1941_Big_Ten_Conference_football_season
1941 Big Ten Conference football season
Sports season
The 1941 Big Ten Conference football season was the 46th 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 1941 college football season.
| 1941 Big Ten Conference football season | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Football |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Top draft pick | Bob Westfall |
| Champion | Minnesota |
| Season MVP | Jack Graf |
| Football seasons | |
← 1940 1942 → | |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Minnesota $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 Michigan | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 13 Ohio State | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Northwestern | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1941 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, led by head coach Bernie Bierman, compiled a perfect 8–0 record, led the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense, was ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll, and won the program's second consecutive national championship. Halfback Bruce Smith was a consensus All-American and won the 1941 Heisman Trophy. Tackle Dick Wildung was also a consensus first-team All-American.
Michigan, under head coach Fritz Crisler, compiled a 6–1–1 record, outscored opponents 147 to 41, and was ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll. Fullback Bob Westfall was selected as a consensus first-team player on the 1941 College Football All-America Team. In addition to Westfall, two other Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1941 All-Big Ten Conference football team: center Robert Ingalls and tackle Al Wistert.
Ohio State, under head coach Paul Brown, compiled a 6–1–1 record, outscored opponents 167 to 110, and was ranked No. 13 in the final AP Poll. In the Chicago Tribune's poll of coaches, officials and experts, Ohio State fullback Jack Graf was selected as the Big Ten's most valuable player.[1]
Northwestern lost to three top 10 teams (Minnesota, Michigan, and Notre Dame) and was ranked No. 11 in the final AP Poll. Two Northwestern players received first-team honors on the All-Big Ten team: tackle Alf Bauman and end Bob Motl. The team also featured halfback Otto Graham who was later inducted into the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame.
Results and team statistics
| Conf. Rank | Team | Head coach | AP final | AP high | Overall record | Conf. record | PPG | PAG | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | Bernie Bierman | #1 | #1 | 8–0 | 5–0 | 23.3 | 4.8 | Bob Sweiger |
| 2 (tie) | Michigan | Fritz Crisler | #5 | #3 | 6–1–1 | 3–1–1 | 18.4 | 5.1 | Reuben Kelto |
| 2 (tie) | Ohio State | Paul Brown | #13 | #10 | 6–1–1 | 3–1–1 | 20.0 | 13.8 | Jack Graf |
| 4 | Northwestern | Pappy Waldorf | #11 | #5 | 5–3 | 4–2 | 21.6 | 8.4 | Alf Bauman |
| 5 | Wisconsin | Harry Stuhldreher | NR | NR | 3–5 | 3–3 | 18.0 | 26.0 | Pat Harder |
| 6 | Iowa | Eddie Anderson | NR | NR | 3–5 | 2–4 | 11.4 | 12.4 | Bill Diehl |
| 7 (tie) | Purdue | Mal Elward | NR | NR | 2–5–1 | 1–3 | 3.4 | 7.8 | Bill Combs |
| 7 (tie) | Indiana | Bo McMillin | NR | NR | 2–6 | 1–3 | 12.6 | 15.8 | Billy Hillenbrand |
| 9 | Illinois | Robert Zuppke | NR | NR | 2–6 | 0–5 | 14.0 | 20.4 | Nathan Johnson |
Key
PPG = Average of points scored per game[2]
PAG = Average of points allowed per game[2]
MVP = Most valuable player as voted by players on each team as part of the voting process to determine the winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy
Regular season
| Index to colors and formatting |
|---|
| Non-conference matchup; Big Ten member won |
| Non-conference matchup; Big Ten member lost |
| Conference matchup |
| Winning teams displayed in bold |
| Result column from perspective of Big Ten school for non-conference games, from perspective of winning team for conference games |
September 27
Six conference teams opened their seasons on September 27, playing six games against non-conference opponents, resulting in four wins and two losses. Northwestern, Wisconsin and Illinois did not play.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 27 | Washington | Minnesota | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | W 14–6 | 43,000 | [3] |
| September 27 | Michigan | Michigan State | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | W 19–7 | 67,079 | [4] |
| September 27 | Ohio State | Missouri | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | W 12–7 | 49,671 | [5] |
| September 27 | Iowa | Drake | Iowa Stadium, Iowa City, IA | W 25–8 | 20,000 | [6] |
| September 27 | Purdue | Vanderbilt | Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | L 0–3 | 17,000 | [7] |
| September 27 | Indiana | Detroit | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | L 7–14 | 10,000 | [8] |
October 4
Eight conference teams played games on October 4, consisting of one conference matchup and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in four wins and two losses. Minnesota did not play.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 4 | Michigan | Iowa | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | W 6–0 | 29,807 | [9] |
| October 4 | USC | Ohio State | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA | W 33–0 | 65,000 | [10] |
| October 4 | Northwestern | Kansas State | Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL | W 51–3 | 40,000 | [11] |
| October 4 | Wisconsin | Marquette | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | L 7-28 | 40,000 | [12] |
| October 4 | Pittsburgh | Purdue | Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | W 6-0 | 24,000 | [13] |
| October 4 | Notre Dame | Indiana | Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN | L 6-19 | 42,000 | [14] |
| October 4 | Illinois | Miami (OH) | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL | W 45-0 | 20,585 | [15] |
October 11
