American college football season
1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football |
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Big Ten co-champion |
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Conference | Big Ten Conference |
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Ranking |
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Coaches | No. 15 |
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AP | No. 18 |
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Record | 8–4 (6–2 Big Ten) |
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Head coach | |
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Offensive coordinator | Bill Snyder (3rd season) |
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Defensive coordinator | Bill Brashier (3rd season) |
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MVP | Mel Cole |
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Captain | Tracy Crocker Pete Gales Bruce Kittle Andre Tippett Brad Webb |
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Home stadium | Kinnick Stadium |
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Seasons |
The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. The Hawks were 6–2 in conference play and were Big Ten Conference co-champions. Iowa went to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years. Their previous appearance in the 1958 season, when Iowa won the 1959 Rose Bowl. This time Iowa had a more difficult time, shutout by Don James's Washington Huskies, 28–0. It was also Iowa's first winning season since 1961. The Hawkeyes finished the 1981 season at 8–4.
Several Iowa players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:
- Lou King led the conference with eight interceptions.[1]
- Phil Blatcher ranked fourth in the conference with 708 rushing yards.[1]
- Tom Nichol ranked fourth in the conference with 11 field goals made.[1]
- Jeff Brown ranked fourth in the conference with 137 punt return yards and 6.5 yards per punt return.[1]
- Quarterback Gordy Bohannon ranked 10th in the conference with 1,303 total yards.[1]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 12 | No. 7 Nebraska* | | | | W 10–7 | 60,160 |
September 19 | at Iowa State* | | | | L 12–23 | 53,922 |
September 26 | No. 6 UCLA* | | - Kinnick Stadium
- Iowa City, Iowa
| | W 20–7 | 60,004 |
October 3 | at Northwestern | No. 18 | | | W 64–0 | 30,113 |
October 10 | Indiana | No. 15 | - Kinnick Stadium
- Iowa City, Iowa
| | W 42–28 | 60,000 |
October 17 | at No. 5 Michigan | No. 12 | | | W 9–7 | 105,915 |
October 24 | Minnesota | No. 6 | | ABC | L 10–12 | 60,000 |
October 31 | at Illinois | No. 16 | | | L 7–24 | 66,877 |
November 7 | Purdue | | - Kinnick Stadium
- Iowa City, Iowa
| | W 33–7 | 60,114 |
November 14 | at Wisconsin | | | ESPN | W 17–7 | 78,731 |
November 21 | Michigan State | No. 19 | - Kinnick Stadium
- Iowa City, Iowa
| | W 36–7 | 60,103 |
January 1 | vs. No. 12 Washington* | No. 13 | | NBC | L 0–28 | 105,611 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
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[2]
In 1981, Iowa played eight conference games, missing one opponent. The government of Iowa mandated that they resume their series with Iowa State. [citation needed]
Iowa did not play Ohio State in 1981; OSU was also 8-3 and 6-2 in the Big Ten to tie for the conference title. The Buckeyes won their bowl game, the 1981 Liberty Bowl over Navy, and finished at 9-3. Iowa was awarded the Rose Bowl berth because it had not been to Pasadena since the 1958 season, while Ohio State went two years earlier.
