The 1972 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen by various organizations for All-Big Ten Conference teams for the 1972 Big Ten Conference football season. The teams selected by the Big Ten coaches for the United Press International (UPI) were led by Michigan with seven first-team selections, Michigan State with five first-team selections, and Ohio State with four first-team selections.^[1]

• Mike Wells, Illinois (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Dennis Franklin, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2)

• Otis Armstrong, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Rufus Ferguson, Wisconsin (AP-1; UPI-2)
• John King, Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-2)
• Ed Shuttlesworth, Michigan (UPI-1)
• Harold Henson, Ohio State (AP-2; UPI-2)
• Greg Boykin, Northwestern (AP-2)
• Ken Starling, Indiana (AP-2)

• Glenn Scolnik, Indiana (AP-1 [end]; UPI-1)

• Jim Lash, Northwestern (UPI-1)
• Garvin Roberson, Illinois (AP-2 [end]; UPI-2)

• Steve Craig, Northwestern (AP-1 [end]; UPI-1)
• Billy Joe DuPree, Michigan State (AP-2 [end]; UPI-1)

• Paul Seymour, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
• John Hicks, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Bill Geiger, Indiana (AP-2)
• John Muller, Iowa (AP-2)
• Jim Coode, Michigan (UPI-2)
• James Nicholson, Michigan State (UPI-2)

• Joe DeLamielleure, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Tom Coyle, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Charles Bonica, Ohio State (AP-2; UPI-1)
• Keith Nosbusch, Wisconsin (AP-2; UPI-2)

• Larry McCarren, Illinois (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Bill Hart, Michigan (AP-2)
• Mike Webster, Wisconsin (UPI-2)

• Steve Baumgartner, Purdue (AP-1 [front four]; UPI-1 [end])
• Dave Butz, Purdue (AP-1 [front four]; UPI-1 [tackle])
• Fred Grambau, Michigan (AP-1 [front four]; UPI-1 [tackle])
• George Hasenohrl, Ohio State (AP-1 [front four]; UPI-1 [tackle])
• Clint Spearman, Michigan (UPI-1 [end])
• Gary Van Elst, Michigan State (AP-2 [front four]; UPI-2 [tackle])
• Larry Allen, Illinois (UPI-2 [end])
• Jim Anderson, Northwestern (AP-2 [front four])
• Tab Bennett, Illinois (AP-2 [front four])
• Brian McConnell, Michigan State (UPI-2 [end])

• Gregg Bingham, Purdue (AP-1 [middle guard]; UPI-1)
• Gail Clark, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Randy Gradishar, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Dave Lokanc, Wisconsin (AP-1; UPI-2)
• Mike Fulk, Indiana (AP-2; UPI-2)
• Tom Kee, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-2)
• Andre Jackson, Iowa (AP-2)

• Randy Logan, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Bill Simpson, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Brad Van Pelt, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1)
• Dave Brown, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-1)
• Rick Penney, Iowa (AP-2)
• Tim Alderson, Minnesota (UPI-2)
• Earl Houthitt, Iowa (UPI-2)
• Richard Seifert, Ohio State (UPI-2)
• Greg Strunk, Northwestern (AP-2; UPI-2)

AP = Associated Press, selected by the AP's Midwest Football Board^[2]

UPI = United Press International, selected by the Big Ten Conference coaches^[1]

Bold = Consensus first-team selection of AP and UPI

• 1972 College Football All-America Team