1925 Big Ten Conference football season explained

1925 Big Ten Conference football season
Sport:Football
No Of Teams:10
Season Champs:Michigan
Season Champ Name:Champion
Mvp:Tim Lowry
Seasonslistnames:Football
Prevseason Year:1924
Nextseason Year:1926

The 1925 Big Ten Conference football season was the 30th 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 1925 college football season. Over the course of the season, Big Ten teams played 36 non-conference games, compiling a 27–9 record (.750) in those games.

The 1925 Big Ten Conference champion was Michigan. The team compiled a 7–1 record, shut out seven opponents, and outscored opponents by a combined score of 227 to 3. The only points allowed by the team were in a 3 to 2 loss to Northwestern in a game played in a heavy rainstorm on a field covered in mud five or six inches deep in some places. Quarterback Benny Friedman and left end Bennie Oosterbaan, sometimes referred to as "The Benny-to-Bennie Show," were both consensus All-Americans and became known as one of the greatest passing combinations in college football history.

Northwestern's center, Tim Lowry, won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the Big Ten's most valuable player. Lowry received 23 votes; Benny Friedman of Michigan finished second with 18 votes.[1] Four Big Ten players were consensus picks for the 1925 All-America team:Benny Friedman of Michigan at quarterback; Red Grange of Illinois at halfback; Bennie Oosterbaan of Michigan at end; and Ed Hess of Ohio State at guard.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Conf. RankTeamHead coachOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAG
1MichiganFielding H. Yost7–15–128.40.4
2WisconsinGeorge Little6–1–13–1–116.46.3
3NorthwesternGlenn Thistlethwaite5–33–110.18.6
4ChicagoAmos A. Stagg3–4–12–2–15.59.5
5MinnesotaClarence Spears5-2-11-1-122.010.6
6 (tie)IllinoisRobert Zuppke5–32–212.37.4
6 (tie)IowaBurt Ingwersen5–32–215.19.3
8Ohio StateJohn Wilce4–3–11–3–16.95.6
9 (tie)PurdueJames Phelan3–4–10–3–114.94.9
9 (tie)IndianaBill Ingram3–4–10–3–112.814.4
Key
PPG = Average of points scored per game
PAG = Average of points allowed per game[2]

Regular season

Index to colors and formatting
Non-conference matchup; Big Ten member won
Non-conference matchup; Big Ten member lost
Conference matchup
Big Ten teams displayed in bold

October 3

All 10 conference teams opened their seasons on October 3, playing 10 games against non-conference opponents, resulting in eight wins and two losses.

Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance Source
October 3MichiganMichigan StateFerry Field, Ann Arbor, MIW 39–030,000[3]
October 3NorthwesternSouth DakotaDyche Stadium, Evanston, ILW 14–718,000[4]
October 3WisconsinIowa StateCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIW 30–010,000[5]
October 3ChicagoKentuckyStagg Field, Chicago, ILW 9–032,000[6]
October 3IllinoisNebraskaMemorial Stadium, Champaign, ILL 0–1440,000[7]
October 3IowaArkansasIowa Field, Iowa City, IAW 26–0[8]
October 3MinnesotaNorth DakotaMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNW 25–620,000[9]
October 3Ohio StateOhio WesleyanOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHW 10–345,000[10]
October 3IndianaMemorial Stadium, Bloomington, INW 31–0[11]
October 3PurdueWabashRoss–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, INL 7–13[12]

October 10

On October 10, the conference teams played two intra-conference games and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in six victories and no losses.

Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance Source
October 10MichiganIndianaFerry Field, Ann Arbor, MIW 63–036,000[13]
October 10ChicagoOhio StateStagg Field, Chicago, ILT 3–335,000[14]
October 10NorthwesternCarletonDyche Stadium, Evanston, ILW 17–011,000[15]
October 10WisconsinFranklin UniversityCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIW 35–0[16]
October 10IllinoisButlerMemorial Stadium, Champaign, ILW 16–1312,599[17]
October 10IowaSaint LouisIowa Field, Iowa City, IAW 41–0[18]
October 10PurdueRoss–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, INW 39–0[19]

October 17

On October 17, the conference teams played three intra-conference games and four non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in three victories and one loss.

Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance Source
October 17WisconsinMichiganCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIL 0–2144,000[20]
October 17ChicagoNorthwesternStagg Field, Chicago, ILW 6–034,000[21]
October 17IowaIllinoisIowa Field, Iowa City, IAW 12–1024,738[22]
October 17MinnesotaWabashMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNW 32–618,000[23]
October 17Ohio StateColumbiaOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHW 9–0[24]
October 17IndianaSyracuseMemorial Stadium, Bloomington, INW 14–08,000[25]
October 17PurdueRoss–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, INW 44–0[26]

October 24

On October 24, the conference teams played three intra-conference games and four non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in one victory and three losses.

Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance Source
October 24IllinoisMichiganMemorial Stadium, Champaign, ILL 0–366,609[27]
October 24WisconsinPurdueCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIW 7–014,000[28]
October 24Ohio StateIowaOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHL 0–1533,000[29]
October 24NorthwesternTulaneStagg Field, Chicago, ILL 7–1815,000[30]
October 24PennChicagoFranklin Field, Philadelphia, PAL 0–755,000[31]
October 24MinnesotaNotre DameMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNL 7–1952,000[32]
October 24IndianaMiami (OH)Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, INW 25–7[33]

October 31

On October 31, the conference teams played three intra-conference games and four non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in four victories and no losses.

Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance Source
October 31NorthwesternIndianaDyche Stadium, Evanston, ILW 17–14[34]
October 31MinnesotaWisconsinMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNT 12–1240,000[35]
October 31ChicagoPurdueStagg Field, Chicago, ILW 6–034,000[36]
October 31MichiganNavyFerry Field, Ann Arbor, MIW 54–047,000[37]
October 31PennIllinoisFranklin Field, Philadelphia, PAW 24–260,000[38]
October 31IowaWabashIowa Field, Iowa City, IAW 28–7[39]
October 31Ohio StateOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHW 17–017,000[40]

November 7

On November 7, the conference teams played four intra-conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two victories and no losses.

Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance Source
November 7NorthwesternMichiganSoldier Field, Chicago, ILW 3–240,000[41]
November 7IowaWisconsinIowa Field, Iowa City, IAL 0–6[42]
November 7IllinoisChicagoMemorial Stadium, Champaign, ILW 13–668,864[43]
November 7Ohio StateIndianaOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHW 7–030,500[44]
November 7MinnesotaButlerMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNW 33–720,000[45]
November 7PurdueFranklinRoss–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, INW 20–0[46]

November 14

On November 14, the conference teams played three intra-conference games and four non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in three victories and one loss.

Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance Source
November 14MichiganOhio StateFerry Field, Ann Arbor, MIW 10–059,000[47]
November 14PurdueNorthwesternRoss–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, INL 9–13[48]
November 14MinnesotaIowaMemorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MNW 33–045,000[49]
November 14WisconsinMichigan StateCamp Randall Stadium, Madison, WIW 21–10[50]
November 14ChicagoDartmouthStagg Field, Chicago, ILL 7–3334,000[51]
November 14IllinoisWabashMemorial Stadium, Champaign, ILW 21–020,466[52]
November 14IndianaMemorial Stadium, Bloomington, INW 32–7[53]

November 21

On November 21, the conference teams played four intra-conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two losses.

Date Home team Visiting team Site Result Attendance Source
November 21MichiganMinnesotaFerry Field, Ann Arbor, MIW 35–047,000[54]
November 21ChicagoWisconsinStagg Field, Chicago, ILL 7-2034,000[55]
November 21Ohio StateIllinoisOhio Stadium, Columbus, OHL 9–1472,657[56]
November 21IndianaPurdueMemorial Stadium, Bloomington, INT 0–015,000[57]
November 21Notre DameNorthwesternCartier Field, South Bend, INL 10–1332,000[58]
November 21USCIowaLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CAL 0–1866,000[59]

Bowl games

No Big Ten teams participated in any bowl games during the 1925 season.

All-Big Ten players

The following players were picked by multiple selectors as first-team players on the 1925 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Players selected as first-team players by all seven selectors are shown in bold.

