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 (9-0 against Big Ten opponents). 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 Conf. RankTeamHead coachAP finalAP highOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAG1IllinoisMike White#10#410–29–028.917.82MichiganBo Schembechler#8#69–38–129.613.33IowaHayden Fry#14#49–37–231.715.84Ohio StateEarle Bruce#9#39–36–334.217.25WisconsinDave McClainNRNR7–45–432.622.06PurdueLeon BurtnettNRNR3–7–13–5–122.833.37Michigan StateGeorge PerlesNRNR4–6–12–6–114.721.28 (tie)IndianaSam WycheNRNR3–82–718.332.78 (tie)NorthwesternDennis GreenNRNR2–92–79.236.210MinnesotaJoe SalemNRNR1–100–916.547.1 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: Ohio State defeated Pittsburgh, 28-23, in the 1984 Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona Illinois lost to UCLA, 45-9, in the 1984 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California Michigan lost to Auburn, 9-7, in the 1984 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans Iowa lost to Florida, 14-6, in the 1983 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida.
Statistical leaders The Big Ten's individual statistical leaders include the following:
Passing yards 1. Jack Trudeau, Illinois (2,446) 2. Chuck Long, Iowa (2,434) 3. Randy Wright, Wisconsin (2,329) 4. Steve Bradley, Indiana (2,298) 5. Scott Campbell, Purdue (2,031)
Rushing yards 1. Keith Byars, Ohio State (1,199) 2. Rick Rogers, Michigan (1,002) 3. Mel Gray, Purdue (849) 4. Thomas Rooks, Illinois (842) 5. Gary Ellerson, Wisconsin (777)
Receiving yards 1. Dave Moritz, Iowa (912) 2. Al Toon, Wisconsin (881) 3. David Williams, Illinois (870) 4. Duane Gunn, Indiana (815) 5. Len Kenebrew, Indiana (687)
Total offense 1. Randy Wright, Wisconsin (2,418) 2. Steve Bradley, Indiana (2,406) 3. Chuck Long, Iowa (2,404) 4. Jack Trudeau, Illinois (2,353) 5. Mike Tomczak, Ohio State (2,192)
Passing efficiency rating 1. Chuck Long, Iowa (160.4) 2. Jack Trudeau, Illinois (136.4) 3. Mike Tomczak, Ohio State (131.2) 4. Steve Smith, Michigan (123.0) 5. Randy Wright, Wisconsin (122.4)
Rushing yards per attempt 1. Steve Smith, Michigan (6.5) 2. Eric Jordan, Purdue (6.4) 3. Owen Gill, Iowa (6.0) 4. Keith Byars, Ohio State (5.4) 5. Thomas Rooks, Illinois (5.4)
Yards per reception 1. Ronnie Harmon, Iowa (22.0) 2. Cedric Anderson, Ohio State (20.2) 3. Daryl Turner, Michigan State (19.6) 4. Al Toon, Wisconsin (19.6) 5. Dave Moritz, Iowa (18.2)
Points scored 1. Keith Byars, Ohio State (132) 2. Tom Nichol, Iowa (80) 3. Chris White, Illinois (78) 4. Bob Bergeron, Michigan (76) 5. Gary Ellerson, Wisconsin (66) 5. Thomas Rooks, Illinois (66)
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 pickCarl BanksLinebackerMichigan State13John AltOffensive tackleIowa121William RobertsGuardOhio State127
References