1921 Big Ten Conference football season
SportAmerican football
Number of teams10
ChampionIowa
  Runners-upChicago, Ohio State
Football seasons
← 1920
1922 →
1921 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Iowa $ 5 – 0 – 0 7 – 0 – 0
Chicago 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 1 – 0
Ohio State 4 – 1 – 0 5 – 2 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 1 – 1 5 – 1 – 1
Michigan 2 – 1 – 1 5 – 1 – 1
Indiana 1 – 2 – 0 3 – 4 – 0
Minnesota 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 4 – 0
Illinois 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 4 – 0
Purdue 1 – 4 – 0 1 – 6 – 0
Northwestern 0 – 5 – 0 1 – 6 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1921 Big Ten Conference football season was the 26th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference (also known as the Western Conference) and was a part of the 1921 college football season.

The 1921 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, under head coach Howard Jones, compiled a 7–0 record and won the Big Ten championship. Quarterback Aubrey Devine and tackle Duke Slater received first-team All-American honors. Devine, Slater, fullback Gordon Locke, and end Lester Belding received first-team All-Big Ten honors. The team was retroactively selected as the 1921 national champion by the Billingsley Report and as a co-national champion by Parke H. Davis.[1]

The 1921 Chicago Maroons football team, under head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, compiled a 6–1 record, finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten, and led the conference in scoring defense (1.9 points allowed per game). Notable players included end Fritz Crisler, quarterback Milton Romney, fullback John Webster Thomas, guard Charles Redmon, and tackle Charles McGuire.

The 1921 Michigan Wolverines football team, under head coach Fielding H. Yost compiled a 5–1–1 record, shut out five of seven opponents, and led the Big Ten in scoring offense (26.7 points per game). Center Ernie Vick was selected as a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, and end Paul G. Goebel was selected as a first-team All-American by sports writer Lawrence Perry. Guard Robert J. Dunne served as the team's captain and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player. Harry Kipke and Doug Roby were the team's leading scorers.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Conf. Rank Team Head coach Overall record Conf. record PPG PAG
1 Iowa Howard Jones 7–0 5–0 26.4 5.1
2 (tie) Chicago Amos Alonzo Stagg 6–1 4–1 15.9 1.9
2 (tie) Ohio State John Wilce 5–2 4–1 15.7 2.0
4 Wisconsin John R. Richards 5–1–1 3–1–1 20.1 1.9
5 Michigan Fielding H. Yost 5–1–1 2–1–1 26.7 3.0
6 Indiana Ewald O. Stiehm 3–4 1–2 12.3 13.4
7 Minnesota Henry L. Williams 3–4 2–4 8.6 20.1
8 (tie) Illinois Robert Zuppke 3–4 1–4 12.6 7.3
8 (tie) Purdue William Henry Dietz 1–6 1–4 1.3 13.6
10 Northwestern Elmer McDevitt 1–6 0–5 4.9 17.1

Key
PPG = Average of points scored per game; team with highest average in bold[2]
PAG = Average of points allowed per game; team with lowest average in bold[2]

Regular season

September 24

On September 24, 1921, two of the Big Ten teams opened their seasons with non-conference games, resulting in one victory and one defeat.

October 1

On October 1, 1921, the Big Ten teams participated in one conference game and seven non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in six wins and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 7–2 non-conference record to that point in the season. Illinois had a bye week and did not open its season until the following week.

October 8

On October 8, 1921, the Big Ten teams participated in two conference games and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in four wins and two losses, giving the Big Ten an 11–4 non-conference record to that point in the season.

October 15

On October 15, 1921, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in one win and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 12–5 non-conference record to that point in the season. Chicago and Indiana had bye weeks.

October 22

On October 22, 1921, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and one non-conference game. The non-conference game resulted in a win, giving the Big Ten a 13–5 non-conference record to that point in the season. Iowa, Purdue, and Northwestern had bye weeks.

October 29

On October 29, 1921, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and three non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two wins and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 15–6 non-conference record to that point in the season. Ohio State had a bye week.

November 5

On November 5, 1921, the Big Ten football teams participated in three conference games and one non-conference game. The non-conference game resulted in a win, giving the Big Ten a 16–6 non-conference record during the 1921 season. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana had bye weeks.

November 12

On November 12, 1921, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games. Minnesota and Northwestern had bye weeks.

November 19

On November 19, 1921, the Big Ten football teams concluded their seasons with five conference games.

Bowl games

No Big Ten teams participated in any bowl games during the 1921 season.

Awards and honors

All-Big Ten players

For the complete All-Big Ten selections, see 1921 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

The following players were selected as first-team players on the 1921 All-Big Ten Conference football team by Billy Evans (BE), Walter Eckersall (WE), or Luther A. Huston of the International News Service (LH).[20][21][22][23] It also includes players listed as members of the 1921 "All-Conference Team" as published in the "ESPN Big Ten Football Encyclopedia" (BTFE).[24]

Position Name Team Selectors
Quarterback Aubrey Devine Iowa BTFE, BE, WE, LH
Halfback Alvah Elliott Wisconsin BTFE, BE, WE, LH
Halfback Roland Williams Wisconsin BE
Halfback Don Peden Illinois BTFE, WE
Halfback Laurie Walquist Illinois LH
Fullback Gordon Locke Iowa BTFE, BE, WE, LH
End Fritz Crisler Chicago BTFE, BE, WE, LH
End Stevens Gould Wisconsin WE, LH
End Truck Myers Ohio State BTFE, WE, LH
End Lester Belding Iowa BE
Tackle Charles McGuire Chicago BTFE, BE, WE, LH
Tackle Duke Slater Iowa BTFE, BE, WE, LH
Guard Robert J. Dunne Michigan BTFE, WE, LH
Guard Lloyd Pixley Ohio State BE, LH
Guard Dean W. Trott Ohio State BTFE, BE, WE
Center Ernie Vick Michigan BTFE, WE
Center George C. Bunge Wisconsin BE, LH

All-Americans

For the complete All-America selections, see 1921 College Football All-America Team.

