The 2023 Big Ten Conference football season was the 128th season of
college football played for the
Big Ten Conference and part of the
2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was the Big Ten's tenth season with 14 teams, and its thirteenth and final season with a divisional scheduling format. Next season the league will expand to 18 with the additions of
UCLA,
USC,
Oregon and
Washington. This was the first year of the Big Ten's new media deal and thus its first year of no games airing on ABC Sports properties and first year of games airing on NBC Sports and CBS Sports properties. This was also the final year Northwestern played in the original
Ryan Field before its demolition.
The 2023 season saw the Michigan Wolverines win the
College Football Playoff and the national championship.
Previous season
Michigan won the East Division championship, with the Wolverines making their second consecutive appearance in the
Big Ten Championship Game. In the West Division,
Purdue won the division title and made their first championship game appearance. In that championship game, Michigan defeated Purdue 43–22 to win the Big Ten championship. With that win, the Wolverines landed a spot in the 2022–23
College Football Playoff as the No. 2 seed. The Wolverines lost in the semifinal game of the playoffs to third-seeded
TCU 51–45 in the
Fiesta Bowl. Along with Michigan, the Big Ten placed a second team into the College Football Playoff as
Ohio State earned the #4 seed, but fell to the top-seed and eventual national champion
Georgia in the
Peach Bowl, 42–41.
Besides Michigan and Ohio State, seven other Big Ten football teams qualified for bowl games: Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, and Wisconsin. The Big Ten overall went 5–4 in postseason games in the 2022 season.
Coaching changes
There are four head coaching changes in the Big Ten for the 2023 season. Nebraska hired
Matt Rhule to replace
Scott Frost. Rhule most recently coached in the NFL with the
Carolina Panthers.
Purdue hired Illinois defensive coordinator
Ryan Walters to replace
Jeff Brohm, who left for the head coaching job at his alma mater of
Louisville.
On July 10, 2023, Northwestern announced they were parting ways with head coach
Pat Fitzgerald after allegations surrounding hazing within the Wildcat football program.[1] On July 14, 2023, Northwestern named defensive coordinator
David Braun the interim coach for the 2023 season.[2]
On September 10, 2023, Michigan State coach
Mel Tucker was suspended as part of an investigation into a sexual harassment claim. Secondary coach
Harlon Barnett will serve as interim coach while the case is being sorted out.[3] Tucker was officially fired on September 27.
On November 26, 2023, following the conclusion of the regular season, Indiana fired
Tom Allen after the Hoosiers had completed a third consecutive losing season.[4]
Trades
In the explanations below, (PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2022 draft.
^No. 71: Tennessee → Arizona (PD). Tennessee traded a 2024 third-round selection (71st), and 2023 second and third-round selections (41st and 72nd) to Arizona in exchange for 2023 second and third-round selections (33rd and 81st) [Trade 4]
^No. 40: Chicago → Washington (PD). Chicago traded a second-round selection to Washington in exchange for defensive end
Montez Sweat.[Trade 1]
^No. 47: Seattle → NY Giants (PD). Seattle traded a second-round selection and a 2025 fifth-round selection to New York in exchange for defensive tackle
Leonard Williams.[Trade 2]
^No. 50: New Orleans → Philadelphia (PD). New Orleans traded a second-round selection, 2022 first, third, and seventh-round selections (18th, 101st, and 237th overall), and a 2023 first-round selection (10th overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for two 2022 first-round selections (16th and 19th overall) and a 2023 sixth-round selection (194th overall).[Trade 3]
^No. 121: Miami → Denver (PD). Miami traded a fourth-round selection, a
2023 first-round selection, and running back
Chase Edmonds to Denver in exchange for
Bradley Chubb and a
2025 fifth-round selection.[Trade 5]
^No. 122: Philadelphia → Chicago (PD). Philadelphia traded a fourth-round selection and a 2023 first-round selection to Chicago in exchange for a 2023 first-round selection.[Trade 4]
^No. 159: Dallas → Kansas City (PD). Dallas traded a fifth-round selection to Kansas City in exchange for a
2023 sixth-round selection (No. 178).[46]
^No. 166: San Francisco → Carolina → NY Giants. Multiple trades: San Francisco → Carolina (PD). Carolina received a fifth-round selection and as well as second, third, and fourth-round selections in the
2023 draft in exchange for running back
Christian McCaffrey.[Trade 9] Carolina → NY Giants (PD). See Round 2:
NY Giants → Carolina.[Trade 10][Trade 10]
^No. 178: Arizona → Carolina → Pittsburgh. Multiple trades: Arizona → Carolina (PD). Arizona traded a sixth-round selection and a
2025 seventh-round selection to Carolina in exchange for wide receiver
Robbie Anderson.[Trade 11] Carolina → Pittsburgh (PD). Carolina traded a sixth-round selection and CB
Donte Jackson to Pittsburgh in exchange for a seventh-round selection and WR
Diontae Johnson.[Trade 12]
^No. 228: NY Jets → Baltimore (PD). Baltimore traded
safetyChuck Clark to New York in exchange for a seventh-round selection.[Trade 13]
^Bret Bielema coached in the Big Ten from 2006 through 2012 at
Wisconsin, going 37–19 in Big Ten play and winning three Big Ten championships.
