Big Ten Sends Record 10 Teams to Postseason Competition: The Big Ten sends a record 10 teams to the 2011-12 postseason, more than any other conference in the country . . .
Strength in Numbers: The Big Ten showed its depth this season by qualifying a record 10 teams for postseason bowl games. The previous Big Ten record for bowl teams was eight in 2003 and 2007. The 2011-12 bowl season marks the seventh straight season that seven or more Big Ten programs have earned postseason berths, continuing the longest streak in conference history. It marks the 20th time in history the Big Ten sends six or more teams to postseason competition and the 13th year in a row, having sent at least six teams to postseason bowls each year since 1999. Including the coming bowl season, conference programs will have made 74 bowl appearances over a 10-year span (2002-11) and 266 appearances all-time.
Big Ten Duos in BCS: For the 10th time in the 14-year history of the BCS, and the eighth time in the last 10 seasons, two Big Ten teams will play in BCS games this postseason . . .
Showing its Depth: Eight current Big Ten schools have qualified to play in a BCS game, including both Michigan and Wisconsin this season. Other current conference institutions to play in BCS games are Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue. The Big Ten’s total of eight BCS participants ranks second only to the Pac-12, which added Colorado and Utah this season and now has nine different schools with BCS appearances. The only other conferences with six or more current schools boasting at least one BCS berth are the ACC and SEC with seven teams each and the Big 12 and Big East with six participants each.
Bowl Matchups by the Numbers: The Big Ten’s 10-team bowl contingent boasts a combined mark of 80-42 (.656) and will be matched up with some of the nation’s most successful programs from the 2011 campaign. The conference’s 10 bowl opponents have a combined record of 88-37 (.704) and five conference foes have already reached double-digits in wins - Houston (12-1), Georgia (10-3), South Carolina (10-2), Oregon (11-2) and Virginia Tech (11-2) - the most of any conference’s bowl opponents.
Into Opponent’s Territory: For the seventh consecutive season, at least two of the Big Ten bowl matchups will be virtual road games, with conference teams facing schools from the state in which the bowl will be played. This season, five of the Big Ten’s bowl contingent will face an opponent who will be playing in their home state this postseason . . . Including these virtual road bowl contests, the Big Ten leads all conferences with 21 “road” bowl games over the last seven seasons. Over that span, the Big East is next with just nine “road” bowl games, followed by the ACC (7), Big 12 (7), SEC (4) and Pac-12 (2).
Bowl Regulars: Including this bowl season, the Big Ten boasts four of the nation’s 12 programs with 40 or more bowl appearances, tied with the SEC for the most of any conference. Making its 48th appearance in a bowl, Nebraska ranks fourth all-time, while Penn State is eighth all-time with 44 postseason berths. Ohio State is 10th overall with 42 official appearances, and Michigan’s 41 bowl berths ranks 11th in history.
Bowl Coaching Tree: Including this bowl season, six Big Ten coaches boast four or more appearances in bowl games as a head coach . . .
Three Big Ten Teams Reach Double-Digit Win Totals: Three conference squads have reached the 10-wins mark with victories this year, the second time in three seasons the conference has boasted at least three teams with double-digit triumphs . . .
A Record-Setting Attendance Season: The Big Ten set new total attendance and conference games only records in 2011, crossing the six-million mark in total attendance for the first time in conference history . . .
Everybody’s All-American: At least 17 Big Ten standouts earned All-America honors from various publications following the conclusion of the 2011 regular season . . .
Big Ten Leads Nation with Seven CoSIDA Academic All-Americans: The Big Ten led all conferences with seven student-athletes named to the Capital One Academic All-America first or second teams in football as announced by CoSIDA. The Big Ten has now led all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences in Academic All-Americans for seven straight seasons . . .
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