2021 Big Ten Conference football season
The 2021 Big Ten Conference football season was the 126th season of Big Ten football and the eighth with 14 teams. It ran from August 28, 2021, through January 1, 2022.
Champions and awards
- Champion: Michigan defeated Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game to win the conference.
- Divisional winners: West Division — Iowa; East Division — Michigan and Ohio State were co-champions.
- Regular-season MVP: Aidan Hutchinson, defensive end for Michigan.
- Championship-game MVP: Aidan Hutchinson.
Key outcomes
- Michigan earned a spot in the Big Ten Championship by beating Ohio State on November 27, while Iowa won the West Division with a win over Nebraska the day before (and Wisconsin’s loss on November 27 helped Iowa’s path).
- Nine Big Ten teams were bowl-eligible after the regular season: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, and Wisconsin. Rutgers was added as a bowl replacement for the Gator Bowl after Texas A&M withdrew, chosen under Academic Progress Rate regulations.
Postseason and players
- In the 2022 NFL Draft, the top Big Ten pick was Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan, selected second overall by the Detroit Lions.
Coaching changes
- Illinois hired Bret Bielema to replace Lovie Smith as head coach.
Preseason and context
- The preseason media poll, conducted by Cleveland.com, picked Ohio State to win the East Division and the Big Ten Championship.
Notes
- The season featured the usual array of conference awards and honors for standout players across the member schools.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:27 (CET).