^Tom Allen was hired to replace
Kevin Wilson in December 2016 at Indiana and coached the Hoosiers in their 2016 bowl game, going 0–1.
^Mike Locksley served as interim head coach at Maryland in 2015 and coached for six games, going 1–5.[47]
^Jesse Minter served as interim head coach at Michigan for the first game of the 2023 season while
Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.[48]
^Jay Harbaugh served as interim head coach at Michigan for the first half of the second game of the 2023 season while
Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.[49]
^Jay Harbaugh served as interim head coach at Michigan for the second half of the second game of the 2023 season while
Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.[49]
^Sherrone Moore served as interim head coach at Michigan for the third game of the 2023 season while
Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.[49]
^Moore also served as interim coach after Jim Harbaugh was suspended from the sidelines by the Big Ten for a sign stealing scandal.[50]
^Mel Tucker was relieved as head coach on September 10, 2023, under investigation for sexual misconduct.[51]
^Harlon Bennett was named interim head coach on September 10, 2023.[52]
^Pat Fitzgerald was relieved as head coach on July 10, 2023, after allegations of hazing within the Wildcat football program surfaced.[53]
^David Braun was named interim head coach on July 14, 2023.[54]
^Ryan Day served as interim head coach at Ohio State for the first three games of the 2018 season while
Urban Meyer served a three-game suspension and went 3–0.[55]
^Greg Schiano served as head coach at Rutgers from 2001 through 2011 then left for the NFL. Following the conclusion of the 2019 season, Schiano returned to Rutgers for his second stint as head coach. The Scarlet Knights competed in the
Big East Conference in his previous stay at the school.
^Luke Fickell served as interim head coach at Ohio State in 2011, going 6-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Fickell took over as coach of Wisconsin for the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl
The 2023 Big Ten Conference football season was the 128th season of
college football played for the
Big Ten Conference and part of the
2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was the Big Ten's tenth season with 14 teams, and its thirteenth and final season with a divisional scheduling format. Next season the league will expand to 18 with the additions of
UCLA,
USC,
Oregon and
Washington. This was the first year of the Big Ten's new media deal and thus its first year of no games airing on ABC Sports properties and first year of games airing on NBC Sports and CBS Sports properties. This was also the final year Northwestern played in the original
Ryan Field before its demolition.
The 2023 season saw the Michigan Wolverines win the
College Football Playoff and the national championship.
Previous season
Michigan won the East Division championship, with the Wolverines making their second consecutive appearance in the
Big Ten Championship Game. In the West Division,
Purdue won the division title and made their first championship game appearance. In that championship game, Michigan defeated Purdue 43–22 to win the Big Ten championship. With that win, the Wolverines landed a spot in the 2022–23
College Football Playoff as the No. 2 seed. The Wolverines lost in the semifinal game of the playoffs to third-seeded
TCU 51–45 in the
Fiesta Bowl. Along with Michigan, the Big Ten placed a second team into the College Football Playoff as
Ohio State earned the #4 seed, but fell to the top-seed and eventual national champion
Georgia in the
Peach Bowl, 42–41.
Besides Michigan and Ohio State, seven other Big Ten football teams qualified for bowl games: Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, and Wisconsin. The Big Ten overall went 5–4 in postseason games in the 2022 season.
Coaching changes
There are four head coaching changes in the Big Ten for the 2023 season. Nebraska hired
Matt Rhule to replace
Scott Frost. Rhule most recently coached in the NFL with the
Carolina Panthers.
Purdue hired Illinois defensive coordinator
Ryan Walters to replace
Jeff Brohm, who left for the head coaching job at his alma mater of
Louisville.
On July 10, 2023, Northwestern announced they were parting ways with head coach
Pat Fitzgerald after allegations surrounding hazing within the Wildcat football program.[1] On July 14, 2023, Northwestern named defensive coordinator
David Braun the interim coach for the 2023 season.[2]
On September 10, 2023, Michigan State coach
Mel Tucker was suspended as part of an investigation into a sexual harassment claim. Secondary coach
Harlon Barnett will serve as interim coach while the case is being sorted out.[3] Tucker was officially fired on September 27.