Roster
1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster |
Players | Coaches |
Offense | Defense | Special teams Pos. | # | Name | Class | K | 3 | Tom Nichol | Fr | K | 83 | Lon Olejniczak | Jr | P | 7 | Reggie Roby | Jr | | - Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Bill Snyder – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Bill Brashier – Defensive Coordinator
- Kirk Ferentz – Offensive line
- Carl Jackson – Running backs
- Del Miller – Offensive assistant
- Dan McCarney – Defensive line
- Barry Alvarez – Linebackers
- Don Patterson – Defensive Backs
- Bernie Wyatt – Defensive Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
- Bill Dervich – Strength and Conditioning
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
- Injured
- Redshirt
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Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked | Week |
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
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AP | — | — | — | — | 18 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 16 | — | — | 19 | 13 | 13 | 18 |
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Coaches | — | — | — | — | 20 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 16 | — | 18 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 15 |
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[3]
Game summaries
No. 7 Nebraska
#7 Nebraska at Iowa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | No. 7 Cornhuskers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | • Hawkeyes | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 9:16 | Iowa | Eddie Phillips 2-yard run (Olejniczak kick) | Iowa 7-0 | | 2 | 14:55 | Iowa | Olejniczak 35-yard field goal | Iowa 10-0 | | 4 | 11:42 | Neb | Roger Craig 1-yard run (kick) | Iowa 10-7 | |
[4]
At Iowa State
Iowa at Iowa State | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Hawkeyes | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 | • Cyclones | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 23 | - Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | ISU | Quinn 7-yard run (Giffords kick) | ISU 7-0 | | 1 | | ISU | Giffords 48-yard field goal | ISU 10-0 | | 2 | | ISU | Crutchfield 3-yard run (Giffords kick) | ISU 17-0 | | 2 | | Iowa | Phillips 1-yard run (kick blocked) | ISU 17-6 | | 3 | | ISU | Giffords 40-yard field goal | ISU 20-6 | | 4 | | ISU | Giffords 34-yard field goal | ISU 23-6 | | 4 | | Iowa | Blatcher 1-yard run (pass failed) | ISU 23-12 | |
[5]
No. 6 UCLA
#6 UCLA at Iowa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | No. 6 Bruins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Hawkeyes | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 20 | - Date: September 26
- Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa
- Game start: 1:05 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 2:45
- Game attendance: 60,004
- Referee: Glen Fortin
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 5:02 | Iowa | Gales 16-yard run (Olejniczak kick) | Iowa 7-0 | | 2 | 10:47 | UCLA | Tom Ramsey 1-yard run (Johnson kick) | Tied 7-7 | | 3 | 9:48 | Iowa | Nichol 35-yard field goal | Iowa 10-7 | | 4 | 13:37 | Iowa | Mark Bortz recovered fumble in end zone (Nichol kick) | Iowa 17-7 | 6:24 | Iowa | Nichol 43-yard field goal | Iowa 20-7 | |
[6] [7]
at Northwestern
#18 Iowa at Northwestern | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • No. 18 Hawkeyes | 30 | 0 | 20 | 14 | 64 | Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 13:39 | Iowa | Phillips 12-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 7-0 | 11:29 | Iowa | Granger 6-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 14-0 | 8:52 | Iowa | King blocked punt for a safety | Iowa 16-0 | 6:39 | Iowa | Phillips 15-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 23-0 | 4:43 | Iowa | Webb 29-yard interception return (Nichol kick) | Iowa 30-0 | | 3 | 13:15 | Iowa | Brown 24-yard pass for Bohannon (Nichol kick) | Iowa 37-0 | 11:34 | Iowa | Moritz 26-yard pass for Bohannon (kick failed) | Iowa 43-0 | 2:40 | Iowa | Gill 20-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 50-0 | | 4 | 6:58 | Iowa | Buggs 2-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 57-0 | | 4 | 5:46 | Iowa | Brown 74-yard punt return (Nichol kick) | Iowa 64-0 | |
[8]
Indiana
Indiana at #15 Iowa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Hoosiers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | • No. 15 Hawkeyes | 14 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 42 | - Date: October 10
- Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa
- Game start: 1:05 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:11
- Game attendance: 60,000
- Referee: Tom Quinn
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | 13:14 | Indiana | Gunn 58-yard pass from Laufenberg (Greenstein kick) | Indiana 7-0 | 8:27 | Iowa | Granger 2-yard run (Nichol kick) | Tied 7-7 | 0:54 | Iowa | Jones 51-yard pass from Bohannon (Nichol kick) | Iowa 14-7 | | 2 | 10:40 | Indiana | Roggeman 1-yard run (Greenstein kick) | Tied 14-14 | 10:24 | Iowa | Granger 99-yard kick return (Nichol kick) | Iowa 21-14 | 8:41 | Iowa | Hufford 21-yard pass from Bohannon (Nichol kick) | Iowa 28-14 | 6:04 | Iowa | Blatcher 1-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 35-14 | | 3 | 13:05 | Indiana | Gunn 71-yard pass from Laufenberg (Greenstein kick) | Iowa 35-21 | 11:08 | Iowa | Hufford 11-yard pass from Bohannon (Nichol kick) | Iowa 42-21 | | 4 | 3:12 | Indiana | Hines 2-yard run (Greenstein kick) | Iowa 42-28 | |
[9]
At No. 5 Michigan
#12 Iowa at #5 Michigan | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • No. 12 Hawkeyes | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | No. 5 Wolverines | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | - Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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Scoring summary |
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| Q1 | | IOWA | Tom Nichol 20-yard field goal | IOWA 3–0 | | Q1 | | Iowa | Nichol 36-yard field goal | IOWA 6–0 | | Q2 | | MICH | Anthony Carter 17-yard pass from Steve Smith (Haji-Sheikh kick) | MICH 7–6 | | Q3 | | IOWA | Nichol 30-yard field goal | IOWA 9–7 | |
The Hawkeyes won 9-7 at #5 Michigan, their third victory over a top ten team during the 1981 season. It was Iowa's first victory over the Wolverines since 1962.
[10] [11]
Minnesota
Minnesota at #6 Iowa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Golden Gophers | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 12 | Hawkeyes | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | - Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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Scoring summary |
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| 2 | | Minn | Gallery 52-yard field goal | Minn 3-0 | | 2 | | Minn | Gallery 31-yard field goal | Minn 6-0 | | 2 | | Minn | Gallery 33-yard field goal | Minn 9-0 | | 3 | | IOWA | Nichol 34-yard field goal | Minn 9-3 | | 3 | | IOWA | Blatcher 2-yard run (Nichol kick) | IOWA 10-9 | | 4 | 2:22 | Minn | Gallery 27-yard field goal | Minn 12-10 | |
[12] [13]
At Illinois
#16 Iowa at Illinois | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | #16 Hawkeyes | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Fighting Illini | 3 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 24 | - Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | Illinois | Bass 27-yard field goal | Illinois 3-0 | | 2 | | Illinois | Burgard fumble recovery in end zone (Bass kick) | Illinois 10-0 | | 2 | | Illinois | Williams 56-yard pass from Eason (Bass kick) | Illinois 17-0 | | 2 | | Iowa | Brown 12-yard pass from Bohannon (Nichol kick) | Illinois 17-7 | | 4 | | Illinois | Williams 4-yard pass from Eason (Bass kick) | Illinois 24-7 | |
[14]
Purdue
Purdue at Iowa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Boilermakers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | • Hawkeyes | 17 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 33 | - Date: November 7
- Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa
- Game attendance: 60,114
- Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | Iowa | Nichol 42-yard field goal | Iowa 3-0 | | 1 | | Iowa | Blatcher 1-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 10-0 | | 1 | | Iowa | Bohannon 12-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 17-0 | | 2 | | Iowa | Crocker recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick failed) | Iowa 23-0 | | 2 | | Iowa | Bohannon 7-yard run (Nichol kick) | Iowa 30-0 | | 3 | | Iowa | Nichol 48-yard field goal | Iowa 33-0 | | 4 | | Purdue | Feulner 1-yard run (Clark kick) | Iowa 33-7 | |
The 33-7 win was Iowa's first over the Boilermakers since 1960, and secured the Hawkeyes' first winning season since 1961.[15]
At Wisconsin
Iowa at Wisconsin | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Hawkeyes | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 | Badgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | - Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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Scoring summary |
