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Big Ten History Vault
Big Ten 1997 season
Final Big Ten standings, 1997
| # | Team | CONF | W-L | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Michigan Wolverines | 8-0 | 12-0 | 1.000 | 322 | 114 |
| 2 |  Penn State Nittany Lions | 6-1 | 9-3 | .750 | 366 | 254 |
| 3 |  Ohio State Buckeyes | 6-2 | 10-3 | .769 | 394 | 170 |
| 4 |  Purdue Boilermakers | 6-2 | 9-3 | .750 | 396 | 267 |
| 5 |  Wisconsin Badgers | 5-3 | 8-5 | .615 | 291 | 306 |
| 6 |  Iowa Hawkeyes | 4-4 | 7-5 | .583 | 411 | 159 |
| 7 |  Michigan State Spartansz | 3-4 | 7-5 | .583 | 342 | 237 |
| 8 |  Northwestern Wildcats | 3-5 | 5-7 | .417 | 243 | 288 |
| 9 |  Minnesota Golden Gophers | 1-7 | 3-9 | .250 | 238 | 334 |
| 10 |  Indiana Hoosiers | 1-7 | 2-9 | .182 | 120 | 359 |
| 11 |  Illinois Fighting Illini | 0-8 | 0-11 | .000 | 119 | 368 |
Source: CollegeFootballData. CONF is the Big Ten record, which orders the table. z = Big Ten champion.
How 1997 fits the bigger picture
1997 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 1997: the champion, the final table and the records that decided it.
Quick answer
Michigan State won the Big Ten in 1997, finishing 3-4 in conference play (7-5 overall). The full final standings for all 11 teams are below.
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Big Ten 1997: the season in one place
Michigan State won the Big Ten in 1997, finishing 3-4 in conference play (7-5 overall). The final table, ordered by conference record, read 1. Michigan 8-0 (12-0), 2. Penn State 6-1 (9-3), 3. Ohio State 6-2 (10-3), 4. Purdue 6-2 (9-3), 5. Wisconsin 5-3 (8-5), 6. Iowa 4-4 (7-5), 7. Michigan State 3-4 (7-5), 8. Northwestern 3-5 (5-7), 9. Minnesota 1-7 (3-9), 10. Indiana 1-7 (2-9), 11. Illinois 0-8 (0-11). This Big Ten 1997 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 1997?
Michigan State won the Big Ten in 1997, finishing 3-4 in conference play (7-5 overall).
What were the final Big Ten standings in 1997?
1. Michigan 8-0 (12-0), 2. Penn State 6-1 (9-3), 3. Ohio State 6-2 (10-3), 4. Purdue 6-2 (9-3), 5. Wisconsin 5-3 (8-5), 6. Iowa 4-4 (7-5), 7. Michigan State 3-4 (7-5), 8. Northwestern 3-5 (5-7), 9. Minnesota 1-7 (3-9), 10. Indiana 1-7 (2-9), 11. Illinois 0-8 (0-11). 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.