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Big Ten Football Championship Game

College football game held by the Big Ten Conference

Big Ten Football Championship Game

College football game held by the Big Ten Conference

FieldValue
nameBig Ten Football Championship Game
imageBig Ten Football Championship Game Logo.svg
sportFootball
conferenceBig Ten Conference
current_stadiumLucas Oil Stadium
current_locationIndianapolis, Indiana
years2011–present
most_recent2025
current_championIndiana
most_championshipsOhio State (5)
televisionFox (2011–2023, 2025, 2027, 2029)
CBS (2024, 2028)
NBC (2026)
sponsorsDr Pepper (2011–2016)
Discover Card (2017–current)

CBS (2024, 2028) NBC (2026) Discover Card (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, currently matches the top two teams in the conference standings. 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, Indiana has been the site of the championship game since its inception in 2011 and is scheduled to host through 2028. Since 2017, the game's official title has been the Big Ten College Football Championship Game Presented by Discover Card following a sponsorship deal with Discover Financial.

The winner of this game is the Big Ten Champion. The winning team also receives the Stagg Championship Trophy, while the most valuable player of the game receives the Grange–Griffin Championship Game Most Valuable Player Trophy. Through the 2024 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.

[[Lucas Oil Stadium

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, Indiana 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.

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. 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, 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. 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.

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 2024 season.

Conference expansion

The Big Ten expanded to 11 schools by adding Penn State 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 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.

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

The Big Ten expanded further in 2024, first announcing in 2022 that UCLA and USC would join in 2024 and then announcing the next year that Oregon and Washington would join alongside UCLA and USC.

Team selection

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Through the 2023 edition, the participating teams in the game were the first place teams from each of the conference's two divisions. Starting in 2024, the game featured the top two teams in the conference standings.

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. On December 13, 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. 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. 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.

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.

With the conference expanding to 18 teams in 2024 with the arrival of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, the divisions were eliminated effective at that time.

Results

Big Ten Conference}};"Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"Legends DivisionBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"Leaders DivisionBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"SiteBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"AttendanceBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"NetworkBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"Viewers
(millions)Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"TV ratingBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"MVPBig Ten Conference}};"Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"East DivisionBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"West DivisionBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"SiteBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"AttendanceBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"NetworkBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"Viewers
(millions)Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"TV ratingBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"MVPBig Ten Conference}};"Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"No. 1 seedBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"No. 2 seedBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"SiteBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"AttendanceBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"NetworkBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"Viewers
(millions)Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"TV ratingBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=white}}"MVP
201111 Michigan State Spartans39Wisconsin Badgers}}15 [](2011-wisconsin-badgers-football-team)42Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN64,152Fox7.84.6QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin
201214 Nebraska Cornhuskers31Wisconsin Badgers}}7041,2604.93.0RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin
2013Michigan State Spartans}}10 [](2013-michigan-state-spartans-football-team)342 Ohio State Buckeyes2466,00213.97.9QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
2014Ohio State Buckeyes}}5 [](2014-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-team)5913 Wisconsin Badgers0Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN60,229Fox6.13.5QB Cardale Jones, Ohio State
2015Michigan State Spartans}}5 [](2015-michigan-state-spartans-football-team)164 Iowa Hawkeyes1368,2289.85.7QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
2016Penn State Nittany Lions}}7 [](2016-penn-state-nittany-lions-football-team)386 Wisconsin Badgers3165,0189.25.2QB Trace McSorley, Penn State
2017Ohio State Buckeyes}}8 [](2017-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-team)274 Wisconsin Badgers2165,88612.97.3RB J. K. Dobbins, Ohio State
2018Ohio State Buckeyes}}6 [](2018-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-team)4521 Northwestern Wildcats2466,3758.75.0QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
2019Ohio State Buckeyes}}1 [](2019-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-team)348 Wisconsin Badgers2166,64913.63.6QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
2020Ohio State Buckeyes}}4 [](2020-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-team)2214 Northwestern Wildcats103,1788.04.7RB Trey Sermon, Ohio State
2021Michigan Wolverines}}2 [](2021-michigan-wolverines-football-team)4213 Iowa Hawkeyes367,18311.76.2DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2022Michigan Wolverines}}2 [](2022-michigan-wolverines-football-team)43Purdue Boilermakers2267,10710.75.5RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
2023Michigan Wolverines}}2 [](2023-michigan-wolverines-football-team)2616 Iowa Hawkeyes067,84210.05.1DB Mike Sainristil, Michigan
2024Oregon Ducks}}1 ****453 Penn State Nittany Lions37Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN67,469CBS10.55.2WR, Tez Johnson, Oregon
20251 Ohio State Buckeyes10Indiana Hoosiers}}2 ****1368,214Fox18.38.6QB, Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
  • 2011–2013 rankings from the AP Poll released prior to the game.
  • 2014–present rankings from College Football Playoff Poll released prior to the game. 2020 game attendance capped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results by team