Two Big Ten players were selected as consensus first-team players on the 1921 College Football All-America Team. They were:

Position Name Team Selectors
Quarterback Aubrey Devine Iowa WC, BE, FW, JV, LP, MM, WE
Tackle Iolas Huffman Ohio State FW, LP

[25]

Other Big Ten players received first-team honors from at least one selector. They were:

Position Name Team Selectors
Tackle Duke Slater Iowa BE, WE, JV
Tackle Charles McGuire Chicago WC, MM
Guard Dean Trott Ohio State LP, JV
Guard Robert J. Dunne Michigan NB
Guard Lloyd Pixley Ohio State NB
Center Ernie Vick Michigan WC
End Fritz Crisler Chicago WE
End Paul G. Goebel Michigan LP

References

  1. ^ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2015). "National Poll Rankings" (PDF). NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA. p. 108. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "1921 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  3. ^ "Iowa Beats Notre Dame: Hawkeyes in Exciting Win; Score, 10 to 7". The Des Moines Register. October 9, 1921. p. 17.
  4. ^ "Setback Handed Ohio State: Oberlin Eleven Victors Over Buckeyes, 7-6". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 9, 1921. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Yostmen and U. of D. Pile Up Big Scores: Michigan Drive Brushes Case Eleven Aside; Wolverines Register 9 Touchdowns While Amassing Their 64–0 Victory". Detroit Free Press. October 9, 1921. p. 23. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Richard Heath (October 16, 1921). "Michigan Beats Aggies in Annual Contest, 30 to 0, By Making Strong Finish: Farmers Crumple After Great Fight; East Lansing Aggregation Holds Wolverines to 7 to 0 Score in First Half, But Weakens Later; Kipke and Goebel Are Stars in Game That Sees Failure of Yostmen's Aerial Attack". Detroit Free Press. p. 23. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Attendance at the Football Games". The Michigan Alumnus. December 8, 1921. p. 276.
  8. ^ "Sidelights of Ohio Victory". Detroit Free Press. October 23, 1921. p. 21.
  9. ^ a b "Wolverines Stumble and Ohio State Captures Game, 14–0, Before Huge Crowd: Buckeyes Profit By U. of M. Slips; Yostmen's Failure to Gather in Ohio Kick Helps Winners to First Touchdown, After Steketee's Weak Kick Starts Trouble; While Aggregation's Edge in Aerial Attack Also Factor". Detroit Free Press. October 23, 1921. p. 21.
  10. ^ "Chicago Downs Princeton: Maroons Score Real Triumph; Beat Princeton, 9-0; First Western Team to Win Over 'Big Three'". Tulsa Daily World. October 23, 1921. p. 13.
  11. ^ a b Harry Bullion (October 30, 1921). "Steketee's Place Kick Gives Michigan Triumph Over Illini; Score 3 to 0; Yost Booter Counts From 15-Yard Mark; Registers Only Marker of Great Game in Second Quarter; Roby and Cappon, by Fierce Line Plunging, Carry Ball to Illinois Six-Yard; Michigan Near Touchdown When Battle Ends". Detroit Free Press. p. 23. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  12. ^ "The Illinois Game". The Michigan Alumnus. November 3, 1921. pp. 115–117.
  13. ^ "Wisconsin 7; Michigan 7; Score at End of Crucial Game". The Capital Times. November 12, 1921. p. 1.
  14. ^ a b c Harry Bullion (November 13, 1921). "Michigan and Wisconsin Battle to 7–7 Tie in Mud—Yale Downs Princeton: Yostmen Score on Spectacular Pass: Wisconsin Profits From Bad Kick for Its Touchdown, but Michigan Ties Matters Soon Afterwards, When Roby Crosses the Goal Line After Triple Forward Nets Over 40 Yards—Badgers Outgain Opponents". Detroit Free Press. p. 21.
  15. ^ a b The Wisconsin Game. November 17, 1921. pp. 179–180. ((cite book)): |newspaper= ignored (help)
  16. ^ a b Michiganensian. 1922. p. 213.
  17. ^ a b c d e Harry Bullion (November 21, 1921). "U. of M. Romps Over Gophers, 38–0—Iowa Captures Conference Title: Brilliant Sprints, Hurls Aid Yostmen; Norsemen Bewildered and Swept Aside by Driving Michigan Attack; Dean's Place Kick Features With Long Runs by Cappon, Et Al; Yostmen Score on Trick Pass Near Windup". Detroit Free Press. p. 23. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  18. ^ "In Honor of Michigan's "M" Men Who Died During the War". The Michigan Alumnus. November 24, 1921. p. 200.
  19. ^ "Sidelights of the Game". The Michigan Alumnus. November 24, 1921. p. 210.
  20. ^ "Billy Evans Picks All-Western Conference Eleven for 1921". Iowa City Press-Citizen. November 26, 1921. p. 5.
  21. ^ "Hawk Stars Get Places on Elevens". Iowa City Press-Citizen. November 28, 1921. p. 4.(Chicago American)
  22. ^ "Some All Conference Selections". The Michigan Alumnus. December 1, 1921. p. 243.(Walter Eckersall)
  23. ^ Luther A. Huston (December 11, 1921). "Galaxy of Star Players Wore Moleskin In Big Ten During 1921 Season". Tulsa Daily World.
  24. ^ ESPN Big Ten Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. 2007. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-933060-49-1.
  25. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
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