The Big Ten Championship Game has long been known for thrilling battles and exciting finishes. This year’s edition will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Under a division-less model, all teams will compete to be included in a conference championship game; all records will serve as tiebreakers to determine who plays where.
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan is leading a solid run game that could give them the upper edge over rivals such as Ohio State in a pass-happy sport like football, which makes a national title run likely under Blake Corum – Doak Walker finalist, Donovan Edwards, and Kalel Mullings’s backs. Blake Corum could become the first NCAA player with touchdown runs, rushing yards, and 75-yard or more receptions, all within one season! Corum has amassed 1,463 yards this year alone, including two of his biggest-ever scoring plays!
Michigan has had an excellent defense this season, particularly in the second half. They’ve forced 46 three-and-outs so far and prevented opponents from getting into scoring position; opponents have scored on only 21.1% of second-half possessions against Michigan – one of the lowest marks nationwide.
Michigan boasts an effective running attack and one of the nation’s premier passing attacks, led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s 1,702-yard passing season and 14 touchdown throws this year. They also boast an outstanding special teams unit led by kickoff specialist Jake Moody, who has kicked off 87 times and leads in fair catch percentage.
Michigan’s secondary has been an undeniable strength on defense this season, ranking third nationally for passing efficiency and featuring Mike Hart and Rashan Gary as standout cornerbacks. Additionally, its turnover-forcing abilities have been impressive; 11 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles have already occurred this year!
Michigan has a great chance of capturing the Big 12 Championship and a spot in the college football playoff. They are undefeated, with only one loss against No. 2 Nebraska at Orange Bowl. It will be tough going, but Michigan stands a great chance of becoming undefeated champions once more: They have won six out of their last eight ranked opponent games; thus making this game one they should likely win; should this occur, Michigan would become first undefeated team since 1948 to do so! If successful, they would face off against either No. 1 Georgia or No. 4 TCU for a final battle in Peach Bowl 44
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers is one of the premier college football programs. Over their history, they have won more Big Ten championships than any other team and produced some legendary players, such as Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan, and Drew Brees. This team strives for excellence on the field and academically year after year – adding another chapter to its longstanding tradition.
The Boilermakers entered this championship game as an underdog, yet showed plenty of fight and determination in the first half. Michigan led 14-13 at halftime. Unfortunately for them, though, Michigan scored two quick touchdowns within five plays of starting play in the second half and cruised to victory.
Though they experienced defeat, the Boilermakers can take great pride in having had an exceptional season and look back with great memories of this one-loss campaign. Notably, they won the regular-season title and swept Penn State out of conference play; they also defeated Rutgers and Ohio State before facing Wisconsin for another epic clash in the championship game rematch from last year.
Q1: Purdue’s opening drive resulted in a three-and-out. JJ McCarthy attempted to throw a touchdown pass to Luke Schoonmaker but was disallowed due to an offsides penalty; they eventually settled for Mitchell Fineran’s 37-yard field goal attempt as their score.
In the second quarter, Michigan completely took control of the game with their mix of runs and passes, led by Donovan Edwards’ 60-yard run and Kalel Mullins’ 1-yard touchdown run to take a commanding lead over Boilermaker opponents. Boilers attempted a comeback but were no match for Michigan’s speed on either ground or air.
Jalen Pickett earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after averaging 18.3 points, 8.3 rebounds per game, and 4.7 assists across three tournament games for Purdue University. Additionally, he had two double-doubles while shooting 47.8% from 3-point range and 47.8% overall from 2-point field goal range. Zach Edey led Purdue with 22.1 ppg and 12.8 rpg; Seth Lundy and Andrew Funk also proved valuable scoring options for Purdue Boilermakers.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines are two teams remaining in the Big Ten that will compete for the championship this weekend. Whoever wins will qualify for the College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship game. Ohio State hopes to become the first team in CFP era history to capture consecutive titles back-to-back.
Ohio State and Michigan’s rivalry has long been one of the greatest rivalries in college football, featuring multiple talented players at both institutions. This year’s match-up will no doubt be thrilling to watch, with Heisman-up Max Duggan leading Ohio State into their respective championship game while running back Emari Demarcado will lead Michigan into its championship game – making for an exciting battle! The matchup should keep audiences riveted across the nation!
Early on, both teams played closely, each school taking some wins against each other. Ohio State began dominating during the mid-1940s by going 7-1 under head coach Woody Hayes to claim two national championships – 1958 and 1960, respectively. Since then, Ohio State has been ahead in most battles despite close calls between rival schools.
After losing their season opener against Oregon, Ohio State bounced back with an overwhelming home win against Michigan. Ryan Day led an outstanding offensive performance by throwing four touchdown passes and amassing over 500 total yards; TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams each had great days as they both scored both rushing and receiving touchdowns.
Ohio State improved to 12-0 and secured a spot in the College Football Playoff with their victory, facing No. 1 Georgia in the Peach Bowl as their next challenge – after dropping both BCS national title games.
Ohio State and Georgia were selected as semifinal match-ups for the College Football Playoff Sunday, with Ohio State as a slight favorite against Georgia’s strong defense and FPI ranking of one – which don’t guarantee victory for either side.
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes are an iconic college football program, having captured multiple national championships since their formation. Competing in the Big Ten Conference under Kirk Herbstreit’s guidance and known for their passionate fans, who travel from towns and cities across Iowa to Kinnick Stadium for games. Their traditions of winning with dignity make them one of the most recognizable teams in college sports today.
Iowa Hawkeyes have won three Big Ten regular season and four tournament championships over their history, as well as many individual national championships won by alumni in various sports. Their finest moment came in 2008 when they shared in winning both titles as they advanced to the NCAA tournament – led by quarterback Brad Johnson’s 3,200-yard passing season, which set a single-season passing record for Big Ten quarterbacks.
Iowa Hawkeyes boast an outstanding presence across multiple sports, not just football. Men’s basketball and baseball programs have won Big Ten championships; women’s basketball reached the Final Four five times, while wrestling, field hockey, rifle competition, and women’s track and field also received accolades at national championship levels.
Iowa was fortunate enough to avoid an unfair draw and will take on South Carolina in the round of 16. It promises to be an intense matchup, with Iowa known for its fast-tempo offense while South Carolina prefers a slower-paced style of play.
Since 2011, teams have come together annually for the Heroes Trophy on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The winner will receive a $20,000 check, runners-up receive $5,000, and third-place finishers earn $10,000. Moreover, winners have their names added to the Kinnick Stadium Wall of Honor, an excellent way of honoring top athletes and celebrating their achievements.
