page_title: 1974 Big Ten Conference football season
section_title: Pre-season
hierarchical_section_title: 1974 Big Ten Conference football season / Season overview / Pre-season
caption_attribution_description: English: Gerald Ford's presidential portrait
context_page_description: The 1974 Big Ten Conference football season was the 79th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference and was a part of the 1974 NCAA Division I football season.
  The 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team, under head coach Bo Schembechler, compiled a 10–1 record, tied for the Big Ten championship, led the conference in scoring defense, and was ranked No. 3 in final AP Poll. Cornerback Dave Brown was selected a consensus first-team All-American for the second straight year. Gordon Bell led the team with 1,048 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Quarterback Dennis Franklin finished sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
  The 1974 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, under head coach Woody Hayes, compiled a 10–2 record, tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, led the conference in scoring offense, and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP Poll. The Buckeyes lost to USC, 18–17, in the 1975 Rose Bowl. Running back Archie Griffin totaled 1,695 rushing yards and won the 1974 Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football. Three Buckeyes, Griffin, Kurt Schumacher, and Steve Myers, were selected as consensus first-team All-Americans.
context_section_description: In December 1973, former Michigan football player Gerald Ford was appointed as Vice President of the United States; he ascended to the Presidency in August 1974. Ford drew attention to the Michigan football program as he often had the Naval band play the University of Michigan fight song, The Victors, before state events instead of Hail to the Chief. During Ford's first foreign trip as President in November 1974, Emperor Hirohito of Japan greeted Ford with a military band playing The Victors.
caption: Former Michigan star Gerald Ford ascended to the presidency in August 1974.
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