1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team
The 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen by various organizations for All-Big Ten Conference teams for the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. The only player unanimously selected by the conference coaches as a first-team player was Michigan fullback Russell Davis. Michigan State flanker Kirk Gibson fell one point short of unanimity, and running back Marion Barber, Jr., fell two points short.
Offensive selections
Quarterbacks
Rick Leach, Michigan- Ed Smith, Michigan State
Running backs
Marion Barber, Jr., Minnesota Russell Davis, Michigan- Mike Harkrader, Indiana
- John Macon, Purdue
Flankers/split ends
Kirk Gibson, Michigan State Eugene Byrd, Michigan State- Brad Reid, Iowa
- David Charles, Wisconsin
- Ralph Clayton
Tight ends
Mark Brammer, Michigan State- Doug Marsh, Michigan
- Jimmy Moore, Ohio State
Centers
Mark Heidel, Indiana- Steve Nauta, Michigan
Guards
Ken Fritz, Ohio State- John Arbeznik, Michigan
- Greg Bartnick, Michigan
- Dale Schwan, Purdue
- John LeFeber, Purdue
Tackles
Jon Giesler, Michigan Jim Hinsley, Michigan State- Joe Robinson, Ohio State
- Steve McKenzie, Purdue
- Keith Ferguson, Ohio State
Defensive selections
Defensive linemen
Curtis Greer, Michigan Melvin Land, Michigan State Ken Loushin, Purdue Keena Turner, Purdue- Kelton Dansler, Ohio State
- Stan Sytsma, Minnesota
- Marcus Jackson, Purdue
- Jerry Meter, Michigan
- Dan Relich, Wisconsin
- Jim Ronan, Minnesota
- Byron Cato, Ohio State
- Doug Friberg, Minnesota
Linebackers
Tom Cousineau, Ohio State Joe Norman, Indiana- Ron Simpkins, Michigan
- Dan Bass, Michigan State
- Tom Rusk, Iowa
- John Sullivan, Illinois
Defensive backs
Mike Jolly, Michigan- Tom Graves, Michigan State
- Vince Skillings, Ohio State
- Keith Brown, Minnesota
- Mike Guess, Ohio State
- Mike Harden, Michigan
- Mark Anderson, Michigan State
- Dave Abrams, Indiana
- Pat Geegan, Northwestern
- Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin
Special teams
Placekicker
Paul Rogind, Minnesota- Scott Sovereen, Purdue
- Greg Willner, Michigan
Punter
- Ray Stachowicz, Michigan State
- Tom Orosz, Ohio State
Key
AP = Associated PressUPI = United Press International, selected by the Big Ten Conference coaches