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2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: Big Ten
BCS Know How is taking you through the six automatic-qualifying BCS conferences in preparation for the 2012 season. Our easy-to-digest previews continue with the B1G Ten. Scroll down to see our profiles of the other conferences.
Conference: Big Ten Conference (Big Ten, B1G)
Active Since: 1896
Current Member Schools:
Leaders Division: Nebraska Cornhuskers, Michigan Wolverines, Iowa Hawkeyes, Northwestern Wildcats, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Legends Division: Illinois Fighting Illini, Indiana Hoosiers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Purdue Boilermakers, Wisconsin Badgers (12)
Bowl Affiliations: Rose Bowl (BCS), Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, TicketCity Bowl, Outback Bowl, Capital One Bowl, Gator Bowl (8)
2011 Results:
Conference Champion — Wisconsin Badgers
Conference Runner-up — Michigan State Spartans
BCS Bowl Results: 2012 Rose Bowl — Oregon 45 vs. Wisconsin 38; 2012 Sugar Bowl – Michigan 23 vs. Virginia Tech 20
Overall Bowl Record: 4-6
Heisman Vote Recipients: Wisconsin RB Montee Ball (Fourth Overall); Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson (Ninth Overall)
2012 Outlook: Variations in power within college football conferences are more than ordinary, they’re expected. It’s just the nature of the game these days. But with two league titles and Rose Bowl bids to match in the last two years, Wisconsin is on the verge of creating a more permanent shift. But Badgers beware, the 2012 Big Ten season is sure to put Wisconsin to the test.
After a victory in the conference’s inaugural conference title game, the Badgers were on their way to the BCS again, this time joined in the by Michigan, a surprising 10-2 squad with power to spare. Michigan State similarly provided fireworks at the end of the season, reaching the conference title game and a New Year’s Day bowl. Both look to build upon successful 2011 campaigns in 2012.
Expect traditional powers Nebraska and Ohio State to again rise to the challenge of this changing landscape. Nebraska will look to put its own fingerprints and smudges on the conference championship trophy. And don’t be too surprised if the bowl-ineligible Buckeyes are still able to make some noise under Urban Meyer.
With skill position players such as Denard Robinson, Montee Ball and Taylor Martinez highlighting the conference, this season might be everything the Big Ten could hope for.
Heisman Hopefuls: Michigan QB Denard Robinson, Wisconsin RB Monte Ball, Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez, Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead, Michigan State RB Le’Veon Bell, Ohio State QB Braxton Miller
BCS Know How’s 2012 Predictions:
Conference Champion — Wisconsin Badgers
Conference Runner-up — Michigan Wolverines
BCS bids: Wisconsin — Rose Bowl; Michigan — Fiesta Bowl
Heisman Finalists – Michigan QB Denard Robinson, Wisconsin RB Monte Ball
Read More:
- 2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: SEC
- 2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: Pac-12
- 2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: Big 12
- 2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: Big Ten (This post)
- 2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: Big East
- 2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: Atlantic Coast Conference
←2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: Big East
2012 BCS AQ Conference Profile: Big 12 →
