The Big 10 Championship Game: Who’s Playing?
The Big Ten Conference is the oldest Division I college athletic conference in the United States. It is made up of 14 universities and is home to some of the most competitive teams in the country. The Big Ten Championship Game is the annual college football game held between the two division champions of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most highly anticipated college football games of the year and draws in thousands of viewers each year.
This year, the Big Ten Championship Game will be played on Saturday, December 19th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The game will be broadcast on FOX, with coverage starting at 8 pm ET. This year’s matchup will feature the No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers and the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the representatives of the Big Ten West Division. Under the guidance of head coach Paul Chryst, the Badgers have been one of the most successful teams in the conference. Coming into the Big Ten Championship Game, the Badgers have a strong winning streak, having won nine of their last ten games.
The Badgers have been led by their star quarterback, Graham Mertz. Mertz has had a remarkable season, throwing for 2,327 yards and 12 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He is also second in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 294.3 yards per game. On the ground, the Badgers are led by running back Nakia Watson, who has rushed for 918 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes represent the Big Ten East Division and come into the game with an impressive 11-0 record. The Buckeyes have been led by their star quarterback, Justin Fields, who has thrown for 2,656 yards and 37 touchdowns with only one interception. The Buckeyes have also seen success on the ground, with running back Trey Sermon leading the way with 1,096 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
The Buckeyes have also been dominant on defense, allowing the fewest points in the Big Ten and the second fewest in the country. Led by defensive end Jonathon Cooper, the Buckeyes have been able to shut down opposing offenses this season.
Key Players to Watch
The Big Ten Championship Game is sure to be an exciting matchup between two of the best teams in the conference. Here are some of the key players to watch in the game:
- Wisconsin Badgers:
- QB Graham Mertz
- RB Nakia Watson
- WR Kendric Pryor
- LB Jack Sanborn
- DB Caesar Williams
- Ohio State Buckeyes:
- QB Justin Fields
- RB Trey Sermon
- WR Chris Olave
- DE Jonathon Cooper
- DB Shaun Wade
History of the Big Ten Championship Game
The Big Ten Championship Game has been held since 2011. The game has been played in various stadiums throughout the years, including Lucas Oil Stadium, which is home to the Indianapolis Colts. The game is played between the champions of the East and West divisions of the Big Ten Conference.
The first Big Ten Championship Game was played in 2011 between the Michigan State Spartans and the Wisconsin Badgers. The Spartans won the game, which was played at Lucas Oil Stadium. Since then, Ohio State has won the game four times, while Wisconsin has won three times.
Big Ten Championship Game Records
The Big Ten Championship Game has seen some memorable performances since its inception in 2011. Here are some of the record holders in the game:
- Passing Yards:
- Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett (2017): 245 yards
- Rushing Yards:
- Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott (2014): 220 yards
- Receiving Yards:
- Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis (2012): 207 yards
- Interception Return Yards:
- Ohio State’s Denzel Ward (2017): 59 yards
Big Ten Championship Game MVPs
The Big Ten Championship Game MVP award is given to the most outstanding player of the game. Here are some of the players who have won the award since 2011:
- 2011:
- Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins
- 2012:
- Wisconsin’s Montee Ball
- 2013:
- Michigan State’s Connor Cook
- 2014:
- Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott
- 2015:
- Michigan State’s Connor Cook
- 2016:
- Penn State’s Trace McSorley
- 2017:
- Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett
- 2018:
- Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins
- 2019:
- Ohio State’s Justin Fields
Big Ten Championship Game Preview
The 2020 Big Ten Championship Game is sure to be an exciting matchup between two of the top teams in the conference. The Wisconsin Badgers will look to continue their winning streak against the Ohio State Buckeyes, who have yet to lose a game this season.
The Badgers will look to their star quarterback Graham Mertz to lead the way, while the Buckeyes will rely on their star quarterback Justin Fields. It will also be interesting to see how the Buckeyes’ defense performs against the Badgers’ offense.
Prediction
The Big Ten Championship Game is sure to be a close and exciting matchup. The Ohio State Buckeyes are the favorites to win the game, but the Wisconsin Badgers have shown throughout the season that they can compete with the best teams in the conference. In the end, it will come down to which team can make the big plays in the fourth quarter.
Where to Watch
The Big Ten Championship Game will be broadcast on FOX starting at 8 pm ET on Saturday, December 19th. It will also be streamed on FOX Sports GO.
Conclusion
The Big Ten Championship Game is sure to be a thrilling matchup between two of the best teams in the conference. The Wisconsin Badgers and the Ohio State Buckeyes will face off in a battle for Big Ten supremacy. Who will come out on top? Tune in to FOX on Saturday, December 19th to find out!