The Big Ten finally got it right with the inception of the Championship game between the east and west division winners in 2011. Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa football team made their first appearance in the B1G Championship after going 12-0 in the 2015 regular season. They squared off against Connor Cook and the Michigan State Spartans.
It looked like the Hawks were going to sneak out of Indianapolis with a Big Ten Championship game victory after C.J. Beathard hit Tevaun Smith for an 85-yard touchdown to give Iowa the lead. However, Michigan State put together a 22-play, clock-eating drive that ended with an L.