Six conference teams played games on October 11, consisting of two conference matchups and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in a win and a loss. Ohio State, Iowa, and Purdue did not play. After three weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 9–4.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 11 | Minnesota | Illinois | Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | W 34–6 | 50,435 | [16] |
| October 11 | Michigan | Pittsburgh | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | W 40–0 | 34,403 | [17] |
| October 11 | Northwestern | Wisconsin | Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL | W 41–14 | 40,000 | [18] |
| October 11 | Indiana | TCU | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | L 14–20 | 24,000 | [19] |
October 18
All nine conference teams saw action on October 18, consisting of three conference games and three non-conference games. In the week's biggest matchup, No. 6 Michigan defeated No. 5 Northwestern. The non-conference games resulted in three wins. After four weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 12–4.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 18 | No. 1 Minnesota | Pittsburgh | Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | W 39–0 | 35,000 | [20] |
| October 18 | No. 5 Northwestern | No. 6 Michigan | Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL | W 14-7 | 47,000 | [21][22] |
| October 18 | No. 10 Ohio State | Purdue | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | W 16–14 | 66,074 | [23] |
| October 18 | Wisconsin | Iowa | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | W 23–0 | 20,000 | [24] |
| October 18 | No. 15 Nebraska | Indiana | Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE | W 21–13 | 33,000 | [25] |
| October 18 | Illinois | Drake | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL | W 40–0 | 12,000 | [26] |
October 25
All nine conference teams saw action on October 25, consisting of four conference games and one non-conference game. In the week's biggest matchups, No. 1 Minnesota defeated No. 3 Michigan, and No. 13 Northwestern defeated No. 11 Ohio State. The non-conference game resulted in three wins. After five weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 12–5.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 25 | No. 3 Michigan | No. 1 Minnesota | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | W 7–0 | 85,753 | [27] |
| October 25 | No. 11 Ohio State | No. 13 Northwestern | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | W 14–7 | 71,896 | [28] |
| October 25 | Wisconsin | Indiana | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | W 27–25 | 33,000 | [29] |
| October 25 | Purdue | Iowa | Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | W 7–6 | 22,000 | [30] |
| October 25 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Illinois | Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN | L 14–49 | 45,000 | [31] |
November 1
All nine conference teams saw action on November 1, consisting of three conference games and three non-conference games. In the week's biggest matchup, No. 1 Minnesota defeated No. 9 Northwestern. The non-conference games resulted in one win and two losses. After six weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 13–7.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 1 | No. 1 Minnesota | No. 9 Northwestern | Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | W 8–7 | 64,464 | [32] |
| November 1 | Illinois | No. 7 Michigan | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL | W 20–0 | 30,101 | [33][34] |
| November 1 | Pittsburgh | Ohio State | Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | W 21–14 | 50,000 | [35] |
| November 1 | Wisconsin | Syracuse | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | L 20–27 | 19,000 | [36] |
| November 1 | Iowa | Indiana | Iowa Stadium, Iowa City, IA | W 13–7 | 28,000 | [37] |
| November 1 | No. 3 Fordham | Purdue | Polo Grounds, New York, NY | L 0–17 | 20,500 | [38] |
November 8
Eight conference teams played games on November 8, consisting of three conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in a win and a tie. After seven weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 14–7–1. Michigan did not play.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 8 | No. 2 Minnesota | Nebraska | Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | W 9–0 | 42,893 | [39] |
| November 8 | No. 20 Ohio State | Wisconsin | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | W 46–34 | 58,519 | [40] |
| November 8 | No. 10 Northwestern | Indiana | Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL | W 20–14 | 35,000 | [41] |
| November 8 | Illinois | Iowa | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL | W 21–0 | 14,339 | [42] |
| November 8 | Purdue | Michigan State | Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | T 0–0 | 17,000 | [43] |
November 15
Eight conference teams played games on November 15, consisting of three conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in a win and a loss. In the week's biggest matchup, No. 5 Notre Dame defeated No. 8 Northwestern. After eight weeks, Big Ten teams had compiled a non-conference record of 15–8–1. Indiana did not play.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 15 | Iowa | No. 1 Minnesota | Iowa Stadium, Iowa City, IA (rivalry) | W 34–13 | 43,200 | [44] |
| November 15 | Columbia | No. 7 Michigan | Baker Field, New York, NY | W 28–0 | 35,000 | [45] |
| November 15 | No. 20 Ohio State | Illinois | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH (Illibuck Trophy) | W 12–7 | 41,544 | [46] |
| November 1 | No. 8 Northwestern | No. 5 Notre Dame | Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL (rivalry) | L 6–7 | 48,000 | [47] |
| November 15 | Wisconsin | Purdue | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | W 13–0 | 25,000 | [48] |
November 22
All nine conference teams played games on November 22, consisting of four conference games and one non-conference game. In the week's biggest matchup, No. 7 Michigan played No. 14 Ohio State to a 20–20 tie. The non-conference game resulted in a loss. Big Ten teams finished the season with a non-conference record of 15–9–1.