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| Q1 | 6:48 | IOWA | Tom Nichol 35-yard field goal | IOWA 3–0 | | Q2 | | IOWA | Phil Blatcher 1-yard run (Tom Nichol kick) | IOWA 10–0 | | Q2 | | IOWA | Phil Blatcher 2-yard run (Tom Nichol kick) | IOWA 17–0 | | Q4 | | Wisc | | IOWA 17–7 | |
[16]
Michigan State
Michigan State at #19 Iowa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Spartans | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Hawkeyes | 16 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 36 | - Date: November 21
- Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
- Game attendance: 60,103
- Game weather: Mid-60s°F
- Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | Iowa | Blatcher 9-yard run (Nichol kick) | IOWA 7-0 | | 1 | | Iowa | Safety, blocked punt through end zone | IOWA 9-0 | | 1 | | Iowa | Phillips 1-yard run (Nichol kick) | IOWA 16-0 | | 2 | | Michigan St | Hodo 1-yard pass from Clark (Andersen kick) | IOWA 16-7 | | 3 | | Iowa | Nichol 26-yard field goal | IOWA 19-7 | | 3 | | Iowa | Blatcher 1-yard run (Nichol kick) | IOWA 26-7 | | 4 | | Iowa | Nichol 23-yard field goal | IOWA 29-7 | | 4 | | Iowa | Campbell 9-yard pass from Gales (Nichol kick) | IOWA 36-7 | |
Iowa earns first Rose Bowl since 1958 with Michigan's loss to Ohio State, which was announced with 6:14 left in the first quarter.[17]
Statistics
- Phil Blatcher 27 Rush, 247 Yds[18]
[19] [20] [21]
vs. No. 12 Washington (Rose Bowl)
#12 Washington vs. #13 Iowa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Huskies | 0 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 28 | Hawkeyes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| 2 | | UW | Robinson 1-yard run (Nelson kick) | UW 7-0 | | 2 | | UW | Coby 1-yard run (pass failed) | UW 13-0 | | 4 | | UW | Robinson 34-yard run (Pelluer pass to Skansi) | UW 21-0 | | 4 | | UW | Cowan 3-yard run (Nelson kick) | UW 28-0 | |
[22] [23]
Postseason Awards
Team players in 1982 NFL Draft
[24]
References
- ^ a b c d e "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "1981 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". sports-reference.com.
- ^ "Iowa 1981 AP Football Rankings".
- ^ "Iowa Upset Nebraska, 10-7". The New York Times. September 13, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ "Iowa State 23, Iowa 12". The New York Times. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "U.C.L.A. Is Upset By Iowa". The New York Times. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ "Iowa's Performance Surprises Its Coach". The New York Times. September 28, 1981. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ "64-0!". Chicago Tribune. October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "'Surprise' get Iowa untracked". Chicago Tribune. October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "3 Iowa Field Goals Stop Michigan, 9-7". The New York Times. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ "Iowa Defeats No. 5 Michigan". Washington Post. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ "Minnesota kicks Iowa back down". Chicago Tribune. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Iowa linebacker Mel Cole is a contradiction on a football team making a lot of noise this fall". UPI. October 27, 1981. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ "Illinois turns to defense". The Pantagraph. November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Iowa 33, Purdue 7". The New York Times. November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Wisconsin's odor is not of roses". Chicago Tribune. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 22.
- ^ Iowa Hawkeyes athletics website.
- ^ "Iowa Wins Trip to Rose Bowl". The New York Times. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Iowa Goes to Rose Bowl as Michigan Loses". The Washington Post. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Hawkeyes make Iowa sick with Rose Bowl fever". Chicago Tribune. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Iowa flat embarrassed by Washington romp". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Washington Wilts Iowa's Rose, 28-0". The Washington Post. January 2, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "1982 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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Western Conference | |
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Big Ten | |
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Big Nine | |
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Big Ten | |
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National championships in bold |