The 2016 Big Ten Conference football season was the 121st season of college football play for the Big Ten Conference and is a part of the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was the Big Ten's third season with 14 teams. The season marked a return to a nine-game conference schedule, something the league has not had since 1984.
Penn State and Ohio State each finished with identical 8–1 conference records, but Penn State won the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buckeyes. Accordingly, Penn State won the East Division for the first time since the conference instituted divisions. Wisconsin won the West Division for the fourth time in the six years the division had existed.
In the Big Ten Championship held on December 3, 2016, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, Penn State defeated Wisconsin 38–31 to win the Big Ten.
Coaches Coaching changes Several Big Ten teams changed head coaches in 2016. Tracy Claeys at Minnesota had the "interim" tag removed from his title and served as the permanent head coach. D. J. Durkin was the new head coach at Maryland taking over for Randy Edsall after having spent the previous year as the defensive coordinator at Michigan, while Rutgers replaced Kyle Flood with Chris Ash, who comes to Piscataway after serving as a co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State. In March, new Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman announced he was replacing Bill Cubit as head football coach with Lovie Smith.Illinois hires Lovie Smith as next football coach
On October 16, 2016, Purdue announced they were parting ways with head coach Darrell Hazell. Receivers coach Gerad Parker was named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2016 season. On December 5, Purdue named Western Kentucky football coach Jeff Brohm their next head coach.
On December 1, 2016, Indiana University announced that head coach Kevin Wilson resigned his position. Indiana associate head coach Tom Allen was named Wilson's permanent successor.Kevin Wilson resigns as Head Football Coach; Succeeded by Associated Head Coach Tom Allen On January 3, 2017, the University of Minnesota announced they were relieving head coach Tracy Claeys of his duties. Three days later, Minnesota announced the hiring of Western Michigan coach P. J. Fleck to take over as head coach.
Head coaches Note: All records are through the completion of the 2016 season Team Head coach Years at school Overall record Record at school Big Ten record Big Ten titles Illinois Lovie Smith 1 0 Indiana Kevin WilsonTom Allen** 61 0 Iowa Kirk Ferentz 18 2 Maryland D.J. Durkin 1 0 Michigan Jim Harbaugh 2 0 Michigan State Mark Dantonio 10 3 Minnesota Tracy Claeys 2 0 Nebraska Mike Riley 2 0 Northwestern Pat Fitzgerald 11 0 Ohio State Urban Meyer 5 1 Penn State James Franklin 3 1 Purdue Darrell HazellGerad Parker* 41 0 Rutgers Chris Ash 1 0 Wisconsin Paul Chryst 2 0
* Darrell Hazell was fired on Oct. 16, 2016 and Gerad Parker was named interim coach to finish the season.
** Kevin Wilson resigned as head coach at Indiana on Dec. 1, 2016 and Tom Allen was named his full-time replacement and will coach in Indiana's bowl game.
Regular season Rankings
Pre Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Wk 15 Final Illinois AP C CFP Not released Indiana AP RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released Iowa AP 17 16 13 RV RV RV RV RV RV 22 21 RVC 15 10 11 25 RV RV RV RV 25 25 RV CFP Not released Maryland AP RV RV RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released Michigan AP 7 (1) 5 (1) 4 (1) 4 (1) 4 (1) 4 (1) 4 (1) 3 (1) 2 (1) 2 (1) 2 (1) 4 3 5 6 10C 8 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 2 2 (2) 3 4 4 6 6 10 CFP Not released 3 3 3 3 5 6 Michigan State AP 12 12 12 8 17 RV C 11 8 8 8 16 RV CFP Not released Minnesota AP RV RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released Nebraska AP RV RV RV 20 15 12 10 8 7 9 21 19 17 23 24 RV C RV RV RV 20 15 12 9 9 T6 10 20 17 15 22 21 RV CFP Not released 10 19 18 16 Northwestern AP RV C RV RV CFP Not released Ohio State AP 6 (1) 4 3 2 (4) 2 (4) 2 (6) 2 (2) 2 6 6 6 2 2 2 2 6C 5 4 4 2 (3) 2 (2) 2 (3) 2 (4) 2 (2) 8 6 5 2 2 2 2 6 CFP Not released 6 5 2 2 2 3 Penn State AP 24 20 12 9 8 8 5 7 C RV RV 23 14 10 8 8 5 7 CFP Not released 12 10 8 7 7 5 Purdue AP C CFP Not released Rutgers AP C CFP Not released Wisconsin AP RV 10 9 11 8 11 8 10 11 8 7 6 5 6 8 9C RV 16 12 10 8 13 10 10 11 8 7 6 6 5 8 9 CFP Not released 8 7 7 6 6 8
