The 1917 Big Ten Conference football season was the twenty-second season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1917 college football season. Michigan's return brought membership up to ten schools, and this was the first year the Western Conference was referred to as the "Big Ten".
Season overview Ohio State repeated as conference champions with a 4-0 league record, 8-0-1 overall.
Minnesota came in second at 4-1 (3-1 Big Ten) while Northwestern and Wisconsin tied for third at 3–2 in Big Ten play.
Illinois and Chicago tied for fifth with league records of 2–2–1. At 5-2 (1-2 Big Ten), Indiana came in seventh.
Michigan (0–1), Iowa (0–2), and Purdue (0–4) went winless in conference play.
Ohio State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Illinois
Chicago
Indiana
Michigan
Iowa
Purdue
Bowl games No Western Conference schools participated in any bowl games during the 1917 season.
All-American honors
Ends
Charles Bolen, Ohio State (MS; WE-1; JV-2; PP-1; DJ)
Tackles George Hauser, Minnesota (WE-1; JV-1; PP-1) Albert Benbrook, Michigan; Ft. Sheridan (College Football Hall of Fame) (PPS)
Guards Frank Culver, Michigan (JV-2; PP-1) Ernest Allmendinger, Michigan; Ft. Sheridan (WC-1) C. G. Higgins, Chicago (MS; WE-2) John Ulrich, Northwestern (WE-2)
Centers Paul Des Jardien, Chicago; Ft. Sheridan (College Football Hall of Fame) (PPS) Oscar P. Lambert, Michigan (WE-2)
Quarterbacks Archie Weston, Michigan (WE-1)
Fullbacks
Chic Harley, Ohio State (College Football Hall of Fame) (WE-1; JV-1; PP-1; DJ) Cedric C. Smith, Michigan; Great Lakes (WC-1) Bob Koehler, Northwestern (WE-2)
Key NCAA recognized selectors for 1917 WC = Collier's Weekly All Service team as selected by Walter Camp JV = Jack Veiock of the International News Service PP = Paul Purman, noted sports writer whose All-American team was syndicated in newspapers across the United States, of the Newspaper Editors AssociationESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1150 PPS = Paul Purman's All Service selectionSpalding's Football Guide MS = Frank Menke Syndicate, by Frank G. Menke
Other selectors WE = Walter Eckersall, of the Chicago Tribune DJ = Dick Jemison, of the Atlanta Constitution. NYT = All Service eleven of The New York Times.
Bold = Consensus All-American 1 – First-team selection 2 – Second-team selection 3 – Third-team selection
All-Big Ten selections
Ends Charles Bolen, Ohio State (FM, HP, LA, LGS, PD) W. M. Kelley, Wisconsin (FM, GWA, LA, LGS, PD) Charles Laun, Iowa (GWA) Alan Boyd, Michigan (HP)
Tackles George Hauser, Minnesota (FM, HB, GWA, LA, LGS, PD) Harold J. Courtney, Ohio State (LA, LGS, PD [guard])
Guards Charles Higgins, Chicago (FM, GWA, LA, PD) Elmert T. Rundquist, Illinois (FM [tackle], LA, LGS) Conrad L. Eklund, Minnesota (GWA, LGS, PD [tackle]) John Ulrich, Northwestern (FM) Joseph Hanish, Michigan (HP) Whiting, Camp Grant – Chicago (REAL)
Centers Frank Culver, Michigan (HP) Pottinger, Great Lakes Naval Training Station – Wisconsin (REAL)
Quarterbacks Archie Weston, Michigan (FM, LA [halfback], LGS) Eber Simpson, Wisconsin (LA, PD) Howard Yerges Sr., Ohio State (GWA)
Halfbacks Chic Harley, Ohio State (FM, GWA, HP, LA, LGS) (CFHOF) Eber Simpson, Wisconsin (GWA) James B. Craig, Fort Sheridan / Michigan (REAL)
Fullbacks Bob Koehler, Northwestern (FM, GWA, LA, LGS) Cedric C. Smith, Great Lakes Naval Training Station / Michigan (REAL)
References