Big Ten Football Championship Game
SportFootball
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Current stadiumLucas Oil Stadium
Current locationIndianapolis, Indiana
Played2011–present
Last contest2023
Current championMichigan
Most championshipsOhio State (5)
TV partner(s)Fox (2011–2023, 2025, 2027, 2029)
CBS (2024, 2028)
NBC (2026)
Sponsors
Dr Pepper (2011–2016)
Discover (2017–current)

The Big Ten Football Championship Game is a college football game held by the Big Ten Conference each year to determine the conference's season champion. The game, held after the regular season has been completed, matches the division champions from the conference's West and East divisions. It is typically held the first Saturday of December, although in 2020 it was played on the third Saturday of December due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis has been the site of the championship game since its inception in 2011 and is scheduled to host through 2024.[1] Since 2017, the game's official title has been the Big Ten College Football Championship Game Presented by Discover following a sponsorship deal with Discover Financial.[2]

The winner of this game earns the Big Ten's automatic berth in the Rose Bowl Game, unless the team is selected to play in the four-team College Football Playoff and/or the Rose Bowl is one of the playoff semi-finals. The winning team also receives the Stagg Championship Trophy, while the most valuable player of the game receives the GrangeGriffin Championship Game Most Valuable Player Trophy. Through the 2022 game, Wisconsin and Ohio State have the most appearances in the game with six, while Ohio State has the most wins with five.

History

Prior to the 2011 college football season, the Big Ten Conference determined its conference representative through regular season play, and, as there were only 11 member schools, there was no possibility for a conference championship game because, at the time, the NCAA required that a conference have 12 teams with two divisions in order to hold a conference championship game.

In 2010, the Big Ten Conference added the University of Nebraska, bringing the membership total to 12 teams. Thus, the conference was able to meet NCAA requirements. On August 5, 2010, Big Ten Conference Commissioner James Delany announced that Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis had been chosen as the possible site for the inaugural championship game. The league office began a 30-day period to negotiate a one-year agreement with Indiana Sports Corp and Lucas Oil Stadium to host the game. Delany also announced that once the 2011 agreement was in place, the conference office would conduct a thorough process over the next year to determine the location of the Big Ten Football Championship Game in 2012 and beyond.[3]

On November 17, 2010, the Big Ten Conference announced a media agreement with Fox Sports to serve as the official broadcast partner for the 2011–2016 Big Ten Football Championship Games. A source at the time stated that the six-year agreement with Fox Sports would be worth between $20–$25 million per season, making it one of the most valuable conference championship games in college football.[4] In the league's press release, it was confirmed that the 2011 event would take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in prime time. Because Fox is a majority partner in the Big Ten Network,[5] this may allow for the possibility of more involvement by the Big Ten Network in the event, including the use of Big Ten Network staff in the game coverage.[6] Commissioner Delany also stated at that time that the Big Ten would strongly consider rotating the site of the game, mentioning other possible host cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Green Bay, and Cleveland.[4]

On June 5, 2014, the Big Ten Conference announced via press release that the Big Ten Football Championship game would continue to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium through the 2021 season. [7][8]

Conference expansion

The Big Ten expanded to 11 schools by adding Penn State in 1990,[9] but this did not yet meet the NCAA's requirements for holding a conference championship game (that the conference have 12 teams with two divisions). A few other times during that period, there were talks between the Big Ten and other schools (namely, Kansas, Missouri, and Rutgers,[10] and later Notre Dame[11]) which might have led to the possibility of a conference with two divisions of at least six teams and a conference championship, but for various reasons, nothing came to fruition.

It was not until December 2009, when Commissioner Delany announced that the league would explore the possibility of adding one or more institutions, that the wheels were set in motion that would lead to the Big Ten adding a school for the first time in 20 years. Less than a year later, on June 11, 2010, Nebraska applied for membership and was unanimously accepted by the conference's 11 member schools. Its membership became effective on July 1, 2011.[12]

In November 2012, the Big Ten announced that Maryland[13] and Rutgers[14] would join the conference in 2014, which brought conference membership up to 14 schools.