AppearancesTeamWinsLossesYear(s) wonYear(s) lostOhio State Buckeyescolor=white}}"Ohio State BuckeyesWisconsin Badgerscolor=white}}"Wisconsin BadgersMichigan Wolverines}}"Michigan WolverinesMichigan State Spartans}}"Michigan State SpartansIowa Hawkeyes}}"Iowa HawkeyesPenn State Nittany Lions}}"Penn State Nittany LionsNorthwestern Wildcatscolor=white}}"Northwestern WildcatsOregon Ducks}}"Oregon DucksIndiana Hoosiers}}"Indiana HoosiersNebraska Cornhuskers}}"Nebraska CornhuskersPurdue Boilermakers}}"Purdue BoilermakersIllinois Fighting Illini}}"Illinois Fighting IlliniMaryland Terrapinscolor=white}}"Maryland TerrapinsMinnesota Golden Gophers}}"Minnesota Golden GophersRutgers Scarlet Knightscolor=white}}"Rutgers Scarlet KnightsUCLA Bruinscolor=white}}"UCLA BruinsUSC Trojans}}"USC TrojansWashington Huskies}}"Washington Huskies
7522014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 20202013, 2025
6242011, 20122014, 2016, 2017, 2019
3302021, 2022, 2023
3212013, 20152011
3032015, 2021, 2023
21120162024
2022018, 2020
1102024
1102025
1012012
1012022
000
000
000
000
000
000
000

Rematches

The Big Ten Football Championship game has featured a rematch of a regular-season game a total of four times (2011, 2012, 2019). The team which won the regular-season game is 1–2 in the rematches, losing in 2011 and 2012 but winning in 2019.

No results by team

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

Media coverage

Television

Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"YearBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"NetworkBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"Play-by-playBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"Color commentator(s)Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"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
2024CBSBrad NesslerGary DanielsonJenny Dell
2025FoxGus JohnsonJoel KlattJenny Taft and Tom Rinaldi

Radio

Big Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"YearBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"NetworkBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"Play-by-playBig Ten Conferenceborder=1color=#ffffff}}"Color commentator(s)
2013Compass Media NetworksGregg DanielsDale Hellestrae
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024Chad Brown
2025

