2011 Big Ten Conference football season

Last updated

2011 Big Ten Conference football season
Big Ten Conference logo.svg
League NCAA Division I FBS
Sport Football
DurationSeptember 3, 2011
through January 2012
Number of teams12
TV partner(s) ABC, ESPN Inc., Big Ten Network, FOX (championship game)
2012 NFL Draft
Top draft pick Riley Reiff (Iowa)
Picked by Detroit Lions, 23rd overall
Regular Season
Season MVP Montee Ball
Top scorer Montee Ball
Leaders Division champions Wisconsin Badgers and Penn State Nittany Lions
Legends Division champions Michigan State Spartans
Championship Game
Champions Wisconsin Badgers
  Runners-up Michigan State
Finals MVP Russell Wilson
Football seasons
  2010
2012  
2011 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Legends Division
No. 11 Michigan State x  7 1   11 3  
No. 12 Michigan  %  6 2   11 2  
No. 24 Nebraska  5 3   9 4  
Iowa  4 4   7 6  
Northwestern  3 5   6 7  
Minnesota  2 6   3 9  
Leaders Division
No. 10 Wisconsin xy$  6 2   11 3  
Penn State x  6 2   9 4  
Purdue  4 4   7 6  
Ohio State  3 5   6 7  
Illinois  2 6   7 6  
Indiana  0 8   1 11  
Championship: Wisconsin 42, Michigan State 39
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • % BCS at-large representative
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2011 Big Ten Conference football season is the 116th for the Big Ten. The conference started its season on Saturday, September 3, as each of the conference's teams began their respective 2011 season of NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) competition. This season is Nebraska's first season as a member of the Big Ten, and also marks the creation of conference divisions (named Leaders and Legends), and a championship game. [1] The season was also notable for the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.

Contents

For the season, Leaders Division champion Wisconsin finished as conference champion by defeating Legends Division champion Michigan State in the 2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game. Penn State was Leaders Division co-Champion, while Legends Division runner-up Michigan finished with the conference's best record. The conference earned two BCS bowl invitations and compiled a 4–6 overall record in 2011–12 NCAA football bowl games.

The Conference had six 2011 College Football All-America Team consensus selections: Montee Ball, Kevin Zeitler, David Molk, Whitney Mercilus (unanimous), Devon Still, and Jerel Worthy, with the Rimington Trophy going to Molk and the Ted Hendricks Award going to Mercilus. Ball won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football and the conference's players won four national statistical championships: Russell Wilson (passing efficiency), Raheem Mostert (kickoff return average), Ball (scoring), and Mercilus (quarterback sacks).

Following the season the conference contributed 41 to the 2012 NFL draft, including 4 in the first round: Riley Reiff (23rd), Mercilus (26th), Zeitler (27th), and A. J. Jenkins (30th).

Rankings

 PreWk
1
Wk
2
Wk
3
Wk
4
Wk
5
Wk
6
Wk
7
Wk
8
Wk
9
Wk
10
Wk
11
Wk
12
Wk
13
Wk
14
Final
IllinoisAP2424191623RV
CRV22161521RV
HarrisNot released1420RVRV
BCSNot released23
IndianaAP
C
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
IowaAPRVRV
CRVRVRVRV
HarrisNot releasedRV
BCSNot released
MichiganAPRVRVRV22191211181713222017171312
CRVRVRV2119111017171321181616129
HarrisNot released101716132118161612
BCSNot released1818152418151613
Michigan StateAP171715RVRVRV2315915131211111211
C1716152325201913101613121091310
HarrisNot released221511171312111113
BCSNot released1611171715141117
MinnesotaAP
C
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
NebraskaAP10101098141413139181622202124
C11101098151411139171622192024
HarrisNot released13111391716211920
BCSNot released1314101916212020
NorthwesternAPRVRVRV
CRVRVRVRVRV
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
Ohio StateAP181517RVRVRV
C161516RVRVRVRV
HarrisNot releasedRV
BCSNot released
Penn StateAPRV23RVRVRVRVRVRV21161221202324RV
C2520RVRVRVRV252219151221192223RV
HarrisNot releasedRV2419161219182223
BCSNot released2119161221192322
PurdueAP
C
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released
WisconsinAP118767444121916151515910
C109877544111714131212811
HarrisNot released441218141314138
BCSNot released615201817161210
Legend
  Improvement in ranking
 Drop in ranking
 Not ranked previous week
 No change in ranking from previous week
RVReceived votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll

Spring games

April 9

April 16

April 23

April 30

[2]

Regular season

Index to colors and formatting
Big Ten member won
Big Ten member lost
Big Ten teams in bold

All times Eastern time.

Rankings reflect that of the AP poll.[ citation needed ]

Week 1

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 18:00 PM UNLV No. 11  Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI ESPN W 51–17  77,085
September 27:30 PM Youngstown State No. 17  Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI BTN W 28–6  75,910
September 312:00 PM Northwestern Boston College Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA ESPNU W 24–17  37,561
September 312:00 PM Akron No. 18  Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH ESPN W 42–0  105,001
September 312:00 PM Indiana State Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA BTN W 41–7  96,461
September 312:00 PM Tennessee Tech Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA BTN W 34–7  70,585
September 312:00 PM Middle Tennessee State Purdue Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN BTN W 27–24  42,110
September 33:30 PM Minnesota No. 25  USC Los Angeles ColiseumLos Angeles, CA ABC / ESPN2 L 19–17  68,273
September 33:30 PM Western Michigan Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI ABC / ESPN2 W 34–10  110,506
September 33:30 PM Chattanooga No. 10  Nebraska Memorial StadiumAnn Arbor, MI BTN W 40–7  84,883
September 33:30 PM Arkansas State Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL BTN W 33–15  45,154
September 36:00 PM Indiana Ball State Lucas Oil StadiumIndianapolis, IN BTN L 27–20  40,224
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 2

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 1012:00 PM Iowa Iowa State Jack Trice StadiumAmes, IA (Cy-Hawk Series) FSN L 44–41 3OT 56,085
September 1012:00 PM Florida Atlantic No. 17  Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI ESPN2 W 44–0  70,249
September 1012:00 PM Toledo No. 15  Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH BTN W 27–22  105,016
September 1012:00 PM Oregon State No. 8  Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI ESPN W 35–0  80,337
September 1012:00 PM South Dakota State Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL BTN W 56–3  42,212
September 103:30 PM Eastern Illinois Northwestern Ryan Field (stadium)Evanston, IL BTN W 42–21  28,042
September 103:30 PM New Mexico State Minnesota TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN BTN L 28–21  48,807
September 103:30 PMNo. 3  Alabama No. 23  Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA ABC L 27–11  107,846
September 103:30 PM Purdue Rice Rice StadiumHouston, TX CBS Sports Network L 24–22  25,317
September 107:00 PM Virginia Indiana Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN BTN L 34–31  41,549
September 107:00 PM Fresno State No. 10  Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE BTN W 42–29  85,101
September 108:00 PM Notre Dame Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI (Mich-ND rivalry) ESPN W 35–31  114,804
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 3

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 1712:00 PM Eastern Michigan Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI BTN W 31–3  110,343
September 1712:00 PM Penn State Temple Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA ESPN W 14–10  57,323
September 1712:00 PM Pittsburgh Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA ESPN2 W 31–27  70,585
September 1712:00 PM Southeast Missouri State Purdue Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN BTN W 59–0  46,116
September 173:30 PM South Carolina State Indiana Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN BTN W 38–21  41,203
September 173:30 PMNo. 15  Michigan State Notre Dame Notre Dame StadiumNotre Dame, IN (Megaphone Trophy) NBC L 31–13  80,795
September 173:30 PM Miami (OH) Minnesota TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN BTN W 29–23  49,950
September 173:30 PM Washington No. 11  Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE ABC W 51–38  85,110
September 173:30 PM Northwestern Army Michie StadiumWest Point, NY CBS L 21–14  35,784
September 173:30 PMNo. 7  Wisconsin Northern Illinois Soldier FieldChicago, IL ESPN3 W 49–7  41,068
September 173:30 PMNo. 22  Arizona State Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL BTN W 17–14  50,669
September 177:30 PMNo. 17  Ohio State Miami (FL) Sun Life StadiumMiami, FL ESPN L 24–6  66,279
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 4

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 2412:00 PM Central Michigan Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI ESPNU W 45–7  72,119
September 2412:00 PM Eastern Michigan Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA ESPN2 W 34–6  95,636
September 2412:00 PM Louisiana-Monroe Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA BTN W 45–17  70,585
September 243:30 PM Colorado Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH ABC \ ESPN2 W 37–17  105,096
September 243:30 PM South Dakota No. 6  Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI BTN W 59–10  78,880
September 243:30 PM Western Michigan No. 24  Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL BTN W 23–20  43,684
September 247:00 PM North Dakota State Minnesota TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN BTN L 37–24  48,802
September 247:00 PM Indiana North Texas Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN ESPN3 L 24–21  21,181
September 247:30 PMNo. 9  Nebraska Wyoming War Memorial StadiumLaramie, WY NBC Sports Network W 38–14  32,617
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
September 24 Northwestern Purdue

Week 5

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 112:00 PM Penn State Indiana Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN ESPNU  PSU16–10  42,621
October 112:00 PM Minnesota No. 19  Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI (Little Brown Jug) BTN  MICH 58–0  111,106
October 1†12:00 PM Northwestern No. 24  Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (Land of Lincoln Trophy) BTN  ILL 38–35  53,243
October 13:30 PM Michigan State Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH ABC / ESPN2  MSU 10–7  105,306
October 18:00 PMNo. 8  Nebraska No. 7  Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI ABC  WIS 48–17  81,384
October 18:00 PM Notre Dame Purdue Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN (Shillelagh Trophy) ESPN L 38–10  61,555
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 1 Iowa

Week 6

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 812:00 PM Minnesota Purdue Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN ESPN  PUR 45–17  38,207
October 82:30 PMNo. 19  Illinois Indiana Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN BTN  ILL 41–20  41,665
October 83:30 PM Iowa Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA ABC / ESPN  PSU 13–3  103,497
October 87:00 PMNo. 12  Michigan Northwestern Ryan FieldEvanston, IL BTN  MICH 42–24  47,330
October 8†8:00 PM Ohio State No. 14  Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE ABC  NEB 34–27  85,426
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 8 Michigan State #4 Wisconsin

Week 7

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 1512:00 PMNo. 11  Michigan No. 23  Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy) ESPN  MSU 28–14  77,515
October 15†12:00 PM Purdue Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA BTN  PSU 23–18  100,820
October 15†12:00 PM Indiana No. 4  Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI ESPN2  WIS 59–7  80,732
October 153:30 PM Ohio State No. 16  Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (Illibuck) ABC / ESPN  OSU 17–7  55,229
October 157:00 PM Northwestern Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA BTN  IOWA 41–31  70,585
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 15 Minnesota #14 Nebraska

Week 8

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 22†12:00 PM Indiana Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA BTN  IOWA 45–24  70,585
October 22†12:00 PMNo. 23  Illinois Purdue Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN (Purdue Cannon) ESPN2  PUR 21–14  45,146
October 22†3:30 PMNo. 13  Nebraska Minnesota TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN ABC / ESPN2  NEB 41–14  49,187
October 22†7:00 PMNo. 21  Penn State Northwestern Ryan FieldEvanston, IL BTN  PSU 34–24  40,004
October 22†8:00 PMNo. 6  Wisconsin No. 16  Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI ESPN  MSU 37–31  76,405
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
October 22#18 Michigan Ohio State

Week 9

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 29†12:00 PM Northwestern Indiana Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN BTN  NW 59–38  39,239
October 29†12:00 PM Purdue No. 18  Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI ESPN2  MICH 36–14  112,115
October 2912:00 PMNo. 11  Michigan State No. 14  Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE ESPN  NEB 24–3  85,641
October 293:30 PM Iowa Minnesota TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN (Floyd of Rosedale) BTN  MIN 22–21  46,543
October 293:30 PM Illinois No. 19  Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA ABC / ESPN2  PSU 10–7  97,828
October 29†8:00 PMNo. 15  Wisconsin Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH ESPN  OSU 33–29  105,511
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 10

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 512:00 PM Minnesota No. 17  Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI BTN  MSU 31–24  72,219
November 512:00 PM Indiana Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH BTN  OSU 34–20  105,195
November 512:00 PMNo. 15  Michigan Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA ESPN  IOWA 24–16  70,585
November 53:30 PM Northwestern No. 10  Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE BTN  NW 28–25  85,115
November 53:30 PM Purdue No. 20  Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI BTN  WIS 62–17  80,566
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
November 5 Illinois #16 Penn State

Week 11

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 1212:00 PM Rice Northwestern Ryan FieldEvanston, IL BTN W 28–6  26,886
November 1212:00 PMNo. 19  Nebraska No. 12  Penn State Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA ESPN  NEB 17–14  107,903
November 1212:00 PMNo. 17  Michigan State Iowa Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA ESPN2  MSU 37–21  70,585
November 1212:00 PM Ohio State Purdue Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN BTN  PUR 26–23  43,334
November 123:30 PMNo. 18  Wisconsin Minnesota TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN (Paul Bunyan's Axe) BTN  WIS 42–13  49,158
November 123:30 PMNo. 24  Michigan Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL ABC / ESPN  MICH 31–14  60,670
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
DateBye Week
November 12 Indiana

Week 12

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 1912:00 PM Minnesota Northwestern Ryan FieldEvanston, IL BTN  NW 28–13  26,215
November 1912:00 PM Indiana No. 15  Michigan State Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI (Old Brass Spittoon) BTN  MSU 55–3  74,128
November 1912:00 PMNo. 16  Nebraska No. 18  Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI ESPN  MICH 45–17  113,718
November 1912:00 PMNo. 17  Wisconsin Illinois Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL ESPN2  WIS 28–17  45,519
November 1912:00 PM Iowa Purdue Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN BTN  IOWA 31–21  40,106
November 193:30 PMNo. 21  Penn State Ohio State Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH ABC / ESPN  PSU 20–14  105,493
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 13

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 2512:00 PM Iowa No. 21  Nebraska Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE (Heroes Trophy) ABC  NEB 20–7  85,595
November 2612:00 PMNo. 14  Michigan State Northwestern Ryan FieldEvanston, IL BTN  MSU 31–17  32,172
November 2612:00 PM Ohio State No. 15  Michigan Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI (The Game) ABC  MICH 40–34  114,132
November 263:30 PM Purdue Indiana Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket) BTN  PUR 33–25  42,005
November 263:30 PM Illinois Minnesota TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN BTN  MIN 27–7  41,549
November 263:30 PMNo. 19  Penn State No. 16  Wisconsin Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI ESPN  WIS 45–7  79,708
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Big Ten Championship Game

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
December 38:00 PMNo. 10  Wisconsin No. 17  Michigan State Lucas Oil StadiumIndianapolis, IN (2011 Big Ten Championship) FOX  WIS 42–39  64,152
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Players of the week

WeekOffensiveDefensiveSpecial TeamsFreshman
PlayerPositionTeamPlayerPositionTeamPlayerPositionTeamPlayerPositionTeam
Week 1 Russell Wilson QB WIS Brandon HerronLB MICH Brett MaherP/PK NEB Houston BatesLB ILL
Chaz PowellKR PSU
Week 2Denard RobinsonQB MICH Mike TaylorLB WIS Ameer Abdullah KR NEB Ameer AbdullahKR NEB
Week 3James VandenbergQB IOWA Jonathan BrownLB ILL Duane BennettRB MINN D'Angelo RobertsRB IND
Week 4Denard RobinsonQB MICH Tom NardoDT IOWA Derek DimkePK ILL Donovonn YoungRB ILL
Matt McGloinQB PSU
Week 5A.J. JenkinsWR ILL Mike TaylorLB WIS Anthony Fera PK/P PSU Marcus RushDE MSU
Russell WilsonQB WIS
Week 6 Taylor Martinez QB NEB Tavon WilsonCB ILL Brett MaherP/PK NEB Shayne WynnKR IND
Week 7 Montee Ball RB WIS John SimonDT OSU Anthony FeraP/PK PSU Mike SadlerP MSU
Week 8Marvin McNuttWR IOWA Gerald HodgesLB PSU Kyler ElsworthLB MSU Tre Roberson QB IND
Kirk Cousins QB MSU Kawann ShortDT PUR
Week 9Drake DunsmoreTE NW Gerald HodgesLB PSU Jordan WettsteinPK MINN Braxton Miller QB OSU
Week 10 Kain Colter QB NW Chris BorlandLB WIS Mike SadlerP MSU Raheem MostertKR PUR
Montee BallRB WIS
Week 11Russell WilsonQB WIS Ryan Van BergenDE MICH Brett MaherP/PK NEB Mike SadlerP MSU
Kawann ShortDT PUR Bruce GastonDT PUR
Week 12Denard RobinsonQB MICH Chris BorlandLB WIS Anthony FeraP/PK PSU Ryan Shazier LB OSU
Montee BallRB WIS
Week 13Denard RobinsonQB MICH Kim RoystonDB MINN Carson WiggsPK PUR Braxton MillerQB OSU
Montee BallRB WIS Lavonte DavidLB NEB

Attendance

TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Game 8TotalAverage% of Capacity
Illinois Memorial Stadium 60,67045,15442,21250,66943,68453,24355,22960,67054,633405,49450,68783.5%
Indiana Memorial Stadium 52,92941,54941,20342,62141,66539,23942,005248,28241,38078.2%
Iowa Kinnick Stadium 70,58570,58570,58570,58570,58570,58570,58570,585494,09570,585100%
Michigan Michigan Stadium 109,901110,506114,804110,343110,707111,106112,115113,718114,132897,431112,179102%
Michigan State Spartan Stadium 75,00575,91070,24972,11977,51576,40572,21974,128518,54574,07898.8%
Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium 50,80548,80749,95048,80249,18746,54349,15841,549333,99647,71493.9%
Nebraska Memorial Stadium 81,06784,88385,10185,11085,42685,64185,11585,595596,87185,267105%
Northwestern Ryan Field 47,13028,04247,33040,00426,88626,21527,137195,61432,60269.1%
Ohio State Ohio Stadium 102,329105,001105,016105,096105,306105,511105,159105,493736,582105 226102.8%
Penn State Beaver Stadium 107,28296,461107,84695,636103,497100,82097,828107,193709,281101,32694.4%
Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium 62,50042,11046,11661,55538,20745,14643,33440,106316,57445,22572.3%
Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium 80,31277,08580,33778,88081,38480,73279,708478,12679,68899.2%

Post-season awards and honors

Individual Big Ten Award Winners

All-Big Ten

The following players were named by the coaches.: [3]

HONORABLE MENTION: Illinois: Jeff Allen, Jonathan Brown, Derek Dimke, Terry Hawthorne, Ian Thomas; Indiana: Mitch Ewald, Jeff Thomas; Iowa: Broderick Binns, James Ferentz, Eric Guthrie, Micah Hyde, James Morris, Markus Zusevics; Michigan: Kenny Demens, J.T. Floyd, Kevin Koger, Junior Hemingway, Denard Robinson, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Ryan Van Bergen; Michigan State: Denicos Allen, Le'Veon Bell, Kenshawn Martin, Trenton Robinson, Marcus Rush; Minnesota: Kim Royston; Nebraska: Will Compton, Ben Cotton, Spencer Long, Marcel Jones, Baker Steinkuhler; Northwestern: Jeremy Ebert, Jordan Mabin, Brian Mulroe, Al Netter, Dan Persa, Brian Peters; Ohio State: Johnathan Hankins, Dan Herron, Jack Mewhort, Jake Stoneburner; Penn State: Drew Astorino, Anthony Fera, Jordan Hill, D'Anton Lynn, Derek Moye, Chima Okoli, Chaz Powell, Johnnie Troutman; Purdue: Joe Holland, Dennis Kelly; Wisconsin: Jared Abbrederis, Patrick Butrym, Antonio Fenelus, Peter Konz, Brad Nortman, Jacob Pedersen, Ricky Wagner.

The following players were named by the media panel.

HONORABLE MENTION: Illinois: Derek Dimke, Terry Hawthorne, Travon Wilson; Indiana: Mitch Ewald; Iowa: Mike Daniels, James Ferentz, Adam Gettis, Eric Guthrie, James Morris, Tyler Nielsen, Shaun Prater, Markus Zusevics; Michigan: Kenny Demens, J.T. Floyd, Kevin Koger, Jordan Kovacs, Taylor Lewan, Craig Roh, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Ryan Van Bergen; Michigan State: Le'Veon Bell, Max Bullough, Dan Conroy, Kirk Cousins, Darqueze Dennard, Brian Linthicum, Chris McDonald, Chris Norman, Kevin Pickelman, Marcus Rush; Minnesota: Chris Bunders, Kim Royston; Nebraska: Mike Caputo, Austin Cassidy, Will Compton, Ben Cotton, Marcel Jones, Cameron Meredith, Daimion Stafford, Baker Steinkuhler; Northwestern: Kain Colter, Jordan Mabin, Brian Mulroe, Al Netter, Dan Persa; Ohio State: C.J. Barnett, Mike Brewster, Johnathan Hankins, Jack Mewhort, Tyler Moeller, Andrew Norwell, Jake Stoneburner, Andrew Sweat; Penn State: Drew Astorino, Quinn Barham, Jack Crawford, Jordan Hill, D'Anton Lynn, Chima Okoli, Chaz Powell, Nate Stupar, Johnnie Troutman; Purdue: Ricardo Allen, Dwayne Beckford, Joe Holland, Dennis Kelly, Carson Wiggs; Wisconsin: Jared Abbrederis, Patrick Butrym, Aaron Henry, Brad Nortman, Nick Toon, Ricky Wagner, Philip Welch.

National Award Winners

First Team All-Americans

There are many outlets that award All-America honors in football. The NCAA uses five official selectors to also determine Consensus and Unanimous All-America honors. The five teams used by the NCAA to compile the consensus team are from the Associated Press, the AFCA, the FWAA, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. A point system is used to calculate the consensus honors. The point system consists of three points for first team, two points for second team and three points for third team. No honorable mention or fourth team or lower are used in the computation.

The teams are compiled by position and the player accumulating the most points at each position is named a Consensus All-American. If there is a tie at a position in football for first team then the players who are tied shall be named to the team. A player named first-team by all five of the NCAA-recognized selectors is recognized as a Unanimous All-American. [4]

PlayerSchoolPositionSelectorConsensus/Unanimous
Montee Ball Wisconsin RB AFCA, FWAA, AP, Sporting News, CBS Sports, ESPN, Scout.com, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports Consensus
Jay Prosch Illinois FB Pro Football Weekly  
Riley Reiff Iowa OT Pro Football Weekly  
Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin OG AFCA, AP, Pro Football Weekly Consensus
Peter Konz Wisconsin C AFCA, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly  
David Molk Michigan C AP, FWAA, Sporting News, Walter Camp, Scout.com Consensus
Whitney Mercilus Illinois DE AFCA, AP, FWAA, Sporting News, Walter Camp, CBS Sports, ESPN, Scout.com, Yahoo! Sports Unanimous
Devon Still Penn State DT AP, FWAA, Sporting News, Walter Camp, CBS Sports, ESPN, Pro Football Weekly, Scout.com, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports Consensus
Jerel Worthy Michigan State DT AFCA, AP, Sporting News, Walter Camp, CBS Sports, Scout.com, Yahoo! Sports Consensus
Lavonte David Nebraska LB AFCA, CBS Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports  
Brett Maher Nebraska PK Yahoo! Sports  