Team selection

– East division
– West division
– Championship Game site

The two participating teams in the game are the first place teams from each of the conference's two divisions.

After the addition of Nebraska to the conference, there was much debate over what would be the best division of the 12 schools. Some felt that it would be best to maintain geographical divisions. Others felt that geography should only be a factor insofar as there was competitive balance between the two divisions. Another very important factor for Big Ten schools was the maintenance of long-standing rivalries that the schools held with each other.

On September 1, 2010, Commissioner Delany revealed how the teams would be placed into the two divisions.[15] On December 13, Commissioner Delany announced that the two divisions would be called Legends and Leaders.[16] The scheduling arrangement for the schools was that they would face each of the other schools in their division, plus three crossover opponents, one of which would be permanent. The permanent crossover opponent would be used to ensure that long standing historical rivalries would continue.

On August 4, 2011, the Big Ten Conference announced that there would be a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2017, allowing schools to play four crossover opponents.[17] However, the Big Ten and Pac-12 later announced a multi-sport scheduling agreement that provides for each member school to play one non-conference football game per year against an opponent from the other conference, and with this announcement, the Big Ten backed away from the nine-game conference schedule proposal.

Following the 2014 entry of Maryland and Rutgers, the "Leaders" and "Legends" divisions were set aside and replaced by geographic divisions, with the schools in the Central Time Zone plus Purdue forming the new West Division, and the remaining members forming the East Division. In addition, the conference adopted a nine-game schedule beginning in 2016.[18]

In December 2020, the Big Ten Conference waived the six-game minimum requirement for a team to participate in the championship game; Ohio State, which had a 5–0 record after playing a limited schedule impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, would otherwise have been ineligible to participate.[19] The Big Ten stated, "The decision was based on a competitive analysis which determined that Ohio State would have advanced to the Big Ten Football Championship Game based on its undefeated record and head-to-head victory over Indiana regardless of a win or loss against Michigan."[19]

Results

Year Legends Division Leaders Division Site Attendance Network Viewers
(millions)
TV rating MVP
2011 11 Michigan State Spartans39 15 Wisconsin Badgers42 Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
64,152 Fox 7.8 4.6 QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin
2012 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers31 Wisconsin Badgers[n 1]70 41,260[20] 4.9 3.0 RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin
2013 10 Michigan State Spartans34 2 Ohio State Buckeyes24 66,002 13.9 7.9 QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
Year East Division West Division Attendance Network Viewers
(millions)
TV rating MVP
2014 5 Ohio State Buckeyes59 13 Wisconsin Badgers0 60,229 Fox 6.1 3.5 QB Cardale Jones, Ohio State
2015 5 Michigan State Spartans16 4 Iowa Hawkeyes13 66,985 9.8 5.7 QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
2016 7 Penn State Nittany Lions38 6 Wisconsin Badgers31 65,018 9.2 5.2 QB Trace McSorley, Penn State
2017 8 Ohio State Buckeyes27 4 Wisconsin Badgers21 65,886 12.9 7.3 RB J. K. Dobbins, Ohio State
2018 6 Ohio State Buckeyes45 21 Northwestern Wildcats24 66,375 8.7 5.0 QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
2019 1 Ohio State Buckeyes 34 8 Wisconsin Badgers 21 66,649 13.6 3.6 QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
2020 4 Ohio State Buckeyes 22 14 Northwestern Wildcats 10 3,178 8.0 4.7 RB Trey Sermon, Ohio State
2021 2 Michigan Wolverines 42 13 Iowa Hawkeyes 3 67,183 11.7 6.2 DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2022 2 Michigan Wolverines 43 Purdue Boilermakers 22 67,107 10.7 5.5 RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
2023 2 Michigan Wolverines 26 16 Iowa Hawkeyes 0 67,842 10.0 5.1 DB Mike Sainristil, Michigan

2020 game attendance capped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Common matchups

Matchups that have occurred more than once in the division era:

# of Times East Division West Division Record Years Played
3 Ohio State Wisconsin Ohio State, 3–0 2014, 2017, 2019
2 Ohio State Northwestern Ohio State, 2–0 2018, 2020
2 Michigan Iowa Michigan, 2–0 2021, 2023

Results by team

Appearances School Wins Losses Year(s) won Year(s) lost
6 Ohio State 5 1 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 2013
6 Wisconsin 2 4 2011, 2012 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
3 Iowa 0 3 2015, 2021, 2023
3 Michigan 3 0 2021, 2022, 2023
3 Michigan State 2 1 2013, 2015 2011
2 Northwestern 0 2 2018, 2020
1 Penn State 1 0 2016
1 Nebraska 0 1 2012
1 Purdue 0 1 2022

Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota and Rutgers have yet to make an appearance in a Big Ten Football Championship Game.

Media coverage

Television

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s)
2011FoxGus JohnsonCharles DavisTim Brewster and Dhani Jones
2012Julie Alexandria
2013Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink
2014Molly McGrath
2015Joel Klatt
2016Shannon Spake
2017Jenny Taft
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022Allison Williams
2023Jenny Taft

Radio

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s)
2013Compass Media NetworksGregg DanielsDale Hellestrae
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022

Game records

Team Record, Team vs. Opponent Year
Most points scored (one team) 70, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska 2012
Most points scored (losing team) 39, Michigan State vs. Wisconsin 2011
Fewest points scored (winning team) 16, Michigan State vs. Iowa 2015
Fewest points scored 0, Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
Iowa vs. Michigan
2014
2023
Most points scored (both teams) 101, Wisconsin (70) vs. Nebraska (31) 2012
Fewest points scored (both teams) 26, Michigan (26) vs. Iowa (0) 2023
Most points scored in a half 42, Wisconsin (1st half) vs. Nebraska 2012
Most points scored in a half (both teams) 52, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska (1st half) 2012
Largest margin of victory 59, Ohio State (59) vs. Wisconsin (0) 2014
Smallest margin of victory 3, Wisconsin (42) vs. Michigan State (39)
Michigan State (16) vs. Iowa (13)
2011
2015
Total yards 640, Wisconsin (101 passing, 539 rushing) vs. Nebraska 2012
Rushing yards 539, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska 2012
Passing yards 499, Ohio State vs. Northwestern 2018
First downs 31, Ohio State vs. Northwestern 2018
Fewest yards allowed 155, Iowa vs. Michigan (120 passing, 35 rushing) 2023
Fewest rushing yards allowed 35, Iowa vs. Michigan 2023
Fewest passing yards allowed 101, Nebraska vs. Wisconsin
Michigan State vs. Ohio State
2012
2013
Individual Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
All-purpose yards494, Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State vs. Northwestern2018
Touchdowns (all-purpose)5, shared by:
James White, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State vs. Northwestern
 
2012
2018
Rushing yards331, Trey Sermon, Ohio State vs. Northwestern2020
Rushing touchdowns4, James White, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska2012
Passing yards499, Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State vs. Northwestern2018
Passing touchdowns5, Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State vs. Northwestern2018
Receiving yards162, Charlie Jones, Purdue vs. Michigan2022
Receiving touchdowns3, shared by:
B.J. Cunningham, Michigan State vs. Wisconsin
Devin Smith, Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
 
2011
2014
Tackles16, Jerome Baker, Ohio State vs. Wisconsin2017
Sacks3, shared by:
Denicos Allen, Michigan State vs. Wisconsin
Chase Young, Ohio State vs. Northwestern
 
2011
2018
Interceptions2, shared by:
Doran Grant, Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
Will Johnson, Michigan vs. Purdue
 
2014
2022
Field Goals Made5, (5 att.) Mitchell Fineran, Purdue vs. Michigan2022
Long Plays Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent Year
Touchdown run81, Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Wisconsin2014
Touchdown pass85, Tevaun Smith from C. J. Beathard, Iowa vs. Michigan State2015
Kickoff return44, Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin vs. Michigan State2011
Punt return87, Semaj Morgan, Michigan vs. Iowa2023
Interception return37, Doran Grant, Ohio State vs. Wisconsin2014
Fumble return17, Travis Willock, Northwestern vs. Ohio State2018
Punt73, Cameron Johnston, Ohio State vs. Wisconsin2014
Field goal50, James Turner, Michigan vs. Iowa2023
Miscellaneous Record, Team vs. Team Year
Game attendance67,842, Iowa vs. Michigan2023

