1925 Big Ten Conference football season

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.

1925 Big Ten Conference football season
Sport	Football
Number of teams	10
Champion	Michigan
Season MVP	Tim Lowry
Football seasons
← 1924 1926 →

1925 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Michigan $	5	–	1	–	0			7	–	1	–	0
Northwestern	3	–	1	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
No. 8 Wisconsin	3	–	1	–	1			6	–	1	–	1
Chicago	2	–	2	–	1			3	–	4	–	1
Illinois	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Iowa	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Minnesota	1	–	1	–	1			5	–	2	–	1
Ohio State	1	–	3	–	1			4	–	3	–	1
Indiana	0	–	3	–	1			3	–	4	–	1
Purdue	0	–	3	–	1			3	–	4	–	1
$ – Conference champion Rankings from Dickinson System

Tim Lowry of the Northwestern Wildcats receiving the Chicago Tribune Silver Football for the 1925 season

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. Rank	Team	Head coach	Overall record	Conf. record	PPG	PAG
1	Michigan	Fielding H. Yost	7–1	5–1	28.4	0.4
2	Wisconsin	George Little	6–1–1	3–1–1	16.4	6.3
3	Northwestern	Glenn Thistlethwaite	5–3	3–1	10.1	8.6
4	Chicago	Amos A. Stagg	3–4–1	2–2–1	5.5	9.5
5	Minnesota	Clarence Spears	5-2-1	1-1-1	22.0	10.6
6 (tie)	Illinois	Robert Zuppke	5–3	2–2	12.3	7.4
6 (tie)	Iowa	Burt Ingwersen	5–3	2–2	15.1	9.3
8	Ohio State	John Wilce	4–3–1	1–3–1	6.9	5.6
9 (tie)	Purdue	James Phelan	3–4–1	0–3–1	14.9	4.9
9 (tie)	Indiana	Bill Ingram	3–4–1	0–3–1	12.8	14.4

Key
PPG = Average of points scored per game^[2]
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 3	Michigan	Michigan State	Ferry Field, Ann Arbor, MI	W 39–0	30,000	^[3]
October 3	Northwestern	South Dakota	Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL	W 14–7	18,000	^[4]
October 3	Wisconsin	Iowa State	Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI	W 30–0	10,000	^[5]
October 3	Chicago	Kentucky	Stagg Field, Chicago, IL	W 9–0	32,000	^[6]
October 3	Illinois	Nebraska	Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL	L 0–14	40,000	^[7]
October 3	Iowa	Arkansas	Iowa Field, Iowa City, IA	W 26–0		^[8]
October 3	Minnesota	North Dakota	Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN	W 25–6	20,000	^[9]
October 3	Ohio State	Ohio Wesleyan	Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH	W 10–3	45,000	^[10]
October 3	Indiana	Indiana State	Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN	W 31–0		^[11]
October 3	Purdue	Wabash	Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN	L 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 10	Michigan	Indiana	Ferry Field, Ann Arbor, MI	W 63–0	36,000	^[13]
October 10	Chicago	Ohio State	Stagg Field, Chicago, IL	T 3–3	35,000	^[14]
October 10	Northwestern	Carleton	Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL	W 17–0	11,000	^[15]
October 10	Wisconsin	Franklin University	Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI	W 35–0		^[16]
October 10	Illinois	Butler	Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL	W 16–13	12,599	^[17]
October 10	Iowa	Saint Louis	Iowa Field, Iowa City, IA	W 41–0		^[18]
October 10	Purdue	DePauw	Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN	W 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 17	Wisconsin	Michigan	Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI	L 0–21	44,000	^[20]
October 17	Chicago	Northwestern	Stagg Field, Chicago, IL	W 6–0	34,000	^[21]
October 17	Iowa	Illinois	Iowa Field, Iowa City, IA	W 12–10	24,738	^[22]
October 17	Minnesota	Wabash	Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN	W 32–6	18,000	^[23]
October 17	Ohio State	Columbia	Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH	W 9–0		^[24]
October 17	Indiana	Syracuse	Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN	W 14–0	8,000	^[25]
October 17	Purdue	Rose Polytechnic	Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN	W 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 24	Illinois	Michigan	Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL	L 0–3	66,609	^[27]
October 24	Wisconsin	Purdue	Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI	W 7–0	14,000	^[28]
October 24	Ohio State	Iowa	Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH	L 0–15	33,000	^[29]
October 24	Northwestern	Tulane	Stagg Field, Chicago, IL	L 7–18	15,000	^[30]
October 24	Penn	Chicago	Franklin Field, Philadelphia, PA	L 0–7	55,000	^[31]
October 24	Minnesota	Notre Dame	Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN	L 7–19	52,000	^[32]
October 24	Indiana	Miami (OH)	Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN	W 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 31	Northwestern	Indiana	Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL	W 17–14		^[34]
October 31	Minnesota	Wisconsin	Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN	T 12–12	40,000	^[35]
October 31	Chicago	Purdue	Stagg Field, Chicago, IL	W 6–0	34,000	^[36]
October 31	Michigan	Navy	Ferry Field, Ann Arbor, MI	W 54–0	47,000	^[37]
October 31	Penn	Illinois	Franklin Field, Philadelphia, PA	W 24–2	60,000	^[38]
October 31	Iowa	Wabash	Iowa Field, Iowa City, IA	W 28–7		^[39]
October 31	Ohio State	Wooster	Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH	W 17–0	17,000	^[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 7	Northwestern	Michigan	Soldier Field, Chicago, IL	W 3–2	40,000	^[41]
November 7	Iowa	Wisconsin	Iowa Field, Iowa City, IA	L 0–6		^[42]
November 7	Illinois	Chicago	Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL	W 13–6	68,864	^[43]
November 7	Ohio State	Indiana	Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH	W 7–0	30,500	^[44]
November 7	Minnesota	Butler	Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN	W 33–7	20,000	^[45]
November 7	Purdue	Franklin	Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN	W 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 14	Michigan	Ohio State	Ferry Field, Ann Arbor, MI	W 10–0	59,000	^[47]
November 14	Purdue	Northwestern	Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN	L 9–13		^[48]
November 14	Minnesota	Iowa	Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN	W 33–0	45,000	^[49]
November 14	Wisconsin	Michigan State	Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI	W 21–10		^[50]
November 14	Chicago	Dartmouth	Stagg Field, Chicago, IL	L 7–33	34,000	^[51]
November 14	Illinois	Wabash	Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL	W 21–0	20,466	^[52]
November 14	Indiana	Rose Polytechnic	Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN	W 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 21	Michigan	Minnesota	Ferry Field, Ann Arbor, MI	W 35–0	47,000	^[54]
November 21	Chicago	Wisconsin	Stagg Field, Chicago, IL	L 7-20	34,000	^[55]
November 21	Ohio State	Illinois	Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH	L 9–14	72,657	^[56]
November 21	Indiana	Purdue	Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN	T 0–0	15,000	^[57]
November 21	Notre Dame	Northwestern	Cartier Field, South Bend, IN	L 10–13	32,000	^[58]
November 21	USC	Iowa	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA	L 0–18	66,000	^[59]

Bowl games

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

All-Big Ten players

For the complete All-Big Ten selections, see 1925 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

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.

• Bennie Oosterbaan, end, Michigan (AP, BE, BTW, NB, JW, UP, WE)
• Chuck Kassel, end, Illinois (AP, BE, BTW, UP, WE)
• Dick Romey, end, Iowa (JW, NB)
• Fred "Bub" Henderson, tackle, Chicago (AP, BE, BTW, JW, NB, UP, WE)
• Tom Edwards, tackle, Michigan (BTW, NB, UP, WE)
• Harry Hawkins, tackle, Michigan (AP, BE, BTW, JW)
• Ed Hess, guard, Ohio State (AP, BE, BTW, JW, NB, UP, WE)
• Bernie Shively, guard, Illinois (AP, BE, JW)
• Robert J. Brown, center/guard, Michigan (AP, BE, BTW, JW, NB, UP)
• Tim Lowry, Northwestern (BTW, UP, WE)
• Benny Friedman, quarterback, Michigan (AP, BE, BTW, JW, UP, WE)
• Red Grange, halfback, Illinois (AP, BE, BTW, NB, JW, UP, WE)
• Austin McCarty, halfback/fullback, Chicago (AP, BE, BTW, WE)
• Loren L. Lewis, fullback, Northwestern (AP, UP)

All-Americans

For the complete All-America selections, see 1925 College Football All-America Team.

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

• Bennie Oosterbaan, end, Michigan (AAB, AP, COL, FW, INS, NEA, UP, A&S, BE, NB, RKN, Sun, WC, WE)
• Ed Hess, guard, Ohio State (COL, LIB, NEA, UP, A&S, BE, NB, HR)
• Benny Friedman, quarterback, Michigan (AAB, LIB, UP, RKN, Sun, SW)
• Red Grange, halfback, Illinois (AP, COL, FW, INS, LIB, NEA, UP, A&S, BE, HR, NB, RKN, Sun, SW, WC, WE)

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

• Dick Romey, end, Iowa (LIB)
• Cookie Cunningham, end, Ohio State (HR)
• Harry Hawkins, tackle, Michigan (FW)
• Tom Edwards, tackle, Michigan (WE)
• Fred "Bub" Henderson, tackle, Chicago (NB)
• Merwin Mitterwallner, guard, Illinois (HR)
• Robert Brown, center, Michigan (INS, LIB, NEA, A&S, BE, NB, SW)
• Tim Lowry, center, Northwestern (FW)

References

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