| Date | Home team | Visiting team | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 22 | No. 1 Minnesota | Wisconsin | Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN (Slab of Bacon) | W 41–6 | 52,984 | [49] |
| November 22 | No. 7 Michigan | No. 14 Ohio State | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry) | T 20–20 | 85,753 | [50] |
| November 22 | No. 10 Northwestern | Illinois | Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL (rivalry) | W 27–0 | 5,000 | [51] |
| November 1 | Nebraska | Iowa | Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE (rivalry) | L 13–14 | 20,000 | [52] |
| November 22 | Indiana | Purdue | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket) | W 7–0 | 23,000 | [53] |
Bowl games
During the 1941 season, the Big Ten maintained its long-standing ban on postseason games. Accordingly, no Big Ten teams participated in any bowl games.
The following players were picked by the Associated Press (AP), the United Press (UP), and/or the International News Service (INS) as first-team players on the 1941 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[54][55][56]
- Dave Schreiner, end, Wisconsin (AP, UP, INS)
- Bob Motl, end, Northwestern (AP, INS)
- Bob Fitch, end, Minnesota (UP)
- Alf Bauman, tackle, Northwestern (AP, UP, INS)
- Dick Wildung, tackle, Minnesota (AP, UP, INS)
- Tom Melton, guard, Purdue (AP, UP)
- Len Levy, guard, Minnesota (AP, UP)
- Al Wistert, guard, Michigan (INS)
- Fritz Howard, guard, Ohio State (INS)
- Robert Ingalls, center, Michigan (AP, UP)
- Iron Man Bob Johnson, center, Purdue (INS)
- Billy Hillenbrand, quarterback, Indiana (AP, UP, INS)
- Bill Daley, halfback, Minnesota (AP, UP)
- Bruce Smith, halfback, Minnesota (AP, INS) (1941 Heisman Trophy winner)
- Bob Westfall, fullback, Michigan (AP, UP, INS)
- Pat Harder, fullback, Wisconsin (UP, INS)
At the end of the 1941 season, Big Ten players secured three of the 12 consensus first-team picks for the 1941 College Football All-America Team.[57] The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:
- Dick Wildung, tackle, Minnesota (AAB, AP, INS, LIB, NEA, NW, SN, UP, CP, LIFE, PARA, WC)
- Bruce Smith, halfback, Minnesota (AAB, AP, CO, INS, NW, SN, UP, CP, NYS, LIFE, PARA, WC, LIFE)
- Bob Westfall, fullback, Michigan (AAB, CO, INS, LIB, NEA, NW, SN, UP, CP, NYS, PARA, WC)
Other Big Ten players who were named first-team All-Americans by at least one selector were:
- Dave Schreiner, end, Wisconsin (AP)
- Alf Bauman, tackle, Northwestern (AAB, SN, LIFE)
- Jim Daniell, tackle, Ohio State (CP)
Two Big Ten players, Bob Westfall and Urban Odson, were selected in the first round of the 1942 NFL draft. In all, 26 players from Big Ten football teams were selected in the 1942 NFL Draft, as follows:[58]
| Name | Position | Team | Round | Overall pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Westfall | Fullback | Michigan | 1 | 5 |
| Urban Odson | Tackle | Minnesota | 1 | 9 |
| Alf Bauman | Tackle | Northwestern | 2 | 15 |
| Bob Sweiger | Back | Minnesota | 3 | 23 |
| Len Levy | Guard | Minnesota | 4 | 27 |
| Gordon Paschka | Guard | Minnesota | 4 | 28 |
| Bill Green | Back | Iowa | 5 | 39 |
| Italo Rossi | Tackle | Purdue | 7 | 52 |
| Bob Fitch | End | Minnesota | 7 | 56 |
| Joe Rogers | End | Michigan | 8 | 59 |
| John Petty | Back | Purdue | 9 | 80 |
| Jud Ringer | End | Minnesota | 10 | 84 |
| Bill Diehl | Center | Iowa | 10 | 85 |
| Gene Flick | Center | Minnesota | 10 | 89 |
| Tom Farris | Back | Wisconsin | 11 | 99 |
| Jim Daniell | Tackle | Ohio State | 12 | 110 |
| Bruce Smith | Back | Minnesota | 13 | 119 |
| Bill DeCorrevont | Back | Northwestern | 14 | 126 |
| Jim Trimble | Tackle | Indiana | 15 | 139 |
| Tom Kinkade | Back | Ohio State | 16 | 149 |
| Don Clawson | Back | Northwestern | 17 | 152 |
| Dick Fisher | Back | Ohio State | 17 | 155 |
| Jack Graf | Back | Ohio State | 18 | 162 |
