B1G Rewind: Championship clash a perfect scenario

The Big Ten pulled off the best possible scenario for its championship game when Wisconsin rallied past Minnesota 34-24 to clinch the West Division.

The No. 14 Badgers (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) earned their fourth league or division championship since 2010 and feature a Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Melvin Gordon. They have national prestige and a star attraction.

Facing Wisconsin is No. 6 Ohio State (11-1, 8-0), the league's flagship football program. By dispatching Michigan 42-28, Ohio State finished its third consecutive league season undefeated. The Buckeyes are within striking distance of the four-team playoff, should they win on Saturday.

Not only does the Big Ten boast two high-profile football programs for its showcase event, but the teams have not played this year. The Pac-12 title game features a rematch. The SEC (Alabama-Missouri) and ACC (Florida State-Georgia Tech) championship games are uneven in perception, if not in skill. The Big 12 doesn't have an official championship game. It's quite possible the much-maligned Big Ten could stage the day's marquee event.

'I feel great about taking this team to Indy,” Wisconsin Coach Gary Andersen said. 'We're in a good spot. We're resilient. We're tough‑minded. We're going to play against a very talented Ohio State team obviously. We're excited about that opportunity. And these kids set a goal to get to this moment. We're going to start preparing and we're going to see what happens.”

The teams competed in the Leaders Division from 2011 to 2013, and Ohio State won all three times by one score. Wisconsin claimed the division title in 2011 and represented the division in the Big Ten title game when Ohio State was ineligible in 2012. Last year Ohio State scored a 31-24 win against the Badgers.

Ohio State was unbeaten last year until the Big Ten championship, when it lost to Michigan State 34-24. That cost the Buckeyes a shot at the BCS title game. This year, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, a two-time Silver Football winner, was lost before the season with a shoulder injury. Freshman J.T. Barrett stepped in and struggled early in a 35-21 home loss to Virginia Tech. The Buckeyes since have rebounded to finish 11-1 and eliminated rival Michigan (5-7) from a possible bowl bid.

'For those who grew up in the state of Ohio, this is the game,” Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer said after beating Michigan. 'And there was a saying one time that said you can lose every game other than this one. Once again, I don't buy that, but that's the way we approached this game. And our guys are going to enjoy this. But they know what's ahead of them.”

Barrett won't play Saturday after breaking his ankle against Michigan. He was scheduled for surgery on Sunday. Barrett finished with school records for total yards (3,772) and total touchdowns (45), which also is a Big Ten record. Barrett passed for 2,834 yards and a school-record 34 touchdowns. He also rushed for 938 yards and 11 scores.

Wisconsin committed four turnovers in a 20-14 loss at Northwestern in early October. Since then, the Badgers have established a passing attack to go with a strong running game and defense. Wisconsin swept three consecutive trophy games to win the West Division and ousted rival Minnesota for the 11th straight time.

Gordon broke the Big Ten and school rushing record and now has 2,260 this year, fourth-best in FBS history. Gordon trails only Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders (2,628 in 1988), Central Florida's Kevin Smith (2,567 in 2007) and USC's Marcus Allen (2,342 in 1981).

Andersen anticipates both teams will be motivated for Saturday's match-up.

'(The Buckeyes) may have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder because they weren't successful in that game a year ago,” Andersen said. 'There's no question about that. But, you know, we're excited to be able to get into this game. We didn't set a goal at the first of the year to say, ‘Hey, let's just get to the championship game.' No, that wasn't the goal. The goal was to find a way to be champs. We're still fighting for that. We're moving on to one more game to see what happens.”

LAND OF LINCOLNVILLE

Illinois' 47-33 win against Northwestern on Saturday gave the Illini bowl eligibility for the first time since 2011 and dealt its rival a losing season in the process.

The Illini (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten) won their last two games and may have saved third-year coach Tim Beckman's job in the process.

'There was a lot of stake for both teams; we were both 5-6, rivals, so coming here and beating them like that was a program-changing win for us,” said Illinois wide receiver Mike Dudek, who now has 69 catches this season.

'It was just like any other win, but up a notch. Everyone was excited and you could really see how much it meant to the seniors, to know that they are going to get another game. Coach was all smiles. He told us that it was not the end of our journey and there are still goals to accomplish. It's going to be fun for the next 24 hours, but we're going to go and try to win this bowl.”

Illinois rushed for a season-high 291 yards and its defense forced a season-high five turnovers. The last time Illinois had five takeaways was in 2010.

The loss ended Northwestern's (5-7, 3-5 Big Ten) bowl hopes for the second consecutive season. In 2013, Northwestern lost a ton of close games in unreal fashion. This year, the Wildcats powered past Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Penn State, yet lost to California and Illinois.