Source:[21]

Selection criteria

On September 1, 2011, the Big Ten Conference announced the divisional tiebreaker procedures that will be used to determine the representatives in the championship game.[22] Division standings are based on each team's overall conference record, excluding teams ineligible for postseason because of sanctions. In the event that two teams are tied, the head-to-head results between those two teams determines the tiebreaker. Unlike the Southeastern Conference, whose rules were established before NCAA overtime and has provisions in case the two tied teams' game is either canceled or tied because of inclement weather (NCAA rules permit drawn games if, after three periods have been played, a game is tied when the game is called off because of inclement weather, including reaching curfew), the Big Ten does not have a policy in case the head-to-head result is a tie because of inclement weather.

Three or more-team tiebreaker procedure

If only two teams remain after any of the following steps, the tiebreaker will revert to the two-team tiebreaker above.

  1. The records of the three or more tied teams will be compared against each other.
  2. The records of the three or more tied teams will be compared within their division.
  3. The records of the three or more tied teams will be compared against the next highest placed teams in their division in order of finish (4, 5, 6, and 7).
  4. The records of the three or more tied teams will be compared against all common conference opponents.
  5. The team with the best overall winning percentage (excluding exempted games) will be the representative.
  6. The representative will be chosen by random draw.

See also

Notes

  1. Both first place Ohio State and second place Penn State received postseason bans, thus third place Wisconsin represented the Leaders Division.

References

  1. Lind, Andrew (April 20, 2022). "Big Ten Championship Game to Remain in Indianapolis Through at Least 2024 Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  2. "Discover Named Official Credit Card of the Big Ten Conference". BusinessWire.com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. "Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium Selected as Proposed Site for 2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site. August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Soldier Field good bet to host Big Ten title game". ChicagoBreakingSports.com. November 18, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  5. "MediaPost Publications Fox Moves to Majority Position in Big Ten Network 08/30/2011". Mediapost.com. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  6. "Big Ten Announces Media Agreement with Fox Sports to Televise 2011-16 Big Ten Football Championship Games". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site. November 17, 2010. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  7. Axson, Scooby (2014-05-13). "Big Ten announces future sites for football championship game, basketball tournaments | SI Wire". Tracking.si.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  8. "Big Ten Announces Extension of Football Championship Games in Indianapolis and Basketball Tournaments in Chicago and Indianapolis - BIG TEN CONFERENCE Official Athletic Site". Bigten.org. Archived from the original on 2014-08-20. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  9. "An Ingenious Inception: Penn State Joins the Big Ten Conference". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site. September 11, 2006. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  10. Sherman, Ed (December 10, 1993). "Kansas, Big 10 a good fit?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  11. "Notre Dame shuns Big Ten, fears losing 'distinctiveness'". National Catholic Reporter. February 19, 1999. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  12. "University of Nebraska Approved to Join Big Ten Conference by Council of Presidents/Chancellors'". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site. June 11, 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  13. "University Of Maryland To Join The Big Ten Conference" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. November 19, 2012. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  14. "Rutgers University To Join The Big Ten Conference" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. November 20, 2012. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  15. "Big Ten sets new divisions; splits up Illinois-NU". ChicagoBreakingSports.com. September 1, 2010. Archived from the original on September 4, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  16. "Big Ten Conference Reveals New Logo and Honors Football History with Division Names and Trophies". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  17. "Big Ten Schools to Play Nine Conference Games Beginning With 2017 Season". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site. August 4, 2011. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  18. "Big Ten Announces Football Division Alignments and Move to Nine-Game Conference Schedules" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. April 28, 2013. Archived from the original on August 4, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Ohio State will Advance to Big Ten Football Championship Game". bigten.org. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  20. "Nebraska vs. Wisconsin - Game Summary - December 1, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  21. "2021 Big Ten Football Media Guide" (PDF). bigten.org. pp. 18–23. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  22. "Big Ten Conference Football Divisional Tiebreaker". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
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