The 1997 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen as All-Big Ten Conference players for the 1997 Big Ten Conference football season. The conference recognizes two official All-Big Ten selectors: (1) the Big Ten conference coaches selected separate offensive and defensive units and named first- and second-team players (the "Coaches" team); and (2) a panel of sports writers and broadcasters covering the Big Ten also selected offensive and defensive units and named first- and second-team players (the "Media" team).^[1]

Offensive selections

Quarterbacks

• Billy Dicken, Purdue (Coaches-1; Media-2)
• Brian Griese, Michigan (Coaches-2; Media-1)

Running backs

• Tavian Banks, Iowa (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Curtis Enis, Penn State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (Coaches-2; Media-2)
• Sedrick Irvin, Michigan State (Coaches-2; Media-2)

Center

• Zach Adami, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Derek Rose, Iowa (Coaches-2; Media-2)

Guards

• Phil Ostrowski, Penn State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Steve Hutchinson, Michigan (Coaches-2; Media-1)
• Mike Golf, Iowa (Coaches-1)
• Rob Murphy, Ohio State (Coaches-2; Media-2)
• Scott Shaw, Michigan State (Media-2)

Tackles

• Flozell Adams, Michigan State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Jon Jansen, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-2)
• Eric Gohlstin, Ohio State (Coaches-2; Media-1)
• Jeff Backus, Michigan (Coaches-2; Media-2)

Tight ends

• Jerame Tuman, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Josh Keur, Michigan State (Coaches-2; Media-2)

Receivers

• Brian Alford, Purdue (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• David Boston, Ohio State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Tim Dwight, Iowa (Coaches-2; Media-1)
• Joe Jurevicius, Penn State (Coaches-2; Media-2)
• Tutu Atwell, Minnesota (Coaches-2; Media-2)

Defensive selections

Defensive linemen

• Casey Dailey, Northwestern (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Jared DeVries, Iowa (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Glen Steele, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Lamanzer Williams, Minnesota (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Adewale Ogunleye, Indiana (Coaches-1; Media-2)
• Robaire Smith, Michigan State (Coaches-2; Media-2)
• Josh Williams, Michigan (Coaches-2; Media-2)
• Rosevelt Colvin, Purdue (Media-2)
• Courtney Brown, Penn State (Media-2)
• Tom Burke, Wisconsin (Media-2)

Linebackers

• Barry Gardner, Northwestern (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Ike Reese, Michigan State (Coaches-1; Media-2)
• Sam Sword, Michigan (Coaches-2; Media-1)
• Aaron Collins, Penn State (Coaches-2; Media-2)
• Jim Nelson, Penn State (Coaches-2; Media-2)

Defensive backs

• Marcus Ray, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Antoine Winfield, Ohio State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Charles Woodson, Michigan (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Damon Moore, Ohio State (Coaches-2; Media-1)
• Andre Weathers, Michigan (Coaches-1)
• Amp Campbell, Michigan State (Coaches-2; Media-2)
• Tyrone Carter, Minnesota (Coaches-2; Media-2)
• Eric Collier, Northwestern (Coaches-2; Media)
• Plez Atkins, Iowa (Coaches-2)
• Ray Hill, Michigan State (Media-2)

Special teams

Kickers

• Matt Davenport, Wisconsin (Coaches-1; Media-2)
• Brian Gowins, Northwestern (Coaches-2; Media-1)

Punters

• Brent Bartholomew, Ohio State (Coaches-1; Media-1)
• Jason Vinson, Michigan (Coaches-2)
• Kevin Stemke, Wisconsin (Media-2)

Key