Penn State also tied for second place and was led by Curtis Enis who rushed for 1,363 yards and led the conference with 120 points scored. The Nittany Lions began the 1997 season ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll and ended it with a loss to Florida in the 1998 Florida Citrus Bowl.
Purdue also tied for second place under first-year head coach Joe Tiller who was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. Purdue quarterback Billy Dicken led the conference with 3,136 passing yards, and wide receiver Brian Alford led the conference with 1,228 receiving yards.
Iowa was ranked as high as No. 4 in the AP Poll during the season and fielded the conference's most potent offensive with an average of 34.3 points scored per game. Iowa running back Tavian Banks led the conference with 1,639 rushing yards.
Key
AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1997 season[1]
AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1997 season[1]
PPG = Average of points scored per game[1]
PAG = Average of points allowed per game[1]
Pre-season
Regular season
Bowl games
Seven Big Ten teams played in bowl games as follows:
Michigan defeated Washington State, 21-16, in the 1998 Rose Bowl
Iowa lost to Arizona State, 17-7, in the 1997 Sun Bowl
Michigan State lost to Washington, 51-23, in the 1997 Aloha Bowl
Statistical leaders
The Big Ten's individual statistical leaders include the following:[1]
Passing yards
1. Billy Dicken, Purdue (3,136)
2. Mike McQueary, Penn State (2,211)
3. Jay Rodgers, Indiana (2,156)
4. Brian Griese, Michigan 2042
5. Todd Schultz, Michigan State (2,003)
1. Brian Alford, Purdue (1,228)
2. Dee Miller, Ohio State (981)
3. David Boston, Ohio State (970)
4. Tutu Atwell, Minnesota (924)
5. Brian Musso, Northwestern (865)
1. Billy Dicken, Purdue (3,487)
2. Mike McQueary, Penn State (2,184)
3. Mike Samuel, Wisconsin (2,138)
4. Brian Griese, Michigan (2,049)
5. Jay Rodgers, Indiana (2,035)