Ohio State, under head coach Wes Fesler, compiled a 7–1–2 record and was ranked No.
Halfback Dick Kempthorn was selected as the team's most valuable player, and tackle Alvin Wistert was a consensus first-team All-American.
Minnesota, under head coach Bernie Bierman, finished in third place, compiled a 7–2 record, led the conference in both scoring offense (25.7 points per game) and scoring defense (8.9 points allowed per game), and was ranked No.
Bud Grant and John Lundin were selected as the team's most valuable players.
Tackle Leo Nomellini and center Clayton Tonnemaker were both consensus first-team All-Americans.
In December 1948, conference officials voted unanimously to admit Michigan State College, selecting the Spartans over a competing bid from the University of Pittsburgh.
In December, 1948, Harry Stuhldreher resigned as Wisconsin's head football coach, though he retained his job as athletic director.
[4] Key AP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1949 season[5] AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1949 season[5] PPG = Average of points scored per game[5] PAG = Average of points allowed per game[5] 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; trophy winner in bold[6] On September 24, 1949, the Big Ten football teams played one conference game and seven non-conference games.
[25][26] At the end of the 1949 season, Big Ten players secured three of the consensus first-team picks for the 1949 College Football All-America Team.