+ 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
Schedule Source 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 WeekSeptember 10 #12 Michigan State
Week 3
Date Bye WeekSeptember 17 Indiana Minnesota Purdue
Week 4
Date Bye WeekSeptember 24 Illinois Maryland #2 Ohio State
Week 5
Week 6
Date Bye WeekOctober 8 #12 Nebraska Northwestern #11 Wisconsin
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 15 #4 Michigan Penn State
Week 8
Week 9
Date Bye WeekOctober 29 Iowa Rutgers
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Players of the Week Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams Freshman Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamWeek 1J. T. BarrettQBOSUMike McCrayLBMICHRafael GaglianonePKWISAnthony NelsonDEIOWAWeek 2Wilton SpeightQBMICHNathan GerrySNEBJanarion GrantKRRUTMarcelino BallSINDWeek 3Noah BrownWROSUJabrill PeppersLB/DBMICHJabrill PeppersLB/DBMICHCaleb LightbournPNEBJerome BakerLBOSUWeek 4Tommy Armstrong Jr.QBNEBT. J. WattLBWISRon ColuzziPIAAlex HornibrookQBWISWeek 5Ty JohnsonRBMDIfeadi OdenigboDLNWEmmitt CarpenterPKMNMike WeberRBOSUMarcus AllenSPSUWeek 6Saquon BarkleyRBPSUBrandon SmithLBPSUJ. D. DellingerPKPURBrian Lankford-JohnsonRBPURWeek 7Justin JacksonRBNWJack CichyLBWISSolomon VaultWRNWPatrick NelsonSILLJ. T. BarrettQBOSUWeek 8Rodney SmithRBMINBrandon BellLBPSUMarcus AllenSPSULorenzo HarrisonRBMDGrant HaleyCBPSUWeek 9 Saquon BarkleyRBPSURyan ConnellyLBWISKenny AllenPK/PMICHTyler NateeRBINDMarcus OliverLBINDWeek 10 Wilton SpeightQBMICHTré WatsonLBILLEmmit CarpenterPKMINNConnor McGovernOGPSUCurtis SamuelRBOSUWeek 11Tommy Armstrong Jr.QBNEBJaleel JohnsonDTIAKeith DuncanPKIAManny RugambaCBIAJohn Moten IVRBNWWeek 12LeShun DanielsRBIABlake CashmanLBMINNRiley McCarronWRIAMike WeberRBOSUDe'Veon SmithRBMICHTyler DavisPKPSUWeek 13Trace McSorleyQBPSURaekwon McMillanLBOSUTeldrick MorganWR/KRMDJohn Moten IVRBNW
Records against FBS conferences 2016 records against FBS conferences
Power-Five conferences & independents
ConferenceRecordWinning %ACC2–6.250Big 122–01.000Independents1–1.500Pac-124–3.571SEC1–2.333Total10–12.455
Group of Five Conferences
ConferenceRecordWinning %American3–1.750C-USA3–01.000MAC6–2.750Mountain West6–01.000Sun Belt1–01.000Total19–3.864
Regular season attendance TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Game 8Total Average% of Capacity IllinoisMemorial Stadium60,67048,64460,670†40,95442,91240,09047,14439,091–319,50545,64475.2% IndianaMemorial Stadium52,92941,37445,51943,97148,254†38,29140,67843,103– 301,19043,02781.3% IowaKinnick Stadium70,58568,39070,585†70,585†67,04770,585†70,585†69,814–487,59169,65698.7% MarylandMaryland Stadium51,80235,47441,20641,465†41,23548,09030,220– – 237,69039,61576.5% MichiganMichigan Stadium107,601110,222109,295110,042110,319111,846†111,103110,626110,288883,741110,468102.7% Michigan StateSpartan Stadium75,00574,51675,50574,21475,62575,802†73,70173,303– 522,66674,66799.5% MinnesotaTCF Bank Stadium50,805 44,58241,02644,85449,145†46,09642,83238,162–306,69743,81486.2% NebraskaMemorial Stadium86,04790,01389,89590,41490,37490,546†90,45689,704– 631,40290,200104.8% NorthwesternRyan Field47,13030,63530,74834,46440,28435,41742,016†30,022–243,58634,79873.8% Ohio StateOhio Stadium104,944107,193104,410105,830107,820107,296108,750110,045†– 751,344107,335102.3% Penn StateBeaver Stadium106,57294,378100,42095,332100,787107,280†106,19497,418–701,809100,25894.1% PurdueRoss–Ade Stadium57,23632,07433,06841,607†40,23933,15730,54830,465–241,15834,45160.2% RutgersHigh Point Solutions Stadium52,45445,24539,68044,06153,250†42,64037,34551,366–313,58744,79885.4% WisconsinCamp Randall Stadium80,32177,33179,88381,541†80,83379,34077,216– – 476,14479,35798.8%Total– 1,004,101 900,071 790,655 919,334 948,124 926,476908,788 783,119 110,288 6,418,11065,57888.54% Bold – Exceed capacity †Season High
