The 1948 Big Nine Conference football season was the 53rd season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Nine Conference (also known as the Western Conference and the Big Ten Conference) and was a part of the 1948 college football season.
The 1948 Big Nine champion was Michigan. The Wolverines compiled a 9–0 record, shut out five of nine opponents, led the conference in both scoring offense (28.0 points per game) and scoring defense (4.9 points allowed per game), and were ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll. The 1948 season was Michigan's second straight undefeated, untied season. The Wolverines entered the 1948 season with a 14-game winning streak dating back to October 1946 and extended the streak to 23 games. End Dick Rifenburg and tackle Alvin Wistert were consensus first-team All-Americans. Guard Dominic Tomasi was selected as the team's most valuable player.
Northwestern finished in second place with an 8–2 record and was ranked No. 7 in the final AP Poll. Under conference rules preventing the same team from returning to the Rose Bowl in consecutive seasons, Northwestern received the conference's bid to play in the 1949 Rose Bowl where the Wildcats defeated the California Golden Bears, 20–14. Northwestern fullback Art Murakowski won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the conference's most valuable player.
Minnesota finished in third place with a 7–2 and was ranked No. 16 in the final AP Poll. Minnesota was led by Bernie Bierman in his 14th year as head coach and by tackle Leo Nomellini who was a consensus first-team All-American.
Season overview
Results and team statistics Conf. RankTeamHead coachAP finalAP highOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAGMVP1MichiganB. Oosterbaan119–06–028.04.9Dominic Tomasi2NorthwesternRobert Voigts738–25–119.19.1Art Murakowski3MinnesotaBernie Bierman1687–25–222.610.4Ev Faunce4Ohio StateWes FeslerNR116–33–320.410.4Joe Whisler5 (tie)IowaEddie AndersonNRNR4–52–414.115.8Al DiMarco5 (tie)PurdueStuart HolcombNR153–62–414.019.4Harry Szulborski5 (tie)IndianaClyde SmithNR172–72–48.324.1George Taliaferro8IllinoisRay EliotNRNR3–62–515.015.6Jim Valek9WisconsinHarry StuhldreherNRNR2–71–514.021.4Red Wilson Key AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1948 season AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1948 season PPG = Average of points scored per game PAG = Average of points allowed per game Source: SR/College Football MVP = Most valuable player as voted by players on each team as part of the voting process to determine the winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy; trophy winner in bold
Pre-season Prior to the start of the 1948 season, two of the Big Nine teams changed their head coaches: On February 19, 1948, Indiana's head football coach Bo McMillin resigned to become general manager and head coach of the Detroit Lions. McMillin had been Indiana's head coach for 14 years. Clyde B. Smith, who had been the head coach at the LaCrosse State Teachers College since 1938, was announced as the team's new head coach on March 16, 1948. On March 15, 1948, Fritz Crisler "surprised the football world" when he announced his resignation as Michigan's head football coach after leading the 1947 team to an undefeated season. Crisler, who remained as athletic director, named backfield coach Bennie Oosterbaan as the Wolverines' new head football coach.
Regular season
September 25 On September 25, 1948, all nine conference teams opened their schedules. Seven of the teams played non-conference opponents, compiling a 6–1 record in those games.
Indiana 35, Wisconsin 7. In the only conference game of the day, Indiana defeated Wisconsin, 35–7, before a crowd of 40,000 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The game was the first for Clyde B. Smith as Indiana's head coach. Indiana halfback George Taliaferro scored three touchdowns and played 51 minutes.
Michigan 13, Michigan State 7. Michigan defeated Michigan State, 13–7, in East Lansing. The game was also the first to be played at Michigan State's new Macklin Stadium. Early in the opening quarter, fullback Don Peterson threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Dick Rifenburg. Peterson kicked the extra point, and Michigan's 7–0 lead held through halftime. Michigan State tied the game in the third quarter on a disputed play in which a pass from Lynn Chandnois was caught by both Hank Minarik and Wally Teninga. The official ruled that possession went to the offensive player as a touchdown. Peterson scored the winning touchdown for Michigan on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter, but failed to convert the extra point attempt. Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State drove the ball to Michigan's two-yard line. With time running out, Teninga intercepted a Michigan State pass. Michigan's offense was held to 106 rushing yards and 117 passing yards in the game.1949 Michiganensian, p. 104. The Spartans, under second-year head coach Biggie Munn, finished the season ranked No. 14 in the final AP Poll.
Northwestern 19, UCLA 0. Northwestern defeated UCLA, 19–0, before a crowd of 55,156 in Los Angeles. Northwestern scored three touchdown and, on defense, held UCLA scoreless with only two first downs.
Notre Dame 28, Purdue 27. Purdue lost to Notre Dame, 28–27, before a crowd of 59,343 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame did not lose a game from 1946 to 1949, and Purdue's one-game loss was regarded as a strong performance.
Minnesota 20, Washington 0. Minnesota defeated Washington, 20–0, before a crowd of 40,487 at Husky Stadium in Seattle. The game was scoreless in the fourth quarter before the Golden Gophers scored 20 points. Halfback Ev Faunce ran 68 yards for the first touchdown.
Illinois 40, Kansas State 0. Illinois defeated Kansas State, 40–0, before a crowd of 29,593 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The Illinois offense was led by quarterback Tom Stewart who completed nine of 13 passes for 160 yards and helped secure a touchdown with a lateral to Paul Patterson.
