Big Ten Football Championship Game
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| Big Ten Football Championship Game | |
|---|---|
| Name | Big Ten Football Championship Game |
| Stadium | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Established | 2011 |
| Most recent | 2023 |
| Most recent season | 2023 |
| Team1 | Big Ten East Division champion |
| Team2 | Big Ten West Division champion |
| Trophy | Stagg Championship Trophy |
| Sponsor | Dr Pepper (2011–2014), Amway (2015), Goodyear (2016–2019), Grubhub (2020), Discover (2021–present) |
Big Ten Football Championship Game is the annual American football contest that determines the champion of the Big Ten Conference. First held in 2011 following the conference's expansion to twelve teams and the creation of divisions, the game features the winners of the East Division and West Division. The winner receives the Stagg Championship Trophy and, since the inception of the College Football Playoff, has often secured a berth in a New Year's Six bowl game or the playoff itself.
History
The game was established in 2011 as a direct result of the Big Ten Conference's expansion, which added the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as its twelfth member and prompted the creation of the Legends and Leaders divisions. This move aligned the Big Ten with other major FBS conferences like the SEC and ACC in hosting a championship game to determine its official champion. The inaugural contest was held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and saw the Wisconsin Badgers defeat the Michigan State Spartans. Conference realignment in 2014, which added the University of Maryland and Rutgers University, led to a restructuring into the current East and West divisions. The game's significance increased with the advent of the College Football Playoff in 2014, as victories have propelled teams such as the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines into the national semifinals.
Format
The participants are the champions of the Big Ten's two divisions: the East Division and the West Division. Division champions are determined by each team's record in conference play, with standard tie-breaking procedures applied if necessary. The game is conducted under standard NCAA football rules and is considered a postseason contest, though it occurs before the bowl season. From its inception until 2023, the winner claimed the conference's automatic berth to a New Year's Six bowl, often the Rose Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff system. With the expansion of the College Football Playoff to twelve teams in 2024, the game's winner is expected to receive an automatic qualification spot in the playoff field.
Results
The Ohio State Buckeyes hold the record for most appearances and victories, having won the game five times. Other multiple-time winners include the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, and Wisconsin Badgers. The West Division has been represented most frequently by Wisconsin, while the East Division has seen champions from Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State. Notable contests include the 2022 game where the Michigan Wolverines defeated the Purdue Boilermakers to secure a second consecutive College Football Playoff berth, and the 2017 thriller where the Ohio State Buckeyes overcame the Wisconsin Badgers to claim the conference title.
Records and statistics
The Ohio State Buckeyes boast the highest winning percentage in the game. The largest margin of victory was achieved by the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2014, when they defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 59-0. Individual records include the passing yardage mark set by J.T. Barrett of Ohio State and the rushing record held by Melvin Gordon of the Wisconsin Badgers. The Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes have also featured in multiple high-stakes contests, with the Hawkeyes appearing in the 2015 game against the Michigan State Spartans.
Venue
All editions of the game have been held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The domed stadium, also home to the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL, was selected for its central location within the Big Ten Conference footprint and its climate-controlled environment. Indianapolis has developed a strong association with the event, which is also hosted alongside the Big Ten's annual football media days and other conference championship events in sports like basketball. The contract to keep the game in Indianapolis has been extended multiple times, with the current agreement running through the 2024 season.
Television coverage
The game has been broadcast nationally on Fox since 2017 as part of the network's television rights agreement with the Big Ten Conference. Prior broadcast partners included ESPN from 2011 to 2016. The telecast typically features Fox's lead college football commentary team, which has included announcers like Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt. The game consistently draws high television ratings, often ranking among the most-watched conference championship games of the weekend, competing with those from the SEC and ACC.
Category:Big Ten Conference football Category:College football championship games in the United States Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2011 Category:Sports competitions in Indianapolis