Big Ten Football Championship Game
Encyclopedia
The Big Ten Football Championship Game is a college football
game that will be held by the Big Ten Conference
each year to determine the conference's season champion. The inaugural game will be held on December 3, 2011. The games during the next two seasons will be held on December 1, 2012 and December 6, 2013. The championship game will pit the division champions from the conference's Legends and Leaders divisions in a game held after the regular season has been completed.
The winner of this game will earn the Big Ten's automatic berth in the Rose Bowl Game
, unless the team finishes in the top two of the final Bowl Championship Series
standings. If this is the case, the team will compete in the BCS National Championship Game
. The winner of this game will also receive the Stagg
Championship Trophy (formerly the Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy), and the most valuable player of this game will receive the Grange
-Griffin
Championship Game Most Valuable Player Trophy.
On June 6, 2011, the conference announced that Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will host the title game beginning in 2011, going through 2015. The Michigan State Spartans and the Wisconsin Badgers will play in the first Big Ten Championship Game.
on August 5, 2010 that the Big Ten Conference had chosen Lucas Oil Stadium
in Indianapolis
as the proposed site for the inaugural Big Ten Football 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.
On November 17, 2010, the Big Ten Conference announced a media agreement with FOX Sports
to serve as the official broadcast partner for the 2011-16 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. In the league's press release, it was confirmed that the 2011 event will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The events will be played in prime time. Because FOX is a minority partner in the Big Ten Network, 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. The Big Ten Football Championship Game will be FOX's first non-Cotton Bowl Classic game covered since the 2010 Orange Bowl
, as FOX lost the rights to the Bowl Championship Series to ESPN
starting in 2010.
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, and Cleveland.
in 1990, 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
, and later Notre Dame
) 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 wasn't until December 2009, when Commissioner Delany announced that the league would explore the possibility of adding one or more teams, 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.
On September 1, 2010, Commissioner Delany revealed the two divisions. They were provisionally called X and O.
Later, on December 13, 2010, Commissioner Delany announced that the two divisions would be called Legends and Leaders. 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.
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.
Leaders Division
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game that will be held by the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
each year to determine the conference's season champion. The inaugural game will be held on December 3, 2011. The games during the next two seasons will be held on December 1, 2012 and December 6, 2013. The championship game will pit the division champions from the conference's Legends and Leaders divisions in a game held after the regular season has been completed.
The winner of this game will earn the Big Ten's automatic berth in the Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
, unless the team finishes in the top two of the final Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
standings. If this is the case, the team will compete in the BCS National Championship Game
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
. The winner of this game will also receive the Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
Championship Trophy (formerly the Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy), and the most valuable player of this game will receive the Grange
Red Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
-Griffin
Archie Griffin
Archie Mason Griffin is a former American football running back. Griffin played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner...
Championship Game Most Valuable Player Trophy.
On June 6, 2011, the conference announced that Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will host the title game beginning in 2011, going through 2015. The Michigan State Spartans and the Wisconsin Badgers will play in the first Big Ten Championship Game.
History
Prior to the 2011 college football season, the Big Ten Conference determined its champion through regular season play, and, as there were only 11 member schools, there was no possibility for a conference championship game. In 2010, the Big Ten Conference added the University of Nebraska, bringing the membership total to 12 teams. Thus, with the creation of two six-team divisions, the conference was able to create a football championship game. It was announced by the Big Ten Conference Commissioner James DelanyJames Delany
James E. Delany is the current commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, a role in which he has served since 1989. He is regarded among college athletics as being influential in the creation of the Bowl Championship Series and its maintenance....
on August 5, 2010 that the Big Ten Conference had chosen Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The stadium celebrated its grand opening on August 24, 2008, and its ribbon-cutting ceremony August 16, 2008. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. The stadium was built to...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
as the proposed site for the inaugural Big Ten Football 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.
On November 17, 2010, the Big Ten Conference announced a media agreement with FOX Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
to serve as the official broadcast partner for the 2011-16 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. In the league's press release, it was confirmed that the 2011 event will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The events will be played in prime time. Because FOX is a minority partner in the Big Ten Network, 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. The Big Ten Football Championship Game will be FOX's first non-Cotton Bowl Classic game covered since the 2010 Orange Bowl
2010 Orange Bowl
The 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl game featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida...
, as FOX lost the rights to the Bowl Championship Series to ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
starting in 2010.
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, and Cleveland.
Conference expansion
The Big Ten expanded to 11 schools by adding Penn StatePennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in 1990, but this did not yet meet the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
'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
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, and Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, and later Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
) 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 wasn't until December 2009, when Commissioner Delany announced that the league would explore the possibility of adding one or more teams, 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.
Team selection
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 the two divisions. They were provisionally called X and O.
Later, on December 13, 2010, Commissioner Delany announced that the two divisions would be called Legends and Leaders. 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.
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.
Divisions
Legends Division- Iowa HawkeyesIowa Hawkeyes footballThe Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
- Michigan WolverinesMichigan Wolverines footballThe Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
- Michigan State SpartansMichigan State Spartans footballThe Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
- Minnesota Golden GophersMinnesota Golden Gophers footballThe University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
- Nebraska CornhuskersNebraska Cornhuskers footballThe Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
- Northwestern WildcatsNorthwestern Wildcats footballThe Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
Leaders Division
- Illinois Fighting IlliniIllinois Fighting Illini footballThe Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
- Indiana HoosiersIndiana Hoosiers footballThe Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
- Ohio State BuckeyesOhio State Buckeyes footballThe Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
- Penn State Nittany LionsPenn State Nittany Lions footballThe Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
- Purdue BoilermakersPurdue Boilermakers footballThe Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
- Wisconsin BadgersWisconsin Badgers footballThe Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
Results
| Year | Leaders Division | Legends Division | Site | Attendance | MVP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game The 2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game will be played on December 3, 2011, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, to determine the 2011 football champion of the Big Ten Conference. The game will feature the Wisconsin Badgers and the Michigan State Spartans. This will be the first... |
#15 Wisconsin 2011 Wisconsin Badgers football team The 2011 Wisconsin Badgers football team will represent the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by sixth-year head coach Bret Bielema, are members of the Leaders Division of the Big Ten Conference and will play their home games at Camp... |
#13 Michigan State 2011 Michigan State Spartans football team The 2011 Michigan State Spartans football team competes on behalf of Michigan State University in the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Mark Dantonio is in his fifth season with the Spartans... |
Lucas Oil Stadium Lucas Oil Stadium Lucas Oil Stadium is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The stadium celebrated its grand opening on August 24, 2008, and its ribbon-cutting ceremony August 16, 2008. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. The stadium was built to... , Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
TBD | |||
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. Division standings are based on each team's overall conference record. Teams that are ineligible to play in a postseason bowl game will not be allowed to participate in the Big Ten Football Championship Game. In the event that two teams are tied, the head-to-head results between those two teams determines the tiebreaker.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.- The records of the three tied teams will be compared against each other.
- The records of the three tied teams will be compared within their division.
- The records of the three tied teams will be compared against the next highest placed teams in their division in order of finish (4, 5, and 6).
- The records of the three tied teams will be compared against all common conference opponents.
- The highest ranked team in the first Bowl Championship Series following the completion of the Big Ten regular season conference play will be the representative in the Big Ten Football Championship Game, unless the two highest ranked tied teams are within one place of another. Should this happen, the head-to-head results of the top two tied teams will determine the representative in the Big Ten Championship Game.
- The team with the best overall winning percentage (excluding exempted games) will be the representative.
- The representative will be chosen by random draw.
Procedure in the case of ineligible division champions
If one or both of the division champions are ineligible to play in the championship game, the following procedure will be followed:- If the ineligible team is tied with an eligible team, the eligible team will be the championship game representative.
- If two or more teams are tied with an ineligible team, then the ineligible team is removed and the remaining teams revert to the tie-break procedure.
- If the ineligable team is the sole division winner, the division runner-up shall be the championship game representative.
- If there is a division runner-up tie, then the tied teams will revert to the tie-break procedure.
Procedure in the case of no championship game
If the championship game cannot be played for reasons beyond the control of the Big Ten Conference, the two division champions (using the previously stated divisional tie-breakers) will be declared co-champions and the following procedure will determine the Big Ten Conference representative to the Bowl Championship Series:- Teams ranked either first or second in the final Bowl Championship Series standings will be placed in the BCS National Championship Game.
- If the two division champions met previously in the regular season and neither is ranked first or second in the final BCS standings, the team ranked higher in the final BCS standings will be the representative to the BCS, unless the other team is ranked within five or fewer places of the higher ranked team. In this case, the head-to-head results of the two teams will determine the Big Ten's BCS representative.
- If the two division champions did not meet previously in the regular season, the team ranked higher in the final BCS standings will be the BCS representative.
- If the two teams are tied in the final BCS standings, the team with the better overall Big Ten record shall be the BCS representative.
- If the two teams remain tied after (4), the team with the better combined record of the tied teams against all common Big Ten opponents each team played that season shall be the BCS representative.
- If the two teams remain tied after (5), the BCS representative will be the team with the better overall winning percentage.
- If the two teams remain tied after (6), the BCS representative will be the team further removed from BCS participation.
- If the two teams remain tied after (7), the BCS representative will be determined by a random draw.