The 1941 Big Ten Conference football season was the 46th 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 1941 college football season.
The 1941 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, led by head coach Bernie Bierman, compiled a perfect 8–0 record, led the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense, was ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll, and won the program's second consecutive national championship. Halfback Bruce Smith was a consensus All-American and won the 1941 Heisman Trophy. Tackle Dick Wildung was also a consensus first-team All-American.
Michigan, under head coach Fritz Crisler, compiled a 6–1–1 record, outscored opponents 147 to 41, and was ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll. Fullback Bob Westfall was selected as a consensus first-team player on the 1941 College Football All-America Team. In addition to Westfall, two other Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1941 All-Big Ten Conference football team: center Robert Ingalls and tackle Al Wistert.
Ohio State, under head coach Paul Brown, compiled a 6–1–1 record, outscored opponents 167 to 110, and was ranked No. 13 in the final AP Poll. In the Chicago Tribunes poll of coaches, officials and experts, Ohio State fullback Jack Graf was selected as the Big Ten's most valuable player.
Northwestern lost to three top 10 teams (Minnesota, Michigan, and Notre Dame) and was ranked No. 11 in the final AP Poll. Two Northwestern players received first-team honors on the All-Big Ten team: tackle Alf Bauman and end Bob Motl. The team also featured halfback Otto Graham who was later inducted into the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame.
Season overview
Results and team statistics Conf. RankTeamHead coachAP finalAP highOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAGMVP1MinnesotaBernie Bierman#1#18–05–023.34.8Bob Sweiger2 (tie)MichiganFritz Crisler#5#36–1–13–1–118.45.1Reuben Kelto2 (tie)Ohio StatePaul Brown#13#106–1–13–1–120.013.8Jack Graf4NorthwesternPappy Waldorf#11#55–34–221.68.4Alf Bauman5WisconsinHarry StuhldreherNRNR3–53–318.026.0Pat Harder6IowaEddie AndersonNRNR3–52–411.412.4Bill Diehl7 (tie)PurdueMal ElwardNRNR2–5–11–33.47.8Bill Combs7 (tie)IndianaBo McMillinNRNR2–61–312.615.8Billy Hillenbrand9IllinoisRobert ZuppkeNRNR2–60–514.020.4Nathan JohnsonKey' 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
Regular season Index to colors and formattingNon-conference matchup; Big Ten member wonNon-conference matchup; Big Ten member lostConference matchupWinning teams displayed in boldResult column from perspective of Big Ten school for non-conferencegames, from perspective of winning team for conference games
September 27 Six conference teams opened their seasons on September 27, playing six games against non-conference opponents, resulting in four wins and two losses. Northwestern, Wisconsin and Illinois did not play.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceSeptember 27WashingtonMinnesotaHusky Stadium, Seattle, WAW 14–643,000September 27MichiganMichigan StateMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MIW 19–767,079September 27Ohio StateMissouriOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHW 12–749,671September 27IowaDrakeIowa Stadium, Iowa City, IAW 25–820,000September 27PurdueVanderbiltRoss–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, INL 0–317,000September 27IndianaDetroitMemorial Stadium, Bloomington, INL 7–1410,000
October 4 Eight conference teams played games on October 4, consisting of one conference matchup and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in four wins and two losses. Minnesota did not play.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceOctober 4MichiganIowaMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MIW 6–029,807October 4USCOhio StateLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CAW 33–065,000October 4NorthwesternKansas StateDyche Stadium, Evanston, ILW 51–340,000October 4WisconsinMarquetteCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIL 7-2840,000October 4PittsburghPurduePitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, PAW 6-024,000October 4Notre DameIndianaNotre Dame Stadium, South Bend, INL 6-1942,000October 4IllinoisMiami (OH)Memorial Stadium, Champaign, ILW 45-020,585
October 11 Six conference teams played games on October 11, consisting of two conference matchups and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in a win and a loss. Ohio State, Iowa, and Purdue did not play. After three weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 9–4.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceOctober 11MinnesotaIllinoisMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNW 34–650,435October 11MichiganPittsburghMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MIW 40–034,403October 11NorthwesternWisconsinDyche Stadium, Evanston, ILW 41–1440,000October 11IndianaTCUMemorial Stadium, Bloomington, INL 14–2024,000
October 18 All nine conference teams saw action on October 18, consisting of three conference games and three non-conference games. In the week's biggest matchup, No. 6 Michigan defeated No. 5 Northwestern. The non-conference games resulted in three wins. After four weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 12–4.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceOctober 18No. 1 MinnesotaPittsburghMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNW 39–035,000October 18No. 5 NorthwesternNo. 6 MichiganDyche Stadium, Evanston, ILW 14-747,000October 18No. 10 Ohio StatePurdueOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHW 16–1466,074October 18WisconsinIowaCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIW 23–020,000October 18No. 15 NebraskaIndianaMemorial Stadium, Lincoln, NEW 21–1333,000October 18IllinoisDrakeMemorial Stadium, Champaign, ILW 40–012,000
