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Big Ten History Vault
Big Ten 1996 season
Final Big Ten standings, 1996
| # | Team | CONF | W-L | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ohio State Buckeyesz | 7-1 | 11-1 | .917 | 455 | 131 |
| 2 |  Northwestern Wildcats | 7-1 | 9-3 | .750 | 336 | 278 |
| 3 |  Iowa Hawkeyes | 6-2 | 9-3 | .750 | 339 | 243 |
| 4 |  Penn State Nittany Lions | 6-2 | 11-2 | .846 | 400 | 203 |
| 5 |  Michigan Wolverines | 5-3 | 8-4 | .667 | 277 | 184 |
| 6 |  Michigan State Spartans | 5-3 | 6-6 | .500 | 358 | 302 |
| 7 |  Wisconsin Badgers | 3-5 | 8-5 | .615 | 377 | 243 |
| 8 |  Purdue Boilermakers | 2-6 | 3-8 | .273 | 194 | 324 |
| 9 |  Minnesota Golden Gophers | 1-7 | 4-7 | .364 | 236 | 340 |
| 10 |  Illinois Fighting Illini | 1-7 | 2-9 | .182 | 190 | 372 |
| 11 |  Indiana Hoosiers | 1-7 | 3-8 | .273 | 242 | 291 |
Source: CollegeFootballData. CONF is the Big Ten record, which orders the table. z = Big Ten champion.
How 1996 fits the bigger picture
1996 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 1996: the champion, the final table and the records that decided it.
Quick answer
Ohio State won the Big Ten in 1996, finishing 7-1 in conference play (11-1 overall). The full final standings for all 11 teams are below.
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Big Ten 1996: the season in one place
Ohio State won the Big Ten in 1996, finishing 7-1 in conference play (11-1 overall). The final table, ordered by conference record, read 1. Ohio State 7-1 (11-1), 2. Northwestern 7-1 (9-3), 3. Iowa 6-2 (9-3), 4. Penn State 6-2 (11-2), 5. Michigan 5-3 (8-4), 6. Michigan State 5-3 (6-6), 7. Wisconsin 3-5 (8-5), 8. Purdue 2-6 (3-8), 9. Minnesota 1-7 (4-7), 10. Illinois 1-7 (2-9), 11. Indiana 1-7 (3-8). This Big Ten 1996 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 1996?
Ohio State won the Big Ten in 1996, finishing 7-1 in conference play (11-1 overall).
What were the final Big Ten standings in 1996?
1. Ohio State 7-1 (11-1), 2. Northwestern 7-1 (9-3), 3. Iowa 6-2 (9-3), 4. Penn State 6-2 (11-2), 5. Michigan 5-3 (8-4), 6. Michigan State 5-3 (6-6), 7. Wisconsin 3-5 (8-5), 8. Purdue 2-6 (3-8), 9. Minnesota 1-7 (4-7), 10. Illinois 1-7 (2-9), 11. Indiana 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.