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Big Ten History Vault
Big Ten 1972 season
Final Big Ten standings, 1972
| # | Team | CONF | W-L | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ohio State Buckeyesz | 7-1 | 9-2 | .818 | 280 | 171 |
| 2 |  Michigan Wolverines | 7-1 | 10-1 | .909 | 264 | 57 |
| 3 |  Purdue Boilermakers | 6-2 | 6-5 | .545 | 245 | 135 |
| 4 |  Michigan State Spartans | 5-2 | 5-5 | .500 | 158 | 156 |
| 5 |  Minnesota Golden Gophers | 4-4 | 4-7 | .364 | 185 | 304 |
| 6 |  Illinois Fighting Illini | 3-5 | 3-8 | .273 | 197 | 277 |
| 7 |  Indiana Hoosiers | 3-5 | 5-6 | .455 | 204 | 272 |
| 8 |  Iowa Hawkeyes | 2-6 | 3-7 | .318 | 109 | 208 |
| 9 |  Wisconsin Badgers | 2-6 | 4-7 | .364 | 152 | 229 |
| 10 |  Northwestern Wildcats | 1-8 | 2-9 | .182 | 146 | 290 |
Source: CollegeFootballData. CONF is the Big Ten record, which orders the table. z = Big Ten champion.
How 1972 fits the bigger picture
1972 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 1972: the champion, the final table and the records that decided it.
Quick answer
Ohio State won the Big Ten in 1972, finishing 7-1 in conference play (9-2 overall). The full final standings for all 10 teams are below.
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Big Ten 1972: the season in one place
Ohio State won the Big Ten in 1972, finishing 7-1 in conference play (9-2 overall). The final table, ordered by conference record, read 1. Ohio State 7-1 (9-2), 2. Michigan 7-1 (10-1), 3. Purdue 6-2 (6-5), 4. Michigan State 5-2 (5-5), 5. Minnesota 4-4 (4-7), 6. Illinois 3-5 (3-8), 7. Indiana 3-5 (5-6), 8. Iowa 2-6 (3-7), 9. Wisconsin 2-6 (4-7), 10. Northwestern 1-8 (2-9). This Big Ten 1972 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 1972?
Ohio State won the Big Ten in 1972, finishing 7-1 in conference play (9-2 overall).
What were the final Big Ten standings in 1972?
1. Ohio State 7-1 (9-2), 2. Michigan 7-1 (10-1), 3. Purdue 6-2 (6-5), 4. Michigan State 5-2 (5-5), 5. Minnesota 4-4 (4-7), 6. Illinois 3-5 (3-8), 7. Indiana 3-5 (5-6), 8. Iowa 2-6 (3-7), 9. Wisconsin 2-6 (4-7), 10. Northwestern 1-8 (2-9). 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.