'I'd say they were two different years,” Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald said. 'We're close to being where we want to be, but close isn't good enough. Our program is as stable and as strong as it's ever been. We've got unbelievable leadership. The people haven't changed; we just need to coach our guys to come out and execute more consistently, and I think we'll be right back to where we were a few years ago.”

NEWBIE SLUGFEST

Rutgers rallied from a 25-point deficit to produce the largest comeback in school history in a 41-38 win at Maryland.

The Scarlet Knights trailed 35-10 in the second quarter, then stormed back. After a roughing-the-passer penalty, Rutgers scored a touchdown with nine seconds left in the second quarter to cut its deficit to 35-17. Quarterback Gary Nova Nova completed a career-high 28 passes in 42 attempts for 347 yards and four touchdowns. It was his second 300-yard game this season and seventh of his career. Nova now has 9,074 career passing yards.

The win boosts Rutgers to 7-5 overall (3-5 Big Ten) and the team picks up its first Big Ten road win. Rutgers will finish with a winning season for the eighth time in 10 years.

On the flip side, Maryland (7-5, 4-4) scored touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions. As great as Rutgers' comeback, Maryland's collapse proved equally epic.

'It's disappointing to say the least here this evening,” Maryland Coach Randy Edsall said. 'We had opportunities to win the game, didn't, and when we needed to make some plays, we didn't. We had trouble stopping them on defense, and when we did have them stopped we made some errors that gave them extra possessions, which is not good in the game of football.”

Both teams finished 7-5 and are bowl eligible.

SATURDAY'S STARS

Rutgers QB Gary Nova threw for 347 yards and four TDs. ... Nebraska safety Nate Gerry had 15 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and an interception in the end zone. ... Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott ran for 121 yards and two TDs. ... Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon rushed for 151 yards and scored two TDs. ... Minnesota RB David Cobb ran for 118 yards and a score on a hamstring injury. ... Michigan State RB Jeremy Langford ran for 118 yards and two TDs.

NOTEWORTHY

Iowa DT Carl Davis had two tackles for loss and three QB hurries. ... Northwestern RB Justin Jackson rushed for 130 yards, had 46 yards receiving and scored two TDs. ... Illinois QB Reilly O'Toole passed for 147 yards and three TDs, and ran 21 times for 147 yards. ... Michigan WR Devin Funchess caught seven passes for 108 yards. ... Purdue RB Akeem Hunt rushed for 171 yards. ... Indiana RB Tevin Coleman ran for 130 yards to move past 2,000 yards this season. ... Maryland RB Brandon Ross ran for 108 yards and two TDs. ... Penn State LB Mike Hull had 13 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and a pass breakup.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Ohio State (1) 11-1 8-0

Barrett injury hurts Ohio State on the field and its national perception

2. Wisconsin (2) 10-2 7-1

QB play elevated Badgers to division championship

3. Michigan State (3) 10-2 7-1

Nation's best underrated team

4. Minnesota (4) 8-3 5-2

Loss aside, Gophers earned everyone's respect

5. Nebraska (5) 9-3 5-3

Certainly an eventful weekend in Lincoln

6. Rutgers (10) 7-5 3-5

Amazing comeback closes out impressive B1G inaugural season

7. Maryland (7) 7-5 4-4

Collapse leaves program with ill feeling entering bowl season

8. Iowa (6) 7-5 4-4

Fifth straight season with five or more losses

9. Illinois (11) 6-6 3-5

Illini win last two and earn bowl berth

10. Penn State (9) 6-6 2-6

Well, Nittany Lions get to keep practicing and playing

11. Michigan (12) 5-7 3-5

Now ready for tumultuous next month

12. Northwestern (8) 5-7 3-5

Beats Wisconsin, Penn State and Notre Dame, loses to Illinois and California

13. Indiana (13) 4-8 1-7

Injuries can't overshadow Tevin Coleman's amazing season

14. Purdue (13) 3-9 1-7

Not sure if there's progress yet under Hazell

STANDINGS

WEST DIVISION

Wisconsin 10-2 7-1

Nebraska 9-3 5-3

Minnesota 8-4 5-3

Iowa 7-5 4-4

Illinois 6-6 3-5

Northwestern 5-7 3-5

Purdue 3-9 1-7

EAST DIVISION

Ohio State 11-1 8-0

Michigan State 10-2 7-1

Maryland 7-5 4-4

Rutgers 7-5 3-5

Penn State 6-6 2-6

Michigan 5-7 3-5

Indiana 4-8 1-7

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Nebraska 37, Iowa 34 (OT)

Ohio State 42, Michigan 28

Illinois 47, Northwestern 33

Indiana 23, Purdue 16

Michigan State 34, Penn State 10

Wisconsin 34, Minnesota 24

Rutgers 41, Maryland 38

UP NEXT

Wisconsin vs. Ohio State at Indianapolis, 7 p.m. (Fox)

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com