The 2017 Big Ten conference football season is the 122nd season of college football play for the Big Ten Conference and is part of the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was the Big Ten's fourth season with 14 teams. The defending league champion was the 2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team. The 2017 season consisted of a nine–game conference schedule for the second year in a row. Nebraska football coach Mike Riley was relieved from his position following the conclusion of Nebraska's 2017 season.