Episode 133 – 2012 Big Ten Championship Game Preview

Wisconsin and Nebraska collide in the Big Ten championship game Saturday night.

The Big Ten is still getting used to this whole championship game idea, but at least the two schools meeting in Indianapolis are pretty well adjusted to it. Wisconsin returns to Indianapolis this week to make their second straight trip representing the Leaders Division, although this year they arrive thanks to NCAA sanctions to undefeated Ohio State and second place Penn State. Nebraska, on the other hand, earned their place in the game in their second season in the Big Ten, and two trips to the Big 12 championship game are still fresh in the memories of a number of Huskers.

Can Wisconsin defend their conference crown and return to the Rose Bowl, or can Bo Pelini and his Huskers finally get that conference championship monkey off their backs? Regardless of the outcome, it should make for a competitive and entertaining game.

To preview the championship game from both perspectives I was happy to welcome two past guests to this special Big Ten championship game preview podcast. We begin by discussing Nebraska with Brandon Cavanaugh (@eightlaces) from Rant Sports. In the second half we talk about Wisconsin with Andy Coppens (@andycoppens) from Madtown Badgers and Delany’s Dozen.

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A portion of this podcast will be featured in our first ever encore presentation Friday evening, airing live on Pioneer Digital TV channels 150 and 152 in Oklahoma, and parts of Texas and Kansas where available. Click here for more information, and stay tuned for some announcements for the podcast and site coming soon.

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Big Ten Championship Game scenarios for Nebraska, Michigan

With one final weekend in the regular season to play, the battles for the Big Ten’s Legends Division championship will determine who goes to Indianapolis to play in the Big Ten Championship Game. In an odd twist this season, the Big Ten’s Leaders Division champion will not get to play for the Big Ten’s automatic BCS spot, as the Ohio State Buckeyes are serving a postseason ban this season and are ineligible for the championship game and a bowl game.

Even though Ohio State has clinched the outright Leaders Division title this season and can complete an undefeated season this weekend, it will be the Wisconsin Badgers heading to their second straight Big Ten Championship Game. Wisconsin locked up a spot in the championship game a couple of weeks ago, thanks in part to Ohio State and Penn State being ineligible. Wisconsin lost a tough one to Ohio State last weekend and heads to Penn State this weekend looking to build some momentum as they prepare to return to Indianapolis next week.

Figuring out who Wisconsin will face is pretty straight forward. It will be Nebraska or Michigan. … Continue Reading

Big Ten championship logo released

From the conference that brought you Legends and Leaders, behold the official logo for the 2011 Big Ten Championship Game. Thoughts?

Big Ten proposes to Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium

When the Big Ten joins the championship game party, which appears to be on track for 2011, it looks as though it will take place in Indianapolis, the home city of the men’s basketball tournament. The Big Ten released a statement today saying that the conference has declared Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, as the favorite to land the lucrative inaugural Big Ten championship game.

From the press release on the Big Ten’s official website;

The Big Ten Conference announced today that Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis has been chosen as the proposed site for the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game to be played in December of 2011. The conference office will begin a 30-day period to negotiate a one-year agreement with Indiana Sports Corp and Lucas Oil Stadium to host the game. Once the 2011 agreement is in place, the conference office will conduct a thorough process over the next year to determine the location of the Big Ten Football Championship Game in 2012 and beyond.

“We are excited to work with Indiana Sports Corp and Lucas Oil Stadium to finalize an agreement to hold the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game in the city of Indianapolis,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. “We felt at this time it was important to identify a site for the first championship game and then spend more time with other cities and venues with respect to both our basketball tournaments and the football championship games in the future. The city of Indianapolis has been an outstanding host for our basketball tournaments, and we look forward to holding our first Big Ten Football Championship Game in Lucas Oil Stadium.”

So what does this all mean? Clearly the Big Ten realizes the value of hosting a game in Indianapolis. The Big Ten basketball tournament has already established a home in the city so the Big Ten knows they can be comfortable with the location. Playing the game indoor is a safe choice, at least for the first season, as weather will not be a factor in the game. Some fans hope the conference chooses an outdoor facility for a future game though.

Speaking of which, the release says that the conference has not determined what will happen in the future for the game. Commissioner Jim Delany has said that all options will be evaluated. He said at Big Ten media day this week that he expected the conference to settle on a one year deal with one location with hopes of getting the championship game started in 2011 and then the conference could focus on a long term plan. That appears to be holding true, although the process moved along a little faster than expected. Delany mentioned on Monday that the conference would release details on the future of the conference in the next 30-45 days, including division alignment, a new logo and plans for a championship game.

Delany, your conference is 27-42 days ahead of schedule.

Lucas Oil Stadium Stats

• Home of the Indianapolis Colts
• Capacity: 63,000 (expandable to 70,000)
• Site of 2010 NCAA Men’s Final Four (will host again in 2015)
• Will host Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.
• Site of the annual NFL Scouting Combine