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Big Ten History Vault
Big Ten 1971 season
Final Big Ten standings, 1971
| # | Team | CONF | W-L | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Michigan Wolverinesz | 8-0 | 11-1 | .917 | 421 | 83 |
| 2 |  Northwestern Wildcats | 6-3 | 7-4 | .636 | 211 | 183 |
| 3 |  Michigan State Spartans | 5-3 | 6-5 | .545 | 225 | 169 |
| 4 |  Ohio State Buckeyes | 5-3 | 6-4 | .600 | 224 | 120 |
| 5 |  Illinois Fighting Illini | 5-3 | 5-6 | .455 | 163 | 238 |
| 6 |  Wisconsin Badgers | 3-5 | 4-6 | .409 | 240 | 258 |
| 7 |  Minnesota Golden Gophers | 3-5 | 4-7 | .364 | 212 | 278 |
| 8 |  Purdue Boilermakers | 3-5 | 3-7 | .300 | 210 | 228 |
| 9 |  Indiana Hoosiers | 2-6 | 3-8 | .273 | 152 | 260 |
| 10 |  Iowa Hawkeyes | 1-8 | 1-10 | .091 | 121 | 379 |
Source: CollegeFootballData. CONF is the Big Ten record, which orders the table. z = Big Ten champion.
How 1971 fits the bigger picture
1971 is one season in the Big Ten story. See every Big Ten winner in Big Ten champions by year, how the national titles split in Big Ten national championships by team, and the current race on the live standings.
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How the Big Ten finished in 1971: the champion, the final table and the records that decided it.
Quick answer
Michigan won the Big Ten in 1971, finishing 8-0 in conference play (11-1 overall). The full final standings for all 10 teams are below.
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Big Ten 1971: the season in one place
Michigan won the Big Ten in 1971, finishing 8-0 in conference play (11-1 overall). The final table, ordered by conference record, read 1. Michigan 8-0 (11-1), 2. Northwestern 6-3 (7-4), 3. Michigan State 5-3 (6-5), 4. Ohio State 5-3 (6-4), 5. Illinois 5-3 (5-6), 6. Wisconsin 3-5 (4-6), 7. Minnesota 3-5 (4-7), 8. Purdue 3-5 (3-7), 9. Indiana 2-6 (3-8), 10. Iowa 1-8 (1-10). This Big Ten 1971 archive sits alongside the History Vault and the live standings, so you can compare any season with the current race.
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Frequently asked questions
Who won the Big Ten in 1971?
Michigan won the Big Ten in 1971, finishing 8-0 in conference play (11-1 overall).
What were the final Big Ten standings in 1971?
1. Michigan 8-0 (11-1), 2. Northwestern 6-3 (7-4), 3. Michigan State 5-3 (6-5), 4. Ohio State 5-3 (6-4), 5. Illinois 5-3 (5-6), 6. Wisconsin 3-5 (4-6), 7. Minnesota 3-5 (4-7), 8. Purdue 3-5 (3-7), 9. Indiana 2-6 (3-8), 10. Iowa 1-8 (1-10). Conference record first, overall record in brackets.
How is the Big Ten decided?
The table is ordered by conference record, with head-to-head the first tiebreaker. The top two teams meet in the Big Ten Championship Game for the title.