Academic All-American

The Big Ten led all conferences with 7 Academic All-America selections: 1st team – Rex Burkhead (Nebraska), Austin Cassidy (Nebraska), Patrick Ward (Northwestern) and Joe Holland (Purdue); 2nd team – Mike Sadler (Michigan State), Sean Fisher (Nebraska) and Jacob Schmidt (Northwestern). Cassidy was one of four repeat first-team winners, while Holland was a 2010 second-team selection. [5]

Bowl games

Big Ten Bowl Games
No.GameDateLocation/Time*TelevisionBig Ten Team+ScoreOpponent+ScorePayout (US$) per team
1. Little Caesars Bowl Dec. 27, 2011 Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan
4:30 pm
ESPN Purdue (6–6)37 Western Michigan (7–5)32$750,000
2. Insight Bowl Dec. 30, 2011 Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Arizona
10:00 pm
ESPN Iowa (7–5)14#19 Oklahoma (9–3)31$1,200,000
3. Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas Dec. 31, 2011 Reliant Stadium
Houston Texas
12:00 pm
ESPN Northwestern (6–6)22 Texas A&M (6–6)33$1,700,000
4. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Dec. 31, 2011 AT&T Park
San Francisco, California
3:30 pm
ESPN Illinois (6–6)20 UCLA (6–7)14$750,000–$825,000
5. TicketCity Bowl Jan. 2, 2012 Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
12:00 pm
ESPNU #24 Penn State (9–3)14#20 Houston (12–1)30$1,200,000
6. Outback Bowl Jan. 2, 2012 Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
1:00 pm
ABC #12 Michigan State (10–3)33#18 Georgia (10–3)30$3,400,000
7. Capital One Bowl Jan. 2, 2012 Citrus Bowl
Orlando, Florida
1:00 pm
ESPN#21 Nebraska (9–3)13#10 South Carolina (10–2)30$4,250,000
8. TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl Jan. 2, 2012 EverBank Field
Jacksonville, Florida
1:00 pm
ESPN2 Ohio State (6–6)17 Florida (6–6)24$2,500,000
9. Rose Bowl Jan. 2, 2012 Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
5:10 pm
ESPN#9 Wisconsin (11–2)38#6 Oregon (11–2)45$18,000,000
10. Allstate Sugar Bowl Jan. 3, 2012 Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
8:30 pm
ESPN#13 Michigan (10–2)23#17 Virginia Tech (11–2)20$17,000,000
*Time given is Eastern Time (UTC-5).
+Winning team is bolded.
Rankings are AP.

2012 NFL Draft

The conference lost 4 players in the first round of the NFL Draft: [6] A total of 41 Big Ten players were drafted. [7]

TeamRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7Total
Illinois224
Indiana0
Iowa1112117
Michigan123
Michigan State12216
Minnesota0
Nebraska1124
Northwestern22
Ohio State1124
Penn State1214
Purdue112
Wisconsin1111116
Rnd.Pick No.NFL teamPlayerPos.CollegeConf.Notes
123 Detroit Lions Riley Reiff   OT Iowa Big Ten
126 Houston Texans Whitney Mercilus   DE Illinois Big Ten
127 Cincinnati Bengals Kevin Zeitler   OG Wisconsin Big Ten
130 San Francisco 49ers A. J. Jenkins   WR Illinois Big Ten
244 Kansas City Chiefs Jeff Allen   OG Illinois Big Ten
248 New England Patriots Tavon Wilson   S Illinois Big Ten
251 Green Bay Packers Jerel Worthy   DT Michigan State Big Ten
253 Cincinnati Bengals Devon Still   DT Penn State Big Ten
255 Atlanta Falcons Peter Konz   C Wisconsin Big Ten
256 Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Adams   OT Ohio State Big Ten
258 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lavonte David   LB Nebraska Big Ten
from Houston
368 Houston Texans DeVier Posey   WR Ohio State Big Ten
from Tampa Bay
375 Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson   QB Wisconsin Big Ten
382 Tennessee Titans Mike Martin   DT Michigan Big Ten
4102 Washington Redskins Kirk Cousins   QB Michigan State Big Ten
4121 Houston Texans Keshawn Martin   WR Michigan State Big Ten
4122 New Orleans Saints Nick Toon   WR Wisconsin Big Ten
4126 Houston Texans Jared Crick   DE Nebraska Big Ten
4*132 Green Bay Packers Mike Daniels   DT Iowa Big Ten
5141 Washington Redskins Adam Gettis   OG Iowa Big Ten
5149 San Diego Chargers Johnnie Troutman   OG Penn State Big Ten
5153 Philadelphia Eagles Dennis Kelly   OT Purdue Big Ten
5156 Cincinnati Bengals Shaun Prater   CB Iowa Big Ten
5157 Atlanta Falcons Bradie Ewing   FB Wisconsin Big Ten
5158 Oakland Raiders Jack Crawford   DE Penn State Big Ten
6180 San Francisco 49ers Trenton Robinson   S Michigan State Big Ten
from Carolina
6183 Miami Dolphins B.J. Cunningham   WR Michigan State Big Ten
from San Diego
6191 Cincinnati Bengals Dan Herron   RB Ohio State Big Ten
6194 Philadelphia Eagles Marvin McNutt   WR Iowa Big Ten
6195 Houston Texans Nick Mondek   OT Purdue Big Ten
6*207 Carolina Panthers Brad Nortman   P Wisconsin Big Ten
7217 Washington Redskins Jordan Bernstine   CB Iowa Big Ten
from Buffalo
7224 New England Patriots Alfonzo Dennard   CB Nebraska Big Ten
7226 San Diego Chargers David Molk   C Michigan Big Ten
7230 Detroit Lions Nathan Stupar   OLB Penn State Big Ten
7233 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Drake Dunsmore   TE Northwestern University Big Ten
from Houston
7234 New Orleans Saints Marcel Jones   OT Nebraska Big Ten
7235 New England Patriots Jeremy Ebert   WR Northwestern University Big Ten
7238 Kansas City Chiefs Junior Hemingway   WR Michigan Big Ten
7*250 San Diego Chargers Edwin Baker   RB Michigan State Big Ten

Head coaches

Joe Paterno was fired as head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions on November 9 in the wake of the Penn State sex abuse scandal. Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season. [8]

Notes

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References

  1. "Big Ten divisions: Legends, Leaders". ESPN College Football. Associated Press. December 13, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  2. Big Ten spring dates update
  3. "All-Big Ten Honors". Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  4. "NCAA Consensus All-America selection". Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  5. "Big Ten Leads All Conferences With Seven Academic All-Americans: Big Ten Tops All FBS Conferences in Honorees for Seventh Straight Season". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. January 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  6. Bennett, Brian (April 27, 2012). "Illinois leads late arriving B1G first round". ESPN . Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  7. "2012 NFL Draft Central". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. April 28, 2012. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  8. "Paterno fired over Penn St. child abuse scandal". CBS News . November 9, 2011. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  1. No. 27: multiple trades:
    No. 27: New Orleans → New England (PD). New Orleans traded this selection and their 2011 second-round selection (No. 56, New England selected Shane Vereen) to New England for New England's first-round selection in the 2011 Draft (No. 28, New Orleans selected Mark Ingram II). [source 1]
    No. 27: New England → Cincinnati (D). see No. 21: Cincinnati → New England.[ citation needed ]
  1. No. 48: Oakland → New England (PD). Oakland traded this selection and a 2011 seventh-round selection (No. 219, New England selected Malcolm Williams) to New England for New England's third- and fourth-round selections in 2011 (Nos. 92 and 125, Oakland selected Joseph Barksdale and Taiwan Jones, respectively). [source 2]
  2. No. 51: Arizona → Philadelphia (PD). Arizona traded this selection and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to Philadelphia for QB Kevin Kolb. [source 3]
  1. No. 126: multiple trades:
    No. 126: New England → Denver (D). see No. 25: Denver → New England.
    No. 126: Denver → Tampa Bay (D). see No. 31: Denver → Tampa Bay.
  1. No. 194: Denver → Philadelphia (PD). Denver traded this selection to Philadelphia for linebacker Joe Mays. