There was more chaos in the first nine seconds of the Big Ten Championship than there was in any of the other conference championship games all day on Saturday. In the first play of regulation, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza snapped the ball and completed a nine-yard pass, but a step after he released the pass, defensive tackle Caden Curry laid a massive hit on him.
The hit was 100% legal as Curry did not launch himself, didn't lead with the crown of his helmet, and did not make contact with the head or neck area. It wasn't a roughing the passer penalty either because the hit came within a step of Mendoza releasing the ball.