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Big Ten History Vault
Big Ten 1986 season
Final Big Ten standings, 1986
| # | Team | CONF | W-L | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Michigan Wolverinesz | 7-1 | 11-2 | .846 | 379 | 203 |
| 2 |  Ohio State Buckeyes | 7-1 | 10-3 | .769 | 347 | 179 |
| 3 |  Iowa Hawkeyes | 5-3 | 9-3 | .750 | 391 | 214 |
| 4 |  Minnesota Golden Gophers | 5-3 | 6-6 | .500 | 261 | 316 |
| 5 |  Michigan State Spartans | 4-4 | 6-5 | .545 | 285 | 197 |
| 6 |  Illinois Fighting Illini | 3-5 | 4-7 | .364 | 189 | 299 |
| 7 |  Indiana Hoosiers | 3-5 | 6-6 | .500 | 273 | 227 |
| 8 |  Purdue Boilermakers | 2-6 | 3-8 | .273 | 160 | 335 |
| 9 |  Wisconsin Badgers | 2-6 | 3-9 | .250 | 201 | 266 |
| 10 |  Northwestern Wildcats | 2-6 | 4-7 | .364 | 217 | 251 |
Source: CollegeFootballData. CONF is the Big Ten record, which orders the table. z = Big Ten champion.
How 1986 fits the bigger picture
1986 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 1986: the champion, the final table and the records that decided it.
Quick answer
Michigan won the Big Ten in 1986, finishing 7-1 in conference play (11-2 overall). The full final standings for all 10 teams are below.
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Big Ten 1986: the season in one place
Michigan won the Big Ten in 1986, finishing 7-1 in conference play (11-2 overall). The final table, ordered by conference record, read 1. Michigan 7-1 (11-2), 2. Ohio State 7-1 (10-3), 3. Iowa 5-3 (9-3), 4. Minnesota 5-3 (6-6), 5. Michigan State 4-4 (6-5), 6. Illinois 3-5 (4-7), 7. Indiana 3-5 (6-6), 8. Purdue 2-6 (3-8), 9. Wisconsin 2-6 (3-9), 10. Northwestern 2-6 (4-7). This Big Ten 1986 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 1986?
Michigan won the Big Ten in 1986, finishing 7-1 in conference play (11-2 overall).
What were the final Big Ten standings in 1986?
1. Michigan 7-1 (11-2), 2. Ohio State 7-1 (10-3), 3. Iowa 5-3 (9-3), 4. Minnesota 5-3 (6-6), 5. Michigan State 4-4 (6-5), 6. Illinois 3-5 (4-7), 7. Indiana 3-5 (6-6), 8. Purdue 2-6 (3-8), 9. Wisconsin 2-6 (3-9), 10. Northwestern 2-6 (4-7). 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.