Michigan State Clinches Big Ten Championship Game Berth: With a victory over Indiana, and coupled with a Michigan triumph over Nebraska on Saturday, Michigan State will represent the Legends Division in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3 . . .
It all Comes Down to This: While the Legends Division representative has been settled, the Big Ten Championship Game representative from the Leaders Division will be determined during the final weekend of the regular season. Division leader Penn State, which has already clinched at least a share of the division title with a 6-1 record in Big Ten play, travels to second-place Wisconsin, 5-2 in conference action. The winner between the Nittany Lions and Badgers will be the Leaders Division representative in the inaugural championship game . . .
Michigan, Wisconsin Eye Share of Division Titles: While Michigan State and Penn State have each earned at least a share of their respective division championships, two other squads still remain in the running to claim of piece of the divisional titles . . .
Record Attendance: Welcoming more than 400,000 fans to last week’s games, the Big Ten set a new all games attendance record. More than 5.6 million fans have flocked to Big Ten stadiums this year, breaking the old mark of 5.5 million set in 2009 . . .
Ball Joins Elite Class: When Wisconsin’s Montee Ball added three scores to his single-season Big Ten record touchdown total against Illinois last week, he reached a landmark only four other players in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) had accomplished. With 30 total touchdowns on the season, Ball became just the fifth player in FBS history to score 30 or more touchdowns in a single season . . .
Going for Double-Digit Wins: As many as three conference teams can reach the 10-wins mark with victories this weekend . . .
Northwestern Gives Big Ten Nine Bowl-Eligible Teams: After earning their fourth straight victory, Northwestern became the Big Ten’s ninth bowl-eligible team. . . Purdue remains in the hunt for a bowl berth, and can become the 10th conference squad to become bowl eligible with a win over in-state rival Indiana. A Boilermaker win would match the Big Ten record of 10 bowl-eligible teams set in 2007.
BIG TEN PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Co-Offensive Players of the Week
Montee Ball, WisconsinJr., RB, Wentzvile, Mo./Timberland• Rushed for two scores and added another on the receiving end to bring his season total to a Big Ten record 30 touchdowns, becoming just the fifth player in FBS history to score 30 or more touchdowns in a season• Recorded career highs in rushes (38) and yards (224) in Wisconsin’s come-from-behind win over Illinois on Saturday• Produced for 164 yards on 26 carries after halftime, surpassing the 100-yard mark for the seventh time this season• Claimscareer• Last Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Week: Russell Wilson (Nov. 14, 2011)
Denard Robinson, MichiganJr., QB, Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach• Accounted of total offense in Michigan’s win over nationally ranked Nebraska on Saturday• Threw seventh-place tie in school history with former quarterback Tom Brady with 35 career touchdowns passes• Alsocareer rushing touchdowns to move into sixth place inprogram history• Claimscareer weekly honor, the third-highest total in Big Ten history• Last Michigan Offensive Player of the Week: Denard Robinson (Sept. 26, 2011)
Defensive Player of the Week
Chris Borland, WisconsinSo., LB, Kettering, Ohio/Archbishop Alter• Recordedfor loss and two forced fumbles in Wisconsin’s victoryover Illinois• Hisallowing the Badgers to score on their ensuing possessionto cut the Illinois lead to 17-14• Wasthe second half and forced four turnovers in the game• Claimsthird of his career• LastChris Borland (Nov. 7, 2011)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Anthony Fera, Penn StateSo., P/PK, Cypress, Texas/St. Pius X• Converted on all four kicking attempts, including two field goals, and had three punts downed inside the 20-yard linein Penn State’s 20-14 win• Broke his career-long field goal twice in the game, first converting a 43-yarder in the first quarter, then a 46-yarder on the final play of the first half• Had punts downed at the three-yard line in the third quarter and the 13-yard line in the fourth quarter• Claims his third Big Ten weekly honor of the season and for his career• Last Penn State Special Teams Player of the Week: Anthony Fera (Oct. 17, 2011)
Freshman of the Week
Ryan Shazier, Ohio StateLB, Plantation, Fla./Plantation• Recorded a team-high 15 tackles in his first career start for Ohio State• Helped deny Penn State on four goal-line attempts from inside the two-yard line, keeping Ohio State within onescore late in the third quarter• Claims his first Freshman of the Week honor• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Braxton Miller (Oct. 31, 2011)
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