The Michigan St. Spartans beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 37-21 on the road on Saturday, maintaining its one-game lead in the Big Ten Legends Division. The Spartans remain in the driver's seat for a spot in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game, and possibly the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Here are the standings in the Big Ten Legends Division:
Big Ten Legends Division Standings | |||
Team | Conf | Overall | Remaining Games |
Michigan St. | 5-1 | 8-2 | Indiana, at Northwestern |
Michigan | 4-2 | 8-2 | Nebraska, Ohio St. |
Nebraska | 4-2 | 8-2 | at Michigan, Iowa |
Iowa | 3-3 | 6-4 | at Purdue, at Nebraska |
Northwestern | 2-4 | 5-5 | Minnesota, Michigan St. |
Minnesota | 1-5 | 2-8 | at Northwestern, Illinois |
Michigan State has by far the easier schedule of the trio at the top, facing two teams with a combined 2-10 record in Big Ten play. The game of the week next week for the Big Ten has to be Nebraska at Michigan, with the winner hoping for a loss in the final two weeks by the Spartans.
The first-ever Big Ten Football Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, pitting the winners of both the Legends Division and the Leaders Division, which looks like it might come down to Penn State at Wisconsin in two weeks.
The 2012 Rose Bowl Game will be played on Monday, January 2, 2012 in Pasadena. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. PDT. The game will be televised by ESPN, with Brent Musberger, Kirk Hirbstreit, and Lisa Salters on the call. Stay tuned for more updates as the game approaches.