All-Americans

Four Big Ten players were consensus first-team selections to the 1925 College Football All-America Team:

Other Big Ten players receiving first-team honors from at least one selector included:

Notes and References

  1. News: Lowry Named Most Valuable Big Ten Player. Chicago Tribune. December 20, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  2. Web site: 1925 Big Ten Conference Year Summary. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. January 3, 2017.
  3. News: State College Crushed Under Melting Assault of Michigan Eleven, 39 to 0. Detroit Free Press. October 4, 1925. 20. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Purple Battles South Dakota Before 18,000. Chicago Tribune. Irving Vaughan. October 3, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Badgers Lick Ames In Season Bow, 30 to 0. The Wisconsin State Journal. October 4, 1925. 23. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Maroons Plod to 9 to 0 Win Over Colonels. Chicago Tribune. Harvey T. Woodruff. October 4, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Nebraska Upsets Illinois Eleven, 14-0: Grange Held Helpless By Cornhuskers. Chicago Tribune. October 4, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Old Gold Beats Arkansas, 26-0. The Des Moines Register. October 4, 1925. 1S. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Gophers Show Strength Saturday in Defeating North Dakota. The La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press. October 4, 1925. 16. Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Ohio State Wins Over Wesleyan After Hard Battle, 10 To 3. The Dayton Daily News. October 4, 1925. Sport 3. Newspapers.com.
  11. News: I.U.'s Goal Line Never In Peril. The Muncie Star. October 4, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  12. News: Wabash 13, Purdue 7: Scarlet Wallops Ancient Rivals In Annual Encounter. The Indianapolis Star. October 4, 1925. III-1. Newspapers.com.
  13. News: Michigan Crushes Indiana, 63 to 0. Detroit Free Press. Stanley L. Brink. October 11, 1925. 19. Newspapers.com.
  14. News: Punch Of Old Is There As Ohio Battles Chicago to 3-To-3 Tie. The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 11, 1925. 1. Newspapers.com.
  15. News: Purple Start Well: Northwestern Defeats Carleton, 17 to 0, in First Game of Season. The South Bend Tribune. October 11, 1925. 13. Newspapers.com.
  16. News: Badgers Romp Over Franklin, 35 to 0. The Wisconsin State Journal. October 11, 1925. 21. Newspapers.com.
  17. News: Butler Holds Illini to One Touchdown in First Quarter. Chicago Tribune. October 11, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Iowa Trounces Billiken Team. The Des Moines Register. October 11, 1925. 1S. Newspapers.com.
  19. News: Purdue Wins Over DePauw. The Richmond Item. October 11, 1925. 13. Newspapers.com.
  20. News: Badgers Lose To Great Michigan Team, 21 to 0. The Wisconsin State Journal. October 18, 1925. 23. Newspapers.com.
  21. News: 34,000 See Purple Hold U. of C. Scoreless in First Quarter. Chicago Tribune. Harvey Woodruff. October 18, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  22. News: Iowa Defeats Illinois, 12-10. The Des Moines Register. October 18, 1925. 1S. Newspapers.com.
  23. News: Wabash Is Repulsed: Minnesota Defeats "Little Giants" by 32 to 6 Score. The South Bend Tribune. October 18, 1925. 13. Newspapers.com.
  24. News: Rah, Ohio! Buckeye Is Victor Over Vaunted Columbia Grid Warriors, 9 To 0. The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 18, 1925. 1. Newspapers.com.
  25. News: Crimson Loses To Orange In Second Quarter Offensive. The Indianapolis Star. October 18, 1925. 41. Newspapers.com.
  26. News: Boiler Makers Smother Rose Poly Eleven, 44-0. The Indianapolis Star. October 18, 1925. 41. Newspapers.com.
  27. News: Michigan Beats Illini, 3-0: Friedman Kicks Field Goal at End of 1st Half; Intercepted Pass Leads to Score. Chicago Daily Tribune. October 25, 1925. 1.
  28. News: Badgers Beat Purdue on Sloppy Field, 7 to 0. The Wisconsin State Journal. October 25, 1925. 23. Newspapers.com.
  29. News: Ohio's Colors: Trampled in Mud; Iowa Triumphs, 15 To 0, on Rain-Soaked Field. The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 25, 1925. 1. Newspapers.com.
