| 1976 Big Ten Conference football season | |
|---|---|
| Sport | American football |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Top draft pick | Mike Cobb |
| Co-champions | Michigan, Ohio State |
| Season MVP | Rob Lytle |
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Michigan + | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Ohio State + | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1976 Big Ten Conference football season was the 81st season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1976 NCAA Division I football season.
The 1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, under head coach Bo Schembechler, finished the season with a 10–2 record, tied for the Big Ten championship, led the country in both scoring offense (38.7 points per game in regular season) and scoring defense (7.2 points allowed per game in regular system), lost to USC in the 1977 Rose Bowl, and was ranked No. 3 in the final AP and UPI Polls. Running back Rob Lytle rushed for 1,469 yards, finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten's most valuable player. Lytle and offensive guard Mark Donahue were both selected as consensus first-team All-Americans. Linebacker Calvin O'Neal and receiver Jim Smith also received first-team All-American honors from multiple selectors.
The 1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, under head coach Woody Hayes, compiled a 9–2–1 record, won the 1977 Orange Bowl against Colorado, and was ranked No. 6 in the final AP Poll. Defensive end Bob Brudzinski and offensive tackle Chris Ward were recognized as consensus first-team All-Americans. Punter Tom Skladany also received first-team All-American honors from multiple selectors. Running back Jeff Logan ranked second in the conference with 1,248 rushing yards.
The conference's statistical leaders included Ed Smith and Kirk Gibson of Michigan State with 1,749 passing yards and 748 receiving yards, respectively, Rob Lytle of Michigan with 1,469 rushing yards, Mike Carroll of Wisconsin with 1,773 yards of total offense, and Pete Johnson of Ohio State with 114 points scored.