The 2015 Big Ten Conference football season was the 120th season of college football play for the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The conference began its season on Thursday, September 3, with Michigan and Minnesota opening their seasons. The remainder of the teams in the conference began their seasons on September 4 and 5.
This was the Big Ten's second season with 14 teams. The league was home to the defending national champion and inaugural winner of the College Football Playoff in Ohio State.
The Big Ten also welcomed four new head coaches for the 2015 season. Jim Harbaugh replaced Brady Hoke as head coach at Michigan, Mike Riley took over for Bo Pelini at Nebraska, Paul Chryst came in as the head man at Wisconsin, replacing Gary Andersen, and Bill Cubit served as the interim head coach at Illinois after Tim Beckman was fired just one week before the beginning of the season.Tim Beckman dismissed as Illini football coach There were also two coaching changes made during the middle of the 2015 season. On October 13, Maryland dismissed coach Randy Edsall and named his offensive coordinator Mike Locksley as interim coach for the rest of the season.Maryland fires Randy Edsall On October 28, Jerry Kill retired as Minnesota's head coach due to health concerns. His defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys was named as interim coach before being named the permanent replacement on November 11.Jerry Kill retires immediately due to health concerns.Tracy Claeys named permanent replacement at Minnesota
In preseason polling, Ohio State was unanimously voted to repeat as the Big Ten champion by the media in the Big Ten Preseason poll, receiving all 40 first place votes.Ohio State unanimously picked to win Big Ten: Cleveland.com preseason football poll Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group, July 27, 2015 The Badgers were favorites to win the Big Ten West Division with 32 votes, followed by Nebraska with five and Minnesota with three.Badgers football: Media picks UW to win West again Jason Galloway, Wisconsin State Journal July 27, 2015
At the conclusion of the regular season, Iowa won the West Division championship with a perfect 12-0 (8-0) record. Michigan State and Ohio State finished tied atop the East Division standings, both at 11-1 (7-1), but Michigan State's head-to-head victory placed the Spartans into the Big Ten Championship Game opposite Iowa. Following the season, Illinois removed the interim tag from Bill Cubit's title and gave him a two-year contract as head coach,Bill Cubit agrees to two-year deal as Illinois coach while Rutgers has decided to part ways with Kyle Flood.Rutgers fires Kyle Flood, AD Julie Hermann
In the Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan State defeated Iowa 16-13 to win their second Big Ten championship in three years. With the win, the Spartans advance to the College Football Playoff. Iowa and Ohio State were both placed into New Year's Six Bowls, going to the Rose and Fiesta Bowls, respectively. A total of 10 Big Ten teams went to bowl games in 2015, including Nebraska and Minnesota, both with 5-7 records.
Rankings
Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 FinalIllinois AP C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released N/A Indiana AP C RV RV CFP Not released N/A Iowa AP RV RV RV 22 17 12 10 10 8 6 3 4 6 9C RV RV RV 23 17 13 11 11 8 6 3 3 7 10CFP Not released 9 5 5 4 4 5 N/A Maryland AP C RV RV CFP Not released N/A Michigan AP RV 22 18 12 15 15 16 15 14 12 19 17 12C RV RV RV 21 14 18 17 17 15 13 12 19 17 11CFP Not released 17 14 12 10 15 14 N/A Michigan State AP 5 5 4 2 2 4 7 7 6 6 14 9 6 5 3 6C 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 4 5 6 14 9 6 5 4 6CFP Not released 7 13 9 5 5 3 N/A Minnesota AP RV RV RV RV C RV RV RV RV RV CFP Not released N/A Nebraska AP RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released N/A Northwestern AP RV 23 17 16 13 20 RV RV RV 24 20 17 13 12 23 C RV 24 19 17 14 21 RV RV RV 24 21 17 13 12 22CFP Not released 21 18 20 16 14 13 N/A Ohio State AP 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 8 6 7 4C 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 8 6 5 4CFP Not released 3 3 3 8 6 7 N/A Penn State AP RV RV RV C RV RV RV CFP Not released N/A Purdue AP C CFP Not released N/A Rutgers AP C CFP Not released N/A Wisconsin AP 20 RV 24 22 19 RV RV RV 23 21 RV 25 23 21C 18 24 23 21 18 RV RV RV RV RV 22 20 RV 25 23 21CFP Not released 25 25 N/A
