Jeff Brown rushed for 176 yards and caught five passes in his first start as Iowa's tailback.
After the game, coach Lee Corso called Johnson "the best all-around back in the Big Ten.
"[24] Indiana defeated Wisconsin, 24–0, in front of a homecoming crowd of 51,029 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
Indiana's defense held Wisconsin to 204 yards of total offense (only 65 in the second half) and had seven tackles for loss.
Michigan totaled 349 rushing yards, including 152 by Butch Woolfolk and 123 by Lawrence Ricks.
Quarterback Tim Clifford was knocked out of the game in the first half by "a savage blindside tackle" by Jeff Schuh.
Indiana tailback Lonnie Johnson rushed for a school record 237 yards on 37 carries.
Illinois quarterback Dave Wilson kept the game close as he passed for 403 yards and three touchdowns.
On November 22, in the annual battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, Purdue defeated Indiana, 24–23, in West Lafayette.