The 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen by various organizations for All-Big Ten Conference teams for the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. The only player unanimously selected by the conference coaches as a first-team player was Michigan fullback Russell Davis. Michigan State flanker Kirk Gibson fell one point short of unanimity, and running back Marion Barber, Jr., fell two points short.^[1]

Offensive selections

Quarterbacks

• Rick Leach, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Ed Smith, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)

Running backs

• Marion Barber, Jr., Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1 [tailback])
• Russell Davis, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1 [fullback])
• Mike Harkrader, Indiana (AP-2, UPI-2 [tailback])
• John Macon, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [fullback])

Flankers/split ends

• Kirk Gibson, Michigan State (AP-1 [flanker]; UPI-1 [wingback])
• Eugene Byrd, Michigan State (AP-1 [wide receiver]; UPI-1 [split end])
• Brad Reid, Iowa (AP-2 [wide receiver])
• David Charles, Wisconsin (AP-2 [flanker]; UPI-2 [split end])
• Ralph Clayton (UPI-2 [wingback])

Tight ends

• Mark Brammer, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Doug Marsh, Michigan (AP-2)
• Jimmy Moore, Ohio State (UPI-2)

Centers

• Mark Heidel, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Steve Nauta, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2)

Guards

• Ken Fritz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• John Arbeznik, Michigan (AP-2 [tackle]; UPI-1)
• Greg Bartnick, Michigan (AP-2, UPI-2)
• Dale Schwan, Purdue (AP-2)
• John LeFeber, Purdue (UPI-2)

Tackles

• Jon Giesler, Michigan (AP-1 [guard]; UPI-1)
• Jim Hinsley, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Joe Robinson, Ohio State (AP-1)
• Steve McKenzie, Purdue (AP-2, UPI-2)
• Keith Ferguson, Ohio State (UPI-2)

Defensive selections

Defensive linemen

• Curtis Greer, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Melvin Land, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Ken Loushin, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Keena Turner, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Kelton Dansler, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2 [defensive end])
• Stan Sytsma, Minnesota (AP-2; UPI-1)
• Marcus Jackson, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
• Jerry Meter, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive end])
• Dan Relich, Wisconsin (AP-2)
• Jim Ronan, Minnesota (AP-2)
• Byron Cato, Ohio State (UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
• Doug Friberg, Minnesota (UPI-2 [defensive guard])

Linebackers

• Tom Cousineau, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Joe Norman, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Ron Simpkins, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-2)
• Dan Bass, Michigan State (AP-2)
• Tom Rusk, Iowa (AP-2; UPI-2)
• John Sullivan, Illinois (AP-2)

Defensive backs

• Mike Jolly, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Tom Graves, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-2)
• Vince Skillings, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)
• Keith Brown, Minnesota (UPI-1)
• Mike Guess, Ohio State (UPI-1)
• Mike Harden, Michigan (UPI-1)
• Mark Anderson, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)
• Dave Abrams, Indiana (AP-2)
• Pat Geegan, Northwestern (AP-2)
• Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin (UPI-2)

Special teams

Placekicker

• Paul Rogind, Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Scott Sovereen, Purdue (AP-2)
• Greg Willner, Michigan (UPI-2)

Punter

• Ray Stachowicz, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-1)
• Tom Orosz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)

Key

AP = Associated Press^[2]

UPI = United Press International, selected by the Big Ten Conference coaches^[1]