  30. News: Tulane Eleven Too Strong for Northwestern. Chicago Tribune. French Lane. October 25, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  31. News: Penn Beats Chicago In Rain And Mud, 7 To 0. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Gordon Mackay. October 25, 1925. 25. Newspapers.com.
  32. News: Notre Dame Rally in Final Period Beats Gophers, 19-7. Chicago Tribune. James Crusinberry. October 25, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  33. News: Miami Powerless Against Bolstered Wall of Crimson. The Indianapolis Star. October 25, 1925. III-1. Newspapers.com.
  34. News: Purple Defeat Indiana 17-14 by Drop Kick. Chicago Tribune. November 1, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  35. News: Gopher-Badger Struggle Ends in 12-12 Tie. The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. November 1, 1925. 25. Newspapers.com.
  36. News: Maroons Win, 6-0, As Purdue Grabs Glory. Chicago Tribune. Harvey Woodruff. November 1, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  37. News: Wolverines Prove Far Too Powerful. Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1925. 21. Newspapers.com.
  38. News: Illinois Batters Penn Into Submission, 24-2. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Gordon Mackay. November 1, 1925. Sports 1. Newspapers.com.
  39. News: Old Gold Wins From Indiana College Team. The Des Moines Register. November 1, 1925. 1S. Newspapers.com.
  40. News: Presbyterian Team Loses; Score Is 17-0. The Coshocton Tribune. November 1, 1925. 14. Newspapers.com.
  41. News: Northwestern Upsets Michigan, 3-2: Purple Brains and Lewis' Toe Skin Wolverines in Morass. Chicago Tribune. Walter Eckersall. November 8, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  42. News: Championship Hopes of Hawks Dashed by Badgers on a Snow Covered Field. The Sioux City Sunday Journal. November 8, 1925. Sports 2. Newspapers.com.
  43. News: Illini Wade To 13-6 Victory Over Chicago: Maroon Line Stops Grange, But Fumbles Cost 'Em Game. Chicago Tribune. Harvey Woodruff. November 8, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  44. News: Indiana 0, Ohio 7: Indiana Fails To Nick Ohio's Line This Time. The Muncie Sunday Star. November 8, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  45. News: Gopher Gridders Trample Butler Team, 33-7. The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. George A. Barton. November 8, 1925. Sports 1. Newspapers.com.
  46. News: Purdue Firsts Upset Franklin. The Muncie Star. November 8, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  47. News: Blocked Punt and Field Goal Give Michigan 10-0 Victory Over Ohio State. Detroit Free Press. November 15, 1925. 19. Newspapers.com.
  48. News: Purple Ace Stars As Northwestern Bumps Off Purdue. The Indianapolis Star. F.E. Raschig. November 15, 1925. III-1. Newspapers.com.
  49. News: Minnesota Crushes Iowa by Score of 33-0. The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. November 15, 1925. 34. Newspapers.com.
  50. News: Badgers Conquer Stubborn Aggies, 21 to 10. The Wisconsin State Journal. November 15, 1925. 25. Newspapers.com.
  51. News: Maroons Buried By Green Avalanche. Chicago Tribune. Harvey Woodruff. November 15, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  52. News: Grange Rests, but Illinois Wins, 21 to 0. Chicago Tribune. November 15, 1925. II-4. Newspapers.com.
  53. News: Indiana Employs Straight Football to Defeat Rose. The Indianapolis Star. November 15, 1925. 25. Newspapers.com.
  54. News: Michigan Defeats Minnesota, 35-0 And Wins Big Ten Football Title. Detroit Free Press. Harry Bullion. November 22, 1925. 19, 23.
  55. News: Wisconsin Humbles Chicago, 20 to 7. Chicago Tribune. Harvey Woodruff. November 22, 1925. II-1. Newspapers.com.
  56. News: Illini Downs Ohio State: Red Grange Sparkles In Last Appearance On College Gridiron. Dayton Daily News. November 22, 1925. Sports 1. Newspapers.com.
  57. News: Indiana and Purdue Battle Ends In Scoreless Tie: Dedicatory Game Bitterly Fought By Rival Elevens. The Indianapolis Star. W. Blaine Patton. November 22, 1925. III-1. Newspapers.com.
  58. News: Rox Have Close Victory: Purple Team Throws Scare Into Rockmen. The South Bend Tribune. November 22, 1925. 1. Newspapers.com.
  59. News: Trojans Defeat Invading Iowa Eleven, 18 to 0. Los Angeles Times. Braven Dyer. November 22, 1925. 19. Newspapers.com.