+ 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
In 2015, Penn State will be the only Big Ten team that will not play a non-conference game against a Power Five conference team.Daughters, Amy (May 27, 2015). "Power-Five Teams That Won't Play a Power, Non-Conference Opponent in 2015", FBschedules.com. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
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
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Date Bye WeekOctober 3 Rutgers
Week 6
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 17 Illinois Maryland
Week 8
Date Bye WeekOctober 24 #12 Iowa #15 Michigan Minnesota Purdue
Week 9
Date Bye WeekOctober 31 Indiana #6 Michigan State Northwestern #1 Ohio State
Week 10
Week 11
Date Bye WeekNovember 14 Penn State #23 Wisconsin
Week 12
Date Bye WeekNovember 21 Nebraska
Week 13
Big Ten Championship Game
Bowl games Big Ten bowl games for the 2015 season are:
Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)Big Ten teamOpponentScoreAttendancePinstripe BowlDecember 26Yankee Stadium • New York, NYABC3:30 p.m.IndianaDukeDuke 44–41 OT37,218Foster Farms BowlDecember 26Levi's Stadium • Santa Clara, CAESPN9:15 p.m.NebraskaUCLANEB 37–2933,527Quick Lane BowlDecember 28Ford Field • Detroit, MIESPN25:00 p.m.MinnesotaCentral MichiganMIN 21–1434,217Holiday BowlDecember 30Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CAESPN10:30 p.m.#23 WisconsinUSCWIS 23–2148,329Outback BowlJanuary 1Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPN212:00 p.m.#12 NorthwesternTennesseeTENN 45–653,202Citrus BowlJanuary 1Florida Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FLABC1:00 p.m.#17 Michigan#19 FloridaMICH 41–763,113TaxSlayer BowlJanuary 2EverBank Field • Jacksonville, FLESPN12:00 p.m.Penn StateGeorgiaUGA 24–1758,212New Year's Six BowlsFiesta BowlJanuary 1University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZESPN1:00 p.m.#7 Ohio State#8 Notre DameOSU 44–2871,123 Rose BowlJanuary 1 Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CAESPN5:00 p.m.#6 Iowa#5 StanfordSTAN 45–1694,268College Football PlayoffCotton Bowl (Semifinal)December 31AT&T Stadium • Arlington, TXESPN8:00 p.m.#3 Michigan State#2 AlabamaALA 38–082,812
Rankings are from AP Poll. All times Eastern Time Zone.
Records against FBS conferences 2015 records against FBS conferences (through January 2, 2016):
ConferenceRecordACC3–4American2–1Big 122–2C-USA5–1Independents4–1MAC11-2Mountain West6–0Pac-125–3SEC1–4Sun Belt2–0Total41-18
Players of the Week Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams Freshman Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamWeek 1Braxton MillerHBOSUAnthony WalkerLBNWWilliam LikelyDBMDClayton ThorsonQBNWWeek 2C. J. BeathardQBIARiley BulloughLBMSUJanarion GrantWRRUTL.J. ScottRBMSUTerrell NewbyRBNEBSaquon BarkleyRBPSUWeek 3Aaron BurbridgeWRMSUAnthony WalkerLBNWMarshall KoehnPKIAJonathan CrawfordSINDSaquon BarkleyRBPSUWeek 4Tommy ArmstrongQBNEBShilique CalhounDEMSUCameron JohnstonPOSUTaiwan DealRBWISJordan HowardRBINDAnthony ZettelDTPSUWeek 5Ezekiel ElliottRBOSUDesmond KingDBIASam FoltzPNEBL.J. ScottRBMSUJoe SchobertLBWISWeek 6Jordan CanzeriRBIAJourdan LewisCBMIJehu ChessonWRMIJabrill PeppersSMIShannon BrooksRBMINWeek 7Akrum WadleyRBIAShilique CalhounDEMSUJalen Watts-JacksonDBMSUT. J. EdwardsLBWISWeek 8Connor CookQBMSUDean LowryDENWDrew MeyerPWISClayton ThorsonQBNWJ. T. BarrettQBOSUWeek 9David BloughQBPURAnthony BrownCBPURWilliam LikelyDBMDJabrill PeppersSMICHWeek 10Tommy Armstrong Jr.QBNEBVonn BellSOSUJanarion GrantWRRUTKe'Shawn VaughnRBILLWeek 11Jehu ChessonWRMICHMalik McDowellDLMSUGriffin OakesPKINDShannon BrooksRBMINNJake RudockQBMICHWeek 12Nate SudfeldQBINDJon ReschkeLBMSUGriffin OakesPKINDShannon BrooksRBMINDeonte GibsonDENWMichael GeigerPKMSUWeek 13Nate SudfeldQBINDAnthony WalkerLBNWDrew MeyerPWISParker HesseDEIAEzekiel ElliottRBOSU