October 25 All nine conference teams saw action on October 25, consisting of four conference games and one non-conference game. In the week's biggest matchups, No. 1 Minnesota defeated No. 3 Michigan, and No. 13 Northwestern defeated No. 11 Ohio State. The non-conference game resulted in three wins. After five weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 12–5.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceOctober 25No. 3 MichiganNo. 1 MinnesotaMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MIW 7–085,753October 25No. 11 Ohio StateNo. 13 NorthwesternOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHW 14–771,896October 25WisconsinIndianaCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIW 27–2533,000October 25PurdueIowaRoss–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, INW 7–622,000October 25No. 7 Notre DameIllinoisNotre Dame Stadium, South Bend, INL 14–4945,000
November 1 All nine conference teams saw action on November 1, consisting of three conference games and three non-conference games. In the week's biggest matchup, No. 1 Minnesota defeated No. 9 Northwestern. The non-conference games resulted in one win and two losses. After six weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 13–7.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceNovember 1No. 1 MinnesotaNo. 9 NorthwesternMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNW 8–764,464November 1IllinoisNo. 7 MichiganMemorial Stadium, Champaign, ILW 20–030,101November 1PittsburghOhio StatePitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, PAW 21–1450,000November 1WisconsinSyracuseCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIL 20–2719,000November 1IowaIndianaIowa Stadium, Iowa City, IAW 13–728,000November 1No. 3 FordhamPurduePolo Grounds, New York, NYL 0–1720,500
November 8 Eight conference teams played games on November 8, consisting of three conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in a win and a tie. After seven weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 14–7–1. Michigan did not play.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceNovember 8No. 2 MinnesotaNebraskaMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNW 9–042,893November 8No. 20 Ohio StateWisconsinOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHW 46–3458,519November 8No. 10 NorthwesternIndianaDyche Stadium, Evanston, ILW 20–1435,000November 8IllinoisIowaMemorial Stadium, Champaign, ILW 21–014,339November 8PurdueMichigan StateRoss–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, INT 0–017,000
November 15 Eight conference teams played games on November 15, consisting of three conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in a win and a loss. In the week's biggest matchup, No. 5 Notre Dame defeated No. 8 Northwestern. After eight weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 15–8–1. Indiana did not play.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceNovember 15IowaNo. 1 MinnesotaIowa Stadium, Iowa City, IA (rivalry)W 34–1343,200November 15ColumbiaNo. 7 MichiganBaker Field, New York, NYW 28–035,000November 15No. 20 Ohio StateIllinoisOhio Stadium, Columbus, OH (Illibuck)W 12–741,544November 1No. 8 NorthwesternNo. 5 Notre DameDyche Stadium, Evanston, IL (rivalry)L 6–748,000November 15WisconsinPurdueCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIW 13–025,000
November 22 All nine conference teams played games on November 22, consisting of four conference games and one non-conference game. In the week's biggest matchup, No. 7 Michigan played No. 14 Ohio State to a 20–20 tie. The non-conference game resulted in a loss. Big Ten teams finished the season with a non-conference record of 15–9–1.
Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance SourceNovember 22No. 1 MinnesotaWisconsinMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN (Slab of Bacon)W 41–652,984November 22No. 7 MichiganNo. 14 Ohio StateMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)T 20–2085,753November 22No. 10 NorthwesternIllinoisDyche Stadium, Evanston, IL (rivalry)W 27–05,000November 1NebraskaIowaMemorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE (rivalry)L 13–1420,000November 22IndianaPurdueMemorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)W 7–023,000
Bowl games During the 1941 season, the Big Ten maintained its long-standing ban on postseason games. Accordingly, no Big Ten teams participated in any bowl games.
All-Big Ten players
The following players were picked by the Associated Press (AP), the United Press (UP), and/or the International News Service (INS) as first-team players on the 1941 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Dave Schreiner, end, Wisconsin (AP, UP, INS) Bob Motl, end, Northwestern (AP, INS) Bob Fitch, end, Minnesota (UP) Alf Bauman, tackle, Northwestern (AP, UP, INS) Dick Wildung, tackle, Minnesota (AP, UP, INS) Tom Melton, guard, Purdue (AP, UP) Len Levy, guard, Minnesota (AP, UP) Al Wistert, guard, Michigan (INS) Fritz Howard, guard, Ohio State (INS) Robert Ingalls, center, Michigan (AP, UP) Iron Man Bob Johnson, center, Purdue (INS) Billy Hillenbrand, quarterback, Indiana (AP, UP, INS) Bill Daley, halfback, Minnesota (AP, UP) Bruce Smith, halfback, Minnesota (AP, INS) (1941 Heisman Trophy winner) Bob Westfall, fullback, Michigan (AP, UP, INS) Pat Harder, fullback, Wisconsin (UP, INS)
All-Americans
At the end of the 1941 season, Big Ten players secured three of the 12 consensus first-team picks for the 1941 College Football All-America Team. The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:
Dick Wildung, tackle, Minnesota (AAB, AP, INS, LIB, NEA, NW, SN, UP, CP, LIFE, PARA, WC) Bruce Smith, halfback, Minnesota (AAB, AP, CO, INS, NW, SN, UP, CP, NYS, LIFE, PARA, WC, LIFE) Bob Westfall, fullback, Michigan (AAB, CO, INS, LIB, NEA, NW, SN, UP, CP, NYS, PARA, WC)
Other Big Ten players who were named first-team All-Americans by at least one selector were: Dave Schreiner, end, Wisconsin (AP) Alf Bauman, tackle, Northwestern (AAB, SN, LIFE) Jim Daniell, tackle, Ohio State (CP)
1942 NFL draft Two Big Ten players, Bob Westfall and Urban Odson, were selected in the first round of the 1942 NFL draft. In all, 26 players from Big Ten football teams were selected in the 1942 NFL Draft, as follows: