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2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game


FieldValue
game_nameBig Ten Football Championship Game
subheaderConference Championship
image2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game Logo.svg
captionChampionship Game Logo
date_game_playedDecember 1
year_game_played2012
football_season2012
stadiumLucas Oil Stadium
cityIndianapolis, Indiana
visitor_schoolUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
visitor_name_shortNebraska
visitor_nicknameCornhuskers
visitor_record10–2
visitor_rank_AP14
visitor_rank_coaches13
visitor_rank_BCS12
visitor_coachBo Pelini
visitor_1q10
visitor_2q0
visitor_3q7
visitor_4q14
home_schoolUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
home_name_shortWisconsin
home_nicknameBadgers
home_record7–5
home_coachBret Bielema
home_1q21
home_2q21
home_3q21
home_4q7
MVPMontee Ball, Wisconsin
oddsNebraska by 12
refereeJohn O'Neill
halftimeUniversity of Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band, University of Wisconsin Marching Band
attendance41,260
us_networkFox
us_announcersGus Johnson, (Play-by-play) Charles Davis (Color Analyst) and Julie Alexandria (Sideline Reporter)
ratings3.0 (4.9 million viewers)

The 2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game was a college football game. It was played on December 1, 2012, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, to determine the 2012 champion of the Big Ten Conference. It was played between the Wisconsin Badgers of the Leaders Division and the Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Legends Division. Wisconsin defeated Nebraska, 70–31.

The game was the second football championship game ever played in the Big Ten's 116-year history; the Big Ten expanded to twelve teams the year before thus becoming eligible under NCAA rules which, at that time, required conferences to have a membership of at least 12 to have a conference championship game. The game was played in prime time and televised by Fox, with kickoff scheduled for 8:17 p.m. Eastern Time. In only the second year of the Big Ten Championship game, one team entered the game unranked in the BCS standings, AP poll, and Coaches' poll.

Teams

The two teams faced each other in the regular season, with Nebraska winning 30–27.

Nebraska

Main article: 2012 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

The Cornhuskers, led by fifth-year head coach Bo Pelini, finished the regular season as the champion of the Legends Division. Nebraska finished the regular season with an overall record of 10–2 and a Big Ten record of 7–1; the team's lone conference loss was against Ohio State, 63–38.

To date, this is Nebraska's lone appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Wisconsin

Main article: 2012 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Wisconsin finished third place in the Leaders division, but division champion Ohio State and second-place Penn State were ineligible to play in the championship game because of postseason bans. Teams that play in the conference championship game must be eligible for the postseason. The Badgers lost to both Ohio State and Penn State in the regular season, with both losses coming in overtime.

The 2012 Big Ten football championship game would be the last time Bret Bielema coached the Badgers. He departed Wisconsin three days after the Big Ten championship game to accept the head coaching position at Arkansas. Wisconsin's Athletic Director, and former football head coach, Barry Alvarez went on to coach the Badgers at the 2013 Rose Bowl against Stanford.

Scoring summary

No. 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin Badgers First quarter

  • WIS – Melvin Gordon 56-yard run (Kyle French kick), 13:01. ''Badgers 7–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:59.'''''
  • WIS – Marcus Cromartie 29-yard interception return (Kyle French kick), 12:53. Badgers 14–0.
  • NEB – Taylor Martinez 76-yard run (Brett Maher kick), 10:58. ''Badgers 14–7. '''Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:55.'''''
  • NEB – Brett Maher 32-yard field goal, 4:46. ''Badgers 14–10. '''Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:30.'''''
  • WIS – James White 9-yard run (Kyle French kick), 1:01. ''Badgers 21–10. '''Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:45.''''' Second quarter
  • WIS – James White 1-yard run (Kyle French kick), 11:11. ''Badgers 28–10. '''Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 3:07.'''''
  • WIS – Montee Ball 16-yard run (Kyle French kick), 7:15. ''Badgers 35–10. '''Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 2:32.'''''
  • WIS – Sam Arneson 3-yard pass from James White (Kyle French kick), 0:02. ''Badgers 42–10. '''Drive: 4 plays, 79 yards, 0:59.''''' Third quarter
  • WIS – Montee Ball 9-yard run (Jack Russell kick), 14:13. ''Badgers 49–10. '''Drive: 1 play, 9 yards, 0:05.'''''
  • NEB – Taylor Martinez 11-yard run (Brett Maher kick), 10:47. ''Badgers 49–17. '''Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:26.'''''
  • WIS – Montee Ball 57-yard run (Jack Russell kick), 9:27. ''Badgers 56–17. '''Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:20.'''''
  • WIS – James White 68-yard run (Jack Russell kick), 6:42. ''Badgers 63–17. '''Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:55.''''' Fourth quarter
  • NEB – Braylon Heard 9-yard run (Brett Maher kick), 12:14. ''Badgers 63–24. '''Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 4:12.'''''
  • WIS – James White 10-yard (Jack Russell kick), 8:57. ''Badgers 70–24. '''Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:17.'''''
  • NEB – Imani Cross 26-yard run (Brett Maher kick), 0:51. ''Badgers 70–31. '''Drive: 9 plays, 82 yards, 3:58.'''''

