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Big Ten Football: Ranking the 30 best players of all time

By Quinn Douglas

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Rain pours into the tunnel before a college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game is currently delayed because of thunder. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Rain pours into the tunnel before a college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game is currently delayed because of thunder. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Tom Harmon Career Statistics, 1938-1940

  • Games Played: 24
  • Carries: 398
  • Rushing Yards: 2,134
  • Rushing Yards per Game: 88.9
  • Yards per Carry: 5.4
  • Completions: 101
  • Pass Attempts: 233
  • Passing Yards: 1,399
  • Interceptions: 6
  • Total Touchdowns: 36
  • Notables: 1940 Heisman Trophy, 1940 Maxwell Award, 1940 AP Male Athlete of the Year, 1940 Chicago Tribune Silver Football, 1939 & 1940 Consensus All-American, 1938-1940 First Team All-Big Ten, #98 retired by Michigan.

Not many players from Michigan say they have been embraced by the Ohio State faithful, let alone receive a standing ovation at Ohio Stadium. One Wolverine has done that, and he is the ambiguous Tom Harmon. Harmon was a true triple threat player, as he accumulated 3,533 yards of offense in his career, caught six interceptions and was a placekicker his entire career.

Related Story: Michigan Football: Way-too-early 2018 game-by-game predictions

Harmon played right away as a sophomore in 1938, rushing for 398 yards on 77 carries and also threw 310 yards. His numbers continued to improve all the way to his senior season in 1940, where he rushed for 844 yards and 15 touchdowns and threw for 506 yards and six touchdowns. His five touchdown performance against Ohio State in 1940 is still considered one of the greatest in Ohio Stadium history, which led to a standing ovation from the crowd of 80,000-plus.

Harmon won many awards following his 1940 season. He won the 1940 Heisman Trophy in a landslide and was also named AP Male Athlete of the Year and won the Maxwell Award as well. Following a five-year military service, Harmon played two seasons for the Los Angeles Rams before retiring.

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