Game records

TeamRecord, Team vs. OpponentYearIndividualRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYearLong PlaysRecord, Player, Team vs. OpponentYearMiscellaneousRecord, Team vs. TeamYear
Most points scored (one team)70, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska2012
Most points scored (losing team)39, Michigan State vs. Wisconsin2011
Fewest points scored (winning team)13, Indiana vs. Ohio State2025
Fewest points scored (losing team)0, Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
Iowa vs. Michigan2014
2023
Most points scored (both teams)101, Wisconsin (70) vs. Nebraska (31)2012
Fewest points scored (both teams)23, Indiana (13) vs. Ohio State (10)2025
Most points scored in a half42, Wisconsin (1st half) vs. Nebraska2012
Most points scored in a half (both teams)55, Oregon vs. Penn State (1st half)2024
Largest margin of victory59, Ohio State (59) vs. Wisconsin (0)2014
Smallest margin of victory3, Wisconsin (42) vs. Michigan State (39)
Michigan State (16) vs. Iowa (13)
Indiana (13) vs. Ohio State (10)2011
2015
2025
Total yards640, Wisconsin (101 passing, 539 rushing) vs. Nebraska2012
Rushing yards539, Wisconsin vs. Nebraska2012
Passing yards499, Ohio State vs. Northwestern2018
First downs31, Ohio State vs. Northwestern2018
Fewest yards allowed155, Iowa vs. Michigan (120 passing, 35 rushing)2023
Fewest rushing yards allowed35, Iowa vs. Michigan2023
Fewest passing yards allowed101, Nebraska vs. Wisconsin
Michigan State vs. Ohio State2012
2013
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 yards181, Tez Johnson, Oregon vs. Penn State2024
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
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
Game attendance68,214, Ohio State vs. Indiana2025

Source:

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, 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.

Notes

References

References

  1. Backas, Will. (July 23, 2024). "Big Ten Championship Game will Remain at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Through 2028 Season". CBS Sports.
  2. (November 7, 2017). "Discover Named Official Credit Card of the Big Ten Conference". BusinessWire.com.
  3. (August 5, 2010). "Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium Selected as Proposed Site for 2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site.
  4. (November 18, 2010). "Soldier Field good bet to host Big Ten title game". ChicagoBreakingSports.com.
  5. "MediaPost Publications Fox Moves to Majority Position in Big Ten Network 08/30/2011". Mediapost.com.
  6. (November 17, 2010). "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.
  7. Axson, Scooby. (2014-05-13). "Big Ten announces future sites for football championship game, basketball tournaments | SI Wire". Tracking.si.com.
  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.
  9. (September 11, 2006). "An Ingenious Inception: Penn State Joins the Big Ten Conference". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site.
  10. Sherman, Ed. (December 10, 1993). "Kansas, Big 10 a good fit?". Chicago Tribune.
  11. (February 19, 1999). "Notre Dame shuns Big Ten, fears losing 'distinctiveness'". National Catholic Reporter.
  12. (June 11, 2010). "University of Nebraska Approved to Join Big Ten Conference by Council of Presidents/Chancellors'". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site.
  13. (November 19, 2012). "University Of Maryland To Join The Big Ten Conference". Big Ten Conference.
  14. (November 20, 2012). "Rutgers University To Join The Big Ten Conference". Big Ten Conference.
  15. (June 30, 2022). "Big Ten Conference Statement". Big Ten Conference.
  16. (August 4, 2023). "University of Oregon and University of Washington to Join Big Ten Conference in 2024". Big Ten Conference.
  17. (September 1, 2010). "Big Ten sets new divisions; splits up Illinois-NU". ChicagoBreakingSports.com.
  18. (December 13, 2010). "Big Ten Conference Reveals New Logo and Honors Football History with Division Names and Trophies". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site.
  19. (August 4, 2011). "Big Ten Schools to Play Nine Conference Games Beginning With 2017 Season". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site.
  20. (April 28, 2013). "Big Ten Announces Football Division Alignments and Move to Nine-Game Conference Schedules". Big Ten Conference.
  21. (December 9, 2020). "Ohio State will Advance to Big Ten Football Championship Game".
  22. (October 4, 2023). "Big Ten Conference Announces Future Football Schedule Formats for 2024-28". Big Ten Conference.
  23. "Nebraska vs. Wisconsin - Game Summary - December 1, 2012 - ESPN".
  24. "Indianapolis to Continue Hosting Big Ten Football Championship Game…".
  25. (September 1, 2011). "Big Ten Conference Football Divisional Tiebreaker". BigTen.org: The Big Ten Conference Official Site.
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