Big Ten Championship Game
Bowl games Big Ten went 3–7 in the 2016–17 Bowl Season Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)Big Ten teamOpponentScoreAttendanceQuick Lane BowlDecember 26Ford Field • Detroit, MIESPN2:30 p.m.MarylandBoston CollegeBC 36–3019,117Holiday BowlDecember 27Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CAESPN7:00 p.m.MinnesotaWashington StateMINN 17–1248,704Pinstripe BowlDecember 28Yankee Stadium • New York, NYESPN2:00 p.m.NorthwesternPittsburghNW 31–2437,918Foster Farms BowlDecember 28Levi's Stadium • Santa Clara, CAFOX8:30 p.m.IndianaUtahUT 26–2427,608Music City BowlDecember 30Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TNESPN3:30 p.m.#24 NebraskaTennesseeUT 38–2468,496Outback BowlJanuary 2Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLABC1:00 p.m.#21 Iowa#20 FloridaFLA 30–351,119New Year's Six BowlsOrange BowlDecember 30Hard Rock Stadium • Miami Gardens, FLESPN8:00 p.m.#6 Michigan#10 Florida StateFSU 33–3267,432Cotton BowlJanuary 2AT&T Stadium • Arlington, TXESPN1:00 p.m.#8 Wisconsin#12 Western MichiganWIS 24–1659,615Rose BowlJanuary 2Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CAESPN5:00 p.m.#5 Penn State#9 USCUSC 52–4995,128College Football PlayoffFiesta Bowl (Semifinal)December 31University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZESPN7:00 p.m.#2 Ohio State#3 ClemsonCLEM 31–071,279
Rankings are from AP Poll. All times Eastern Time Zone.
Awards and honors Players of the Year 2016 Big Ten Player of the Year Awards
AwardPlayerSchoolGraham-George Offensive Player of the YearSaquon BarkleyPenn StateNagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the YearJabrill PeppersMichiganThompson-Randle El Freshman of the YearMike WeberOhio StateGriese-Brees Quarterback of the YearJ. T. BarrettOhio StateRichter-Howard Receiver of the YearAustin CarrNorthwesternAmeche-Dayne Running Back of the YearSaquon BarkleyPenn StateKwalick-Clark Tight End of the YearJake ButtMichiganRimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the YearPat ElfleinOhio StateSmith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the YearTyquan LewisOhio StateButkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the YearJabrill PeppersMichiganTatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the YearJourdan LewisMichiganBakken-Andersen Kicker of the YearEmmit CarpenterMinnesotaEddleman-Fields Punter of the YearCameron JohnstonOhio StateRodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the YearJabrill PeppersMichiganHayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote)Paul ChrystWisconsinDave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote)James FranklinPenn StateDungy-Thompson Humanitarian AwardTrent GreenIndianaFord-Kinnick Leadership AwardReggie McKenzieMichigan
All-conference players
2016 Big Ten All-Conference Honors
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Position Player Team First Team Offense (Coaches)QBJ. T. BarrettOhio StateRB Saquon BarkleyPenn StateRBCorey ClementWisconsinWRAustin CarrNorthwesternWRCurtis SamuelOhio StateTEJake Butt MichiganCPat ElfleinOhio StateOGDan FeeneyIndianaOGBilly PriceOhio StateOTErik MagnusonMichiganOTRyan RamczykWisconsin First Team Defense (Coaches)DLJaleel JohnsonIowaDLTaco CharltonMichiganDLChris WormleyMichiganDLTyquan LewisOhio StateLB Jabrill Peppers MichiganLBRaekwon McMillanOhio StateLBT.J. WattWisconsinDBDesmond KingIowaDB Jourdan LewisMichiganDBMalik HookerOhio StateDBMarshon LattimoreOhio State First Team Special Teams (Coaches)KTyler DavisPenn StatePCameron JohnstonOhio StateRSJabrill PeppersMichigan