Statistics

Team statistics

StatisticsNebraska Cornhuskers}}"NEBWisconsin Badgerscolor=white}}"WIS
First downs2324
Third down efficiency6 of 165 of 9
Fourth down efficiency1 of 20 of 0
Total yards477640
Rushes–yards44–28250–539
Yards per rush6.410.8
Yards passing195101
Pass completions–attempts18–348–10
Interceptions thrown20
Fumbles–lost2–10–0
Penalties–yards4–404–51
Time of possession30:0629:45

Individual statistics

Nebraska Cornhuskers}}"Cornhuskers passingC–AYdsTDINTNebraska Cornhuskers}}"Cornhuskers rushingCarYdsTDAvgNebraska Cornhuskers}}"Cornhuskers receivingRecYdsTDAvg
Taylor Martinez17–3318402
Rex Burkhead1–11100
Taylor Martinez1918427.4
Rex Burkhead116105.5
Imani Cross335111.7
Braylon Heard62814.7
Ameer Abdullah51803.6
Jamal Turner563012.6
Quincy Enunwa551010.2
Kyler Reed229014.5
Rex Burkhead21809.0
Kenny Bell21407.0
Ameer Abdullah111011.0
Ben Cotton1909.0
Wisconsin Badgerscolor=white}}"Badgers passingC–AYdsTDINTWisconsin Badgerscolor=white}}"Badgers rushingCarYdsTDAvgWisconsin Badgerscolor=white}}"Badgers receivingRecYdsTDAvg
Curt Phillips6–87100
Jared Abbrederis1–12700
James White1–1310
Melvin Gordon9216124.0
Montee Ball2120239.6
James White1510947.3
Kenzel Doe112012.0
Curt Phillips2301.5
Jared Abbrederis229014.5
Curt Phillips127027.0
James White122022.0
Derek Watt110010.0
Jacob Pederson1909.0
Sam Arneson1313.0
Jeff Duckworth1101.0

Sources:

Records

Montee Ball took over as the record holder for Football Bowl Subdivision "career rushing touchdowns record" from Travis Prentice with 76 touchdowns (Ball scored one touchdown in the 2013 Rose Bowl thus extending the record). Wisconsin set multiple school records in the game; first by scoring eight rushing touchdowns during the game. The second school record for Wisconsin was having two 200-yard rushers in one game. Nebraska set a record for the most rushing touchdowns allowed in a game. Wisconsin's redshirt freshman running back Melvin Gordon ran for a career-high of 216 yards on just nine possessions, averaging 24 yards per carry.

References

References

  1. "No. 17 Nebraska beats Iowa 13-7, advances to Big Ten championship game vs. Wisconsin as Rex Burkhead scores TD in return from injury - College Football News | FOX Sports on MSN".
  2. (2012-12-01). "Ball helps Badgers rush past No. 14 Nebraska 70–31". [[Sports Illustrated]].
  3. (2010-11-17). "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.
  4. Lesmerises, Doug. (September 5, 2012). "Ohio State can win Leaders Division title and earn trophy, despite postseason ban". [[The Plain Dealer]].
  5. (November 17, 2012). "Ohio State stays perfect after beating Wisconsin in OT". [[Associated Press]].
  6. (2012-12-15). "Bret Bielema, head coach of Wisconsin Badgers, accepts position to coach Arkansas Razorbacks – ESPN". Espn.go.com.
  7. (2012-12-04). "University To Introduce New Coach Bielema Wednesday". 5NEWSOnline.com.
  8. (2012-12-01). "Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin Badgers – Box Score – December 01, 2012 – ESPN". [[ESPN]].
  9. CBSSports.com wire reports. "NCAA College Football Recap – Nebraska Cornhuskers at Wisconsin Badgers – Dec 01, 2012". CBSSports.com.
  10. Regimbal, David. "Big Ten Championship: Nebraska vs. Wisconsin Live Scores, Analysis and Results".
  11. "Postgame Notes: Big Ten Championship Game – UWBadgers.com – The Official Athletic Site of the Wisconsin Badgers". UWBadgers.com.
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