The 1932 Big Ten Conference football season was the 37th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference (also known as the Western Conference) and was a part of the 1932 college football season.

Big Ten co-champion Michigan compiled a perfect 8–0 record, outscored opponents 123 to 12, shut out six of eight opponents, and allowed an average of only 1.6 points per game. Michigan quarterback Harry Newman was a consensus first-team All-American and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the conference. Michigan was awarded the Knute K. Rockne Trophy, narrowly prevailing over USC as the national champion under the Dickinson System.

Co-champion Purdue compiled a 7–0–1 record, had the conference's leading scoring offense with an average of 20.5 points per game, and was ranked No. 4 under the Dickinson System. Fullback Roy Horstmann was Purdue's most valuable player and was selected as a first-team All-American by several selectors. End Paul Moss was a consensus first-team All-American.

Season overview

Results and team statistics Conf. RankTeamHead coachDSOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAGMVP1 (tie)MichiganHarry Kipke#18–06–015.41.6Harry Newman1 (tie)PurdueNoble Kizer#47–0–15–0–120.55.3Roy Horstmann3WisconsinClarence Spears#116–1–14–1–118.96.0Mickey McGuire4Ohio StateSam Willaman#54–1–32–1–211.35.1Lewis Hinchman5NorthwesternDick HanleyNR3–4–12–3–114.59.5Pug Rentner6MinnesotaBernie BiermanNR5-32-310.85.3Roy Oen7IllinoisRobert ZuppkeNR5–42–410.711.2Gil Berry8IndianaEarl C. HayesNR3–4–11–4–18.19.5John Keckich9ChicagoAmos A. StaggNR3–4–11–411.911.8William Cassels10IowaOssie SolemNR1–70–57.821.4Joe Laws Key DS = Ranking in the Dickinson System, a system used at the time to rank the country's best college football teams and to award the Knute Rockne Trophy to the national champion PPG = Average of points scored per game PAG = Average of points allowed per game 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

All-conference players

The following players received first-team honors from either the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1932 All-Big Ten Conference football team:

Paul Moss, end, Purdue (AP, UP) Ivy Williamson, end, Michigan (AP) Sid Gillman, end, Ohio State (UP) Marshall Wells, tackle, Minnesota (AP, UP) Whitey Wistert, tackle, Michigan (UP) Ted Rosequist, tackle, Ohio State (AP) Greg Kabat, guard, Wisconsin (AP, UP) Joseph T. Gailus, guard, Ohio State (AP) John Oehler, guard, Purdue (UP) Chuck Bernard, center, Michigan (AP, UP) Harry Newman, quarterback, Michigan (AP, UP) Gil Berry, halfback, Illinois (AP, UP) Lew Hinchman, halfback, Ohio State (AP, UP) Roy Horstmann, fullback, Purdue (AP, UP)

All-Americans

Two Big Ten players were consensus first-team picks on the 1932 College Football All-America Team:

Paul Moss, end, Purdue (AP, UP, CO, AAB, NEA, INS, CP, NYS, NYT, WC, FWAA, LIB, TR, PD, PM) Harry Newman, quarterback, Michigan (AP, UP, CO, AAB, NEA, INS, CP, NYS, NYT, WC, FWAA, LIB, TR, PD, PM)

Other Big Ten players receiving first-team All-American honors from at least one selector were:

Ted Petoskey, end, Michigan (AAB, WC) Sid Gillman, end, Ohio State (PD) Joseph Gailus, guard, Ohio State (PM) Chuck Bernard, center, Michigan (NEA, INS, FWAA) Roy Horstmann, fullback, Purdue (AAB, NEA, INS, NYS, NYT, WC, TR, PM) Jack Manders, Minnesota (CP)

References