| Robert Ingalls | Center | Michigan | 18 | 169 |
| George Benson | Back | Northwestern | 19 | 179 |
| Al Couppee | Back | Iowa | 22 | 196 |
- "Graf Wins Big Ten's "Most Valuable" Poll". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. December 14, 1941. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- "1941 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- Charles Johnson (September 28, 1941). "Smith and Daley Star as Gophers Rip Huskies, 14-6: Halfback Scoots to 2 Scores". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
- John N. Sabo (September 28, 1941). "U-M Beats State, 19-7; Titans Win". Detroit Free Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Coach Brown's Ohio State Eleven Triumphs". The Sandusky Register-Star-News. September 28, 1941. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- Bert McGrane (September 28, 1941). "Iowa Overpowers Drake, 25-8: Mertes Leads Late Old Gold Power Attack". The Des Moines Register. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Vanderbilt Wins With Field Goal". The Indianapolis Star. September 28, 1941. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
- W.W. Edgar (September 28, 1941). "Long Pass in Final Period Gives Titans Victory, 14 to 7". Detroit Free Press. pp. Sports 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- John N. Sabo (October 5, 1941). "Kuzma Only Bright Spot as Michigan Defeats Iowa, 6 to 0". Detroit Free Press. pp. Sports 1, 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- Paul Lowry (October 5, 1941). "Ohio State Roars Over Trojans, 33-0". Los Angeles Times. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Edward Burns (October 5, 1941). "Wildcats Rout Kansas State Eleven, 51 To 3". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Hank Casserly (October 5, 1941). "40,000 Watch Hilltoppers Stun Wisconsin, 28 to 7". The Capital Times. p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Chester L. Smith (October 5, 1941). "Panthers Drop Opening Game To Boilermakers, 6-0: Petty Hits Tackle For Purdue Score". The Pittsburgh Press. p. III-7 – via Newspapers.com.
- Wilfrid Smith (October 5, 1941). "Irish Have Too Many Backs For Indiana, 19 to 6". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Illinois Wins Opener; Beats Miami U., 45 to 0". Chicago Tribune. October 5, 1941. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
- Charles Johnson (October 12, 1941). "Gophers Crush Illini, 34-6: Minnesota Tallies 4 Times in First Half". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
- John N. Sabo (October 12, 1941). "Michigan Trounces Pitt, 40-0". Detroit Free Press. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- Arch Ward (October 12, 1941). "Wildcats Roll Over in 2d Half, 41-14". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- W. Blaine Patton (October 12, 1941). "Texas Christian Triumphs Over Indiana, 20-14: Frogs Clinch Victory With Seconds Left". The Indianapolis Star. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
- Charles Johnson (October 19, 1941). "Gophers Pound Pitt, 39-0: Higgins Is Sensation in Victory". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
- Wilfrid Smith (November 2, 1941). "Michigan Passes Beat Northwestern, 14-7: Kuzma Tosses Twice to Score for Wolverine; Fraumann, Rogers Cross Goal". Chicago Tribune – via Newspapers.com.
- "Michigan Victor on Long Pass, 14-7; Kuzma's 2 Touchdown Tosses, Second Gaining 46 Yards, Defeat Northwestern". The New York Times (AP story). October 19, 1941.
- Si Burick (October 19, 1941). "16-Point Lead Barely Holds Up For Bucks". Dayton Daily News. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Henry J. McCormick (October 19, 1941). "Smashing Badgers Rout Iowa, 23-0". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- Don Kellogg (October 19, 1941). "Huskers beaten first time by Indiana". The Nebraska State Journal. pp. 1B, 4B – via Newspapers.com.
