The 2012 Rose Bowl is one week away from being set. Four participants will take part in what are in effect the Rose Bowl semifinals in the Pac-12 and Big-12 conference title games. The Wisconsin Badgers won the Big Ten Leaders Division with a 45-7 stomping of the Penn St. Nittany Lions on Saturday afternoon at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin (10-2, 6-2) will face the Michigan St. Spartans (10-2, 7-1) in the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game on Saturday, December 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It is a rematch of an epic battle in East Lansing on October 22, won 37-31 at home by Michigan State on a last-second Hail Mary touchdown pass.
Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 35 yards on seven carries. Montee Ball ran for 156 yards and four touchdowns in the win for Wisconsin.
By the time the Big Ten Championship Game kicks off, both Wisconsin and Michigan State will know their potential Rose Bowl opponent. The first-ever Pac-12 Football Championship Game will be played on Friday, December 2 at Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks wrapped up the North Division with a win over the Oregon St. Beavers in the Civil War on Saturday afternoon. The Ducks will host the Pac-12 South Division winning UCLA Bruins (6-5, 5-3) next Friday night.
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.