1954 Big Ten Conference football season

1954 Big Ten Conference football season
SportAmerican football
Number of teams10
Top draft pickAlan Ameche
ChampionOhio State
  Runners-upWisconsin, Michigan
Season MVPAlan Ameche
Football seasons
← 1953
1955 →
1954 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Ohio State $ 7 0 0 10 0 0
No. 9 Wisconsin 5 2 0 7 2 0
No. 15 Michigan 5 2 0 6 3 0
Minnesota 4 2 0 7 2 0
Iowa 4 3 0 5 4 0
Purdue 3 3 0 5 3 1
Indiana 2 4 0 3 6 0
Michigan State 1 5 0 3 6 0
Northwestern 1 5 0 2 7 0
Illinois 0 6 0 1 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1954 Big Ten Conference football season was the 59th 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 1954 college football season.

The 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, under head coach Woody Hayes, won the conference football championship, compiled a 10–0, was ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll, and defeated USC in the 1955 Rose Bowl. Halfback Howard Cassady was selected as the team's most valuable player and was a consensus first-team All-American.

The 1954 Wisconsin Badgers football team, under head coach Ivy Williamson, compiled a 7–2 record and was ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll. Fullback Alan Ameche won the 1954 Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference. Ameche broke Ollie Matson's career rushing record, finishing his tenure at Wisconsin with 3,212 rushing yards.[1]

Purdue quarterback Len Dawson led the conference with 1,464 passing yards.

  1. ^ "Ameche Anxious To Play in Pro Ranks". Green Bay Press-Gazette. December 1, 1954.