- Charles Bartlett (October 19, 1941). "Illinois Whips Drake, 40 to 0; Griffin Stars". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- John N. Sabo (October 26, 1941). "Minnesota Edges Out Michigan on Second-Period Score, 7 to 0, as Crowd of 85,753 Looks On". Detroit Free Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Wilfrid Smith (October 26, 1941). "Wildcats Beat Ohio State On Passes, 14 to 7: Otto Graham Pitches for 2 Touchdowns". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Henry J. McCormick (October 26, 1941). "Badgers Outroar Indiana, 27-25". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- W. Blaine Patton (October 26, 1941). "Boilermakers Shade Iowa: Take Home-Coming Tilt by 7-to-6 Score". The Indianapolis Star. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
- Edward Burns (October 26, 1941). "Irish Run Up 28 Points in Last Quarter To Rout Illinois, 49-14". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Charles Johnson (November 2, 1941). "Gophers Cage Wildcats, 8-7". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal. pp. Sports 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- Edward Burns (November 2, 1941). "Westfall and Kuzma Score for Michigan in Battle of Fumbles". Chicago Tribune.
- "Michigan Downs Illinois, 20 to 0; 30,000 See Westfall Pace the Wolverines to Smashing Conference Victory". The New York Times. November 2, 1941.
- Chester L. Smith (November 2, 1941). "Pitt Loses, 21-14: Jones, Fife Star Before 50,000 Fans". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
- Henry J. McCormick (November 2, 1941). "Syracuse Razzle-Dazzles Badgers, 27-20". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- Bert McGrane (November 2, 1941). "Iowa Turns On Indiana, 13-7: Green Score Twice". The Des Moines Register – via Newspapers.com.
- Jack Smith (November 2, 1941). "Rams Overpower Purdue, 17 to 0". New York Daily News. p. 88 – via Newspapers.com.
- Charles Johnson (November 9, 1941). "Gophers Held To 9-0 Win". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal. pp. Sports 1–2.
- Henry J. McCormick (November 9, 1941). "Badgers Lose Weird Game to Ohio, 46-34". The Wisconsin State Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
- Irving Vaughan (November 9, 1941). "Northwestern Subdues Indiana and Billy Hillenbrand, 20 to 14". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Charles Bartlett (November 9, 1941). "Dad's Day Becomes Farmer's Day As Iowa Routs Illinois, 21 to 0". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Harold Harrison (November 9, 1941). "Purdue In 0-0 Tie: Boilermaker Threats Fail". The Muncie Sunday Star. p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Bert McGrane (November 16, 1941). "Minnesota Mauls Iowa, 34-13". The Des Moines Register. p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Michigan Whips Columbia, 28-0: Attack Led by Westfall and Kuzma". Detroit Free Press. November 16, 1941. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
- Arch Ward (November 16, 1941). "Buckeyes Use Long Pass, Hard Plunges To Beat Illinois, 12-7". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Edward Burns (November 16, 1941). "Notre Dame Wins, 7 to 6; Blocks N.U.'s Kick: Strategic Play Blocks N.U.'s Extra Point Kick, Wins for Irish". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Henry J. McCormick (November 16, 1941). "Last Period Badger Spurt Tips Purdue, 13-0". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- Charles Johnson (November 23, 1941). "Gophers Tip Badgers, 41-6, Win Big Ten, U.S. Titles: Smith Heroic in Last Game". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
- John N. Sabo (November 23, 1941). "OSU Battles Wolverines to 20-20 Tie". Detroit Free Press. p. 1.
- Irving Vaughan (November 23, 1941). "Northwestern Whips Illinois, 27-0: DeCorrevont's 3 Touchdowns Lead Wildcats". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- John Bentley (November 23, 1941). "Huskers end victory drouth, 14 to 13!". Sunday Journal and Star. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- W. Blaine Patton (November 23, 1941). "Indiana Beats Purdue: Takes Bitter Bucket Tilt By 7-0 Score". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 41–42 – via Newspapers.com.
- Earl Hilligan (November 24, 1941). "Big Ten Coaches Announce 1941 All-Star Football Team Selections". Evening Huronite. p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- Steve Snider (November 22, 1941). "Ohio State Fails To Place Player On Big 9 Honor Roll". The Dayton Herald. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Three Sophs On Western Conference Team". Daily Dispatch. November 25, 1941. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- "2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. pp. 5–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- "1942 NFL Draft: Full Draft". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved October 9, 2019.