1982 Big Ten Conference football season

The 1982 Big Ten Conference football season was the 87th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season.

The 1982 Big Ten champion was Michigan. The Wolverines lost two of their first three games, then won seven consecutive games before losing to Ohio State and also losing to UCLA in the 1983 Rose Bowl. Michigan wide receiver Anthony Carter received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the conference's most valuable player.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Key AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1982 season AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1982 season PPG = Average of points scored per game PAG = Average of points allowed per game

Pre-season

Regular season

Bowl games

Five Big Ten teams played in bowl games as follows:

Michigan lost to UCLA, 24-14, in the 1983 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Ohio State defeated BYU, 47-17, in the 1982 Holiday Bowl in San Diego.
Iowa defeated Tennessee, 28-22, in the 1982 Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Illinois lost to Alabama, 21-15, in the 1982 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee.
Wisconsin defeated Kansas State, 14-3, in the 1982 Independence Bowl, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Statistical leaders

The Big Ten's individual statistical leaders include the following:

Passing yards

1. Tony Eason, Illinois (3,248) 2. Sandy Schwab, Northwestern (2,735) 3. Scott Campbell, Purdue (2,626) 4. Babe Laufenberg, Indiana (2,468) 5. Mike Hohensee, Minnesota (2,380)

Rushing yards

1. Tim Spencer, Ohio State (1,538) 2. Lawrence Ricks, Michigan (1,388) 3. Mel Gray, Purdue (916) 4. Eddie Phillips, Iowa (772) 5. Ricky Edwards, Northwestern (688)

Receiving yards

1. Mike Martin, Illinois (941) 2. Anthony Carter, Michigan (844) 3. Jon Harvey, Northwestern (807) 4. Duane Gunn, Indiana (764) 5. Cliff Benson, Purdue (762)

Total offense

1. Tony Eason, Illinois (3,258) 2. Sandy Schwab, Northwestern (2,555) 3. Scott Campbell, Purdue (2,508) 4. Mike Hohensee, Minnesota (2,418) 5. Babe Laufenberg, Indiana (2,351)

Passing efficiency rating

1. Tony Eason, Illinois (128.2) 2. Mike Tomczak, Ohio State (125.7) 3. Steve Smith, Michigan (125.1) 4. Chuck Long, Iowa (124.8) 5. Babe Laufenberg, Indiana (118.8)

Rushing yards per attempt

1. Troy King, Wisconsin (7.2) 2. Tony Hunter, Minnesota (5.7) 3. Tim Spencer, Ohio State (5.6) 4. Lawrence Ricks, Michigan (5.2) 5. Owen Gill, Iowa (5.1)

Yards per reception

1. Duane Gunn, Indiana (21.8) 2. Anthony Carter, Michigan (19.6) 3. John Boyd, Indiana (18.9) 4. Gary Williams, Ohio State (17.2) 5. Lonnie Farrow, Minnesota (16.6)

Points scored

1. Mike Bass, Illinois (101) 2. Tim Spencer, Ohio State (90) 3. Ali Haji-Sheikh, Michigan (77) 4. Rich Spangler, Ohio State (68) 5. Jim Gallery, Minnesota (61)

All-conference players

All-Americans

1983 NFL draft

The 1983 NFL draft was held in April 1983. The following Big Ten players were selected in the first five rounds of the draft: