Key AP final = Team's rank in the finalAP Poll of the 1959 season[1] AP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1959 season[1] PPG = Average of points scored per game[1] PAG = Average of points allowed per game[1] MVP = Most valuable player as voted by players on each team as part of the voting process to determine the winner of theChicago Tribune Silver Football trophy; trophy winner in bold
On November 14, 1958,Bennie Oosterbaan resigned as Michigan's head football coach with two games remaining in the program's worst season since 1936.Bump Elliott, who had been Michigan's backfield coach for two years, was hired to replace him.[2]
Shortly before the end of the 1959 season, Illinois head coachRay Eliot retired after 18 years in the position.[3] On December 22, 1959, Illinois hired 33-year-oldPete Elliott as its new head football coach. Elliott had played for Michigan and served as California's head coach from 1957 to 1959.[4]
At the end of the 1959 season, Big Ten players secured three of the 11 consensus first-team picks on the1959 College Football All-America Team.[5] The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:
Four Big Ten players finished among the top 10 in the voting for the 1959Heisman Trophy: offensive linemanBill Burrell of Illinois (fourth); running backDean Look of Michigan State (sixth); quarterbackDale Hackbart of Wisconsin (seventh); and running backRon Burton of Wisconsin (10th).[6]