Players of the Year 2015 Big Ten Player of the Year Awards
AwardPlayerSchoolGraham-George Offensive Player of the YearEzekiel ElliottOhio StateNagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the YearCarl NassibPenn StateThompson-Randle El Freshman of the YearJabrill PeppersMichiganGriese-Brees Quarterback of the YearConnor CookMichigan StateRichter-Howard Receiver of the YearAaron BurbridgeMichigan StateAmeche-Dayne Running Back of the YearEzekiel ElliottOhio StateKwalick-Clark Tight End of the YearJake ButtMichiganRimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the YearTaylor DeckerOhio StateSmith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the YearJoey BosaOhio StateButkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the YearJoe SchobertWisconsinTatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the YearDesmond KingIowaBakken-Andersen Kicker of the YearGriffin OakesIndianaEddleman-Fields Punter of the YearSam FoltzNebraskaRodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the YearWilliam LikelyMarylandHayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote)Kirk FerentzIowaDave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote)Kirk FerentzIowa
All-conference players 2015 Big Ten All-Conference Honors
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Position Player Team First Team Offense (Coaches)QBConnor CookMichigan StateRB Jordan HowardIndianaRBEZEKIEL ELLIOTTOhio StateWRJehu ChessonMichiganWRAaron BurbridgeMichigan StateTEJake Butt MichiganCJack AllenMichigan StateOGJordan WalshIowaOGPat ElfleinOhio StateOTJack ConklinMichigan StateOTTAYLOR DECKEROhio State First Team Defense (Coaches)DLJoe BosaOhio StateDLShilique CalhounMichigan StateDLCarl NassibPenn StateDLYannick NgakoueMarylandLB Anthony Walker Jr. NorthwesternLBJoshua PerryOhio StateLBJoe SchobertWisconsinDBDesmond KingIowaDB William LikelyMarylandDBJourdan LewisMichiganDBJabrill PeppersMichigan First Team Special Teams (Coaches)KGriffin OakesIndianaPSam FoltzNebraskaRSWilliam LikelyMaryland
Position Player Team Second Team Offense (Coaches)QBC.J. BeathardIowaRBJustin JacksonNorthwesternRBSaquon BarkleyPenn StateWR Jordan WesterkampNebraskaWRAlex EricksonWisconsinTEDan VitaleNorthwesternCAustin BlytheIowaOGDan FeeneyIndianaOGBrian AllenMichigan StateOTAlex LewisNebraskaOTJason SpriggsIndiana Second Team Defense (Coaches)DL Malik McDowellMichigan StateDLMaliek CollinsNebraskaDLDean LowryNorthwesternDLAdolphus WashingtonOhio StateLBJosey JewellIowaLBDarron LeeOhio StateLB Raekwon McMillanOhio StateDBNick VanHooseNorthwesternDBEli AppleOhio StateDBVonn BellOhio StateDBMichael CaputoWisconsin Second Team Special Teams (Coaches)KMarshall KoehnIowaPCameron JohnstonOhio StateRSJabrill PeppersMichigan
Position Player Team Third Team Offense (Coaches)QBNate SudfeldIndianaRBJosh FergusonIllinoisRBJordan CanzeriIowaWRMichael ThomasOhio StateWRChris GodwinPenn StateTEJosiah PriceMichigan StateCJacoby BorenOhio StateOGDonavon ClarkMichigan StateOGBilly PriceOhio StateOTErik MagnusonMichiganOTTyler MarzWisconsin Third Team Defense (Coaches)DL Nate MeierIowaDLChris WormleyMichiganDLAustin JohnsonPenn StateDLAnthony ZettelPenn StateLBRiley BulloughMichigan StateLBDarien HarrisMichigan StateLBVince BiegelWisconsinDB Jordan LomaxIowaDBDemetrious CoxMichigan StateDBEric MurrayMinnesotaDBMatthew HarrisNorthwestern Third Team Special Teams (Coaches)KRyan SantosoMinnesotaPPeter MortellMinnesotaRSJanarion GrantRutgers