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Big Ten History Vault
Big Ten 1987 season
Final Big Ten standings, 1987
| # | Team | CONF | W-L | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Michigan State Spartansz | 7-0 | 9-2 | .792 | 261 | 153 |
| 2 |  Iowa Hawkeyes | 6-2 | 10-3 | .769 | 380 | 250 |
| 3 |  Indiana Hoosiers | 6-2 | 8-4 | .667 | 283 | 238 |
| 4 |  Michigan Wolverines | 5-3 | 8-4 | .667 | 331 | 172 |
| 5 |  Ohio State Buckeyes | 4-4 | 6-4 | .591 | 224 | 181 |
| 6 |  Minnesota Golden Gophers | 3-5 | 6-5 | .545 | 257 | 262 |
| 7 |  Purdue Boilermakers | 3-5 | 3-7 | .318 | 197 | 285 |
| 8 |  Illinois Fighting Illini | 2-5 | 3-7 | .318 | 153 | 208 |
| 9 |  Northwestern Wildcats | 2-6 | 2-8 | .227 | 186 | 328 |
| 10 |  Wisconsin Badgers | 1-7 | 3-8 | .273 | 202 | 299 |
Source: CollegeFootballData. CONF is the Big Ten record, which orders the table. z = Big Ten champion.
How 1987 fits the bigger picture
1987 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 1987: the champion, the final table and the records that decided it.
Quick answer
Michigan State won the Big Ten in 1987, finishing 7-0 in conference play (9-2 overall). The full final standings for all 10 teams are below.
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Big Ten 1987: the season in one place
Michigan State won the Big Ten in 1987, finishing 7-0 in conference play (9-2 overall). The final table, ordered by conference record, read 1. Michigan State 7-0 (9-2), 2. Iowa 6-2 (10-3), 3. Indiana 6-2 (8-4), 4. Michigan 5-3 (8-4), 5. Ohio State 4-4 (6-4), 6. Minnesota 3-5 (6-5), 7. Purdue 3-5 (3-7), 8. Illinois 2-5 (3-7), 9. Northwestern 2-6 (2-8), 10. Wisconsin 1-7 (3-8). This Big Ten 1987 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 1987?
Michigan State won the Big Ten in 1987, finishing 7-0 in conference play (9-2 overall).
What were the final Big Ten standings in 1987?
1. Michigan State 7-0 (9-2), 2. Iowa 6-2 (10-3), 3. Indiana 6-2 (8-4), 4. Michigan 5-3 (8-4), 5. Ohio State 4-4 (6-4), 6. Minnesota 3-5 (6-5), 7. Purdue 3-5 (3-7), 8. Illinois 2-5 (3-7), 9. Northwestern 2-6 (2-8), 10. Wisconsin 1-7 (3-8). 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.