johnson; Wisconsin: Vince Biegel, Rafael Gaglianone, Dallas Lewallen, Tyler Marz, Joe Schobert, Marcus Trotter, Dan Voltz.
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Media All-Conference Selections