The 2006 Big Ten Conference football season was the 111th season for the Big Ten Conference. The season began on Thursday, August 31, 2012 when Northwestern played Miami (Ohio) and Minnesota played Kent State. The season concluded on January 8, 2007 when Big Ten champion Ohio State lost in the BCS National Championship Game to the Florida Gators.
| 2006 Big Ten Conference football season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) |
| Sport | football |
| Duration | August, 2006 through January, 2007 |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| TV partner(s) | ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 |
| 2007 NFL Draft | |
| Top draft pick | Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) |
| Picked by | Cleveland Browns, first round (3rd overall) |
| Regular Season | |
| Season Champions | Ohio State |
| Season MVP | Troy Smith (Offensive) and LaMarr Woodley (Defensive) |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Ohio State $ | 8 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Michigan % | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Wisconsin | 7 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 24 Penn State | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 2 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 1 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preseason
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez was also the head coach of the team the previous season in 2005. After 15 years of coaching he decided to step down as head coach of the football team and chose Bret Bielema to succeed him.[1]
In June 2006 Northwestern head coach Randy Walker unexpectedly died when he suffered an apparent heart attack. Northwestern alum and linebacker coach at the time Pat Fitzgerald was named his successor. The hiring made Fitzgerald the youngest Division I-A at the time of the hiring.[2]
Following a disappointing season in which his team went 7-5 Lloyd Carr promoted defensive backs coach Ron English to defensive coordinator.
Bowl games
| Date | Bowl Game | Big Ten Team | Opp. Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 29, 2006 | Insight Bowl | Minnesota | Texas Tech | 41-44(OT) |
| Dec. 29, 2006 | Champs Sports Bowl | Purdue | Maryland | 7-24 |
| Dec. 30, 2006 | Alamo Bowl | Iowa | Texas | 24-26 |
| Jan. 1, 2007 | Outback Bowl | Penn State | Tennessee | 20-10 |
| Jan. 1, 2007 | Capital One Bowl | Wisconsin | Arkansas | 17-14 |
| Jan. 1, 2007 | Rose Bowl | Michigan | USC | 18-32 |
| Jan. 8, 2007 | BCS National Championship | Ohio State | Florida | 14-41 |
Awards
- Heisman Trophy: Troy Smith, Ohio State
- Walter Camp Award: Troy Smith, Ohio State
- Associated Press College Football Player of the Year Award: Troy Smith, Ohio State
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
- Chuck Bednarik Award: Paul Posluszny, Penn State
- Davey O'Brien Award: Troy Smith, Ohio State
- John Mackey Award: Matt Spaeth, Minnesota
- Lombardi Award: LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
- Mosi Tatupu Award: A. J. Trapasso, Ohio State
- Outland Trophy: Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
- Ted Hendricks Award: LaMarr Woodley, Michigan