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.

Quarterbacks

 * Rick Leach, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Ed Smith, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)

Running backs

 * Marion Barber, Jr., Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1 [tailback])
 * Russell Davis, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1 [fullback])
 * Mike Harkrader, Indiana (AP-2, UPI-2 [tailback])
 * John Macon, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [fullback])

Flankers/split ends

 * Kirk Gibson, Michigan State (AP-1 [flanker]; UPI-1 [wingback])
 * Eugene Byrd, Michigan State (AP-1 [wide receiver]; UPI-1 [split end])
 * Brad Reid, Iowa (AP-2 [wide receiver])
 * David Charles, Wisconsin (AP-2 [flanker]; UPI-2 [split end])
 * Ralph Clayton (UPI-2 [wingback])

Tight ends

 * Mark Brammer, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Doug Marsh, Michigan (AP-2)
 * Jimmy Moore, Ohio State (UPI-2)

Centers

 * Mark Heidel, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Steve Nauta, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2)

Guards

 * Ken Fritz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * John Arbeznik, Michigan (AP-2 [tackle]; UPI-1)
 * Greg Bartnick, Michigan (AP-2, UPI-2)
 * Dale Schwan, Purdue (AP-2)
 * John LeFeber, Purdue (UPI-2)

Tackles

 * Jon Giesler, Michigan (AP-1 [guard]; UPI-1)
 * Jim Hinsley, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Joe Robinson, Ohio State (AP-1)
 * Steve McKenzie, Purdue (AP-2, UPI-2)
 * Keith Ferguson, Ohio State (UPI-2)

Defensive linemen

 * Curtis Greer, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Melvin Land, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Ken Loushin, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Keena Turner, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Kelton Dansler, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2 [defensive end])
 * Stan Sytsma, Minnesota (AP-2; UPI-1)
 * Marcus Jackson, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
 * Jerry Meter, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2 [defensive end])
 * Dan Relich, Wisconsin (AP-2)
 * Jim Ronan, Minnesota (AP-2)
 * Byron Cato, Ohio State (UPI-2 [defensive tackle])
 * Doug Friberg, Minnesota (UPI-2 [defensive guard])

Linebackers

 * Tom Cousineau, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Joe Norman, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Ron Simpkins, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-2)
 * Dan Bass, Michigan State (AP-2)
 * Tom Rusk, Iowa (AP-2; UPI-2)
 * John Sullivan, Illinois (AP-2)

Defensive backs

 * Mike Jolly, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Tom Graves, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-2)
 * Vince Skillings, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)
 * Keith Brown, Minnesota (UPI-1)
 * Mike Guess, Ohio State (UPI-1)
 * Mike Harden, Michigan (UPI-1)
 * Mark Anderson, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2)
 * Dave Abrams, Indiana (AP-2)
 * Pat Geegan, Northwestern (AP-2)
 * Lawrence Johnson, Wisconsin (UPI-2)

Placekicker

 * Paul Rogind, Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1)
 * Scott Sovereen, Purdue (AP-2)
 * Greg Willner, Michigan (UPI-2)

Punter

 * Ray Stachowicz, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-1)
 * Tom Orosz, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2)

Key
AP = Associated Press

UPI = United Press International, selected by the Big Ten Conference coaches