Ohio State 21, Missouri 7. After finishing in last place in the Big Nine during the 1947 season, Ohio State opened the 1948 season with a 21–7 victory over Missouri before a crowd of 57,042 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Iowa 14, Marquette 12. Iowa defeated Marquette, 14–12, before a crowd of 30,208 at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City. Marquette missed two extra point kicks, which was the difference in the game.
October 2 On October 2, 1948, the Big Nine football team participated in three conference games and three non-conference games. The conference teams won all three non-conference games, extending their non-conference record to 9–1.
Northwestern 21, Purdue 0. Northwestern shut out Purdue, 21–0, before a crowd of 48,000 at Dyche Stadium in Evanston, Illinois. The victory was the second consecutive shutout for Northwestern to open the season. Northwestern intercepted five Purdue passes in the game.
Indiana 7, Iowa 0. Indiana shut out Iowa, 7–0, before a crowd of 26,000 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana fullback Chick Jagade intercepted a pass and then scored the game's only touchdown on a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Wisconsin 20, Illinois 16. Wisconsin defeated Illinois, 20–16, before a crowd of 45,000 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Wisconsin halfback Clarence Self scored two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown with less than three minutes left to play.
Michigan 14, Oregon 0. Michigan defeated Oregon, 14–0, before a crowd of 65,800 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Oregon came into the game with a highly touted passing game led by quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, who was later inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Michigan's defensive fullback, Dick Kempthorn, was credited with playing a major role in stopping Van Brocklin's passing game. Northwestern coach Bob Voigts said he would pick Kempthorn if he had his choice of all the players in college football. In the second quarter, Michigan drove 93 yards, culminating in a 60-yard touchdown pass (30 yards in the air) from halfback Chuck Ortmann to Dick Rifenburg, and Michigan led 7–0 at halftime. An Oregon drive into Michigan territory was stopped in the third quarter when Ortmann intercepted a Van Brocklin pass. On the next drive, Charlie Lentz threw a 42-yard pass to Pete Elliott who was downed inside the Oregon ten-yard line. Lentz then threw a short pass to Tom Peterson for the final touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Oregon drove the ball to the Michigan two-yard line, but Michigan's defense held and the ball went to Michigan on downs.1949 Michiganensian, p. 105. The 1948 Oregon Ducks finished the season with a record of 9–1, as co-champion of the Pacific Coast Conference, and ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll.
Minnesota 39, Nebraska 13. Minnesota defeated Nebraska, 39–13, before a crowd of 57,209 at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers scored on four touchdown passes and a 68-yard interception return by Dale Wagner. The Gophers also fumbled eight times.
Ohio State 20, USC 0. Ohio State defeated USC, 20–0, before a crowd of 75,102 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Joe Whisler scored two touchdowns for Ohio State.
October 9 On October 9, 1948, the Big Nine football teams participated in three conference games and three non-conference games. All three non-conference games resulted in losses, bringing the conference's non-conference record to 9–4.
Michigan 40, Purdue 0. Michigan (ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll) defeated Purdue (ranked No. 15), 40–0, in West Lafayette, Indiana. The crowd of 45,996 was the largest in the history of Ross–Ade Stadium up to that time. Michigan's offense confused Purdue with a fake T formation that disguised a single-wing formation. Michigan took a 19–0 in the first half on touchdown runs by Leo Koceski and Peterson and a 23-yard touchdown pass from Chuck Ortmann to Dick Rifenburg. The Wolverines extended their lead in the second half on a 57-yard touchdown pass from Wally Teninga to Rifenburg, a 10-yard run by Teninga, and a six-yard run by Charlie Lentz. Michigan's defense forced five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumble recoveries) and held Purdue to only 36 rushing yards and 122 passing yards in the game.1949 Michiganensian, Purdue game summary, p. 106.
Northwestern 19, Minnesota 16. Northwestern (ranked No.3 in the AP Poll) defeated Minnesota (ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll), 19–16, before a crowd of 47,000 at Dyche Stadium in Evanston. In the first 10 minutes of the game, Northwestern fumbled three times, and Minnesota took a 16–0 lead. Northwestern rallied back on touchdowns by Aschenbrenner, Hagmann, and Worthington.
Iowa 14, Ohio State 7. Iowa defeated Ohio State, 14–7, before a crowd of 63,394 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. The victory was the first for Iowa at Ohio Stadium since 1928. Jerry Faske returned a kickoff 65 yards in the first quarter and then scored on a 12-yard run.
California 40, Wisconsin 14. Wisconsin lost to California, 40–14, before a crowd of 66,000 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.
Texas Christian 7, Indiana 6. Indiana lost to Texas Christian, 7–6, before a crowd of 28,000 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. Indiana took a 6–0 lead in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from George Taliaferro to Joe Bartkiewicz, but the Hoosiers missed the extra point kick. With less three minutes left, Lindy Berry led TCU on a touchdown drive, and Homer Ludiker kicked the extra point.
Army 26, Illinois 21. Illinois lost to Army (ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll), 26–21, before a crowd of 71,119 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Army took a 26–0 lead early in the third quarter. Illinois responded with 21 unanswered points, including two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the comeback fell short.
October 16