On November 26, 2023, following the conclusion of the regular season, Indiana fired
Tom Allen after the Hoosiers had completed a third consecutive losing season.[4]
Trades
In the explanations below, (PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2022 draft.
^No. 71: Tennessee → Arizona (PD). Tennessee traded a 2024 third-round selection (71st), and 2023 second and third-round selections (41st and 72nd) to Arizona in exchange for 2023 second and third-round selections (33rd and 81st) [Trade 4]
^No. 40: Chicago → Washington (PD). Chicago traded a second-round selection to Washington in exchange for defensive end
Montez Sweat.[Trade 1]
^No. 47: Seattle → NY Giants (PD). Seattle traded a second-round selection and a 2025 fifth-round selection to New York in exchange for defensive tackle
Leonard Williams.[Trade 2]
^No. 50: New Orleans → Philadelphia (PD). New Orleans traded a second-round selection, 2022 first, third, and seventh-round selections (18th, 101st, and 237th overall), and a 2023 first-round selection (10th overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for two 2022 first-round selections (16th and 19th overall) and a 2023 sixth-round selection (194th overall).[Trade 3]
^No. 121: Miami → Denver (PD). Miami traded a fourth-round selection, a
2023 first-round selection, and running back
Chase Edmonds to Denver in exchange for
Bradley Chubb and a
2025 fifth-round selection.[Trade 5]
^No. 122: Philadelphia → Chicago (PD). Philadelphia traded a fourth-round selection and a 2023 first-round selection to Chicago in exchange for a 2023 first-round selection.[Trade 4]
^No. 159: Dallas → Kansas City (PD). Dallas traded a fifth-round selection to Kansas City in exchange for a
2023 sixth-round selection (No. 178).[46]
^No. 166: San Francisco → Carolina → NY Giants. Multiple trades: San Francisco → Carolina (PD). Carolina received a fifth-round selection and as well as second, third, and fourth-round selections in the
2023 draft in exchange for running back
Christian McCaffrey.[Trade 9] Carolina → NY Giants (PD). See Round 2:
NY Giants → Carolina.[Trade 10][Trade 10]
^No. 178: Arizona → Carolina → Pittsburgh. Multiple trades: Arizona → Carolina (PD). Arizona traded a sixth-round selection and a
2025 seventh-round selection to Carolina in exchange for wide receiver
Robbie Anderson.[Trade 11] Carolina → Pittsburgh (PD). Carolina traded a sixth-round selection and CB
Donte Jackson to Pittsburgh in exchange for a seventh-round selection and WR
Diontae Johnson.[Trade 12]
^No. 228: NY Jets → Baltimore (PD). Baltimore traded
safetyChuck Clark to New York in exchange for a seventh-round selection.[Trade 13]
^Bret Bielema coached in the Big Ten from 2006 through 2012 at
Wisconsin, going 37–19 in Big Ten play and winning three Big Ten championships.
^Tom Allen was hired to replace
Kevin Wilson in December 2016 at Indiana and coached the Hoosiers in their 2016 bowl game, going 0–1.
^Mike Locksley served as interim head coach at Maryland in 2015 and coached for six games, going 1–5.[47]
^Jesse Minter served as interim head coach at Michigan for the first game of the 2023 season while
Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.[48]
^Jay Harbaugh served as interim head coach at Michigan for the first half of the second game of the 2023 season while
Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.[49]
^Jay Harbaugh served as interim head coach at Michigan for the second half of the second game of the 2023 season while
Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.[49]
^Sherrone Moore served as interim head coach at Michigan for the third game of the 2023 season while
Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.[49]
^Moore also served as interim coach after Jim Harbaugh was suspended from the sidelines by the Big Ten for a sign stealing scandal.[50]
^Mel Tucker was relieved as head coach on September 10, 2023, under investigation for sexual misconduct.[51]
^Harlon Bennett was named interim head coach on September 10, 2023.[52]
^Pat Fitzgerald was relieved as head coach on July 10, 2023, after allegations of hazing within the Wildcat football program surfaced.[53]
^David Braun was named interim head coach on July 14, 2023.[54]
^Ryan Day served as interim head coach at Ohio State for the first three games of the 2018 season while
Urban Meyer served a three-game suspension and went 3–0.[55]
^Greg Schiano served as head coach at Rutgers from 2001 through 2011 then left for the NFL. Following the conclusion of the 2019 season, Schiano returned to Rutgers for his second stint as head coach. The Scarlet Knights competed in the
Big East Conference in his previous stay at the school.
^Luke Fickell served as interim head coach at Ohio State in 2011, going 6-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Fickell took over as coach of Wisconsin for the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl