Spartans to face Wisconsin

Published 10:32 am Sunday, November 27, 2011

PARK RIDGE, Ill. — The inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game will feature a rematch between two teams that shared the conference title last season as Michigan State and Wisconsin will square off Dec. 3 in Indianapolis with the Stagg Championship Trophy on the line.

The Spartans earned a victory at Northwestern earlier today to secure the outright Legends Division title. The Badgers defeated Penn State Saturday afternoon to clinch a share of the Leaders Division title. Wisconsin earning the title game berth based on its head-to-head win over the Nittany Lions.

The Big Ten Football Championship Game will be played Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship and a chance to play in either the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game.

Michigan State improved to 7-1 in conference and 10-2 overall, posting back-to-back seasons of 10 wins or more for the first time in program history. Wisconsin ended the regular season 6-2 in conference and 10-2 overall, the third straight year the Badgers have registered at least 10 victories in a season.

The two teams played a memorable game earlier this season on Oct. 22 in East Lansing, with the Spartans completing a 44-yard touchdown pass with no time on the clock to secure a 37-31 triumph, handing the Badgers their first loss of the season.

Michigan State and Wisconsin ended last season tied atop the Big Ten standings at 7-1 in conference. The Spartans earned their seventh Big Ten title last season and are looking for back-to-back crowns for the first time since 1965 and 1966. The Badgers collected their 12th Big Ten title last year and are aiming for consecutive championships for the first time since 1998 and 1999.

The title game will begin at 8:17 p.m. FOX will serve as the official broadcast partner of the Big Ten Football Championship Games from 2011-16 and Lucas Oil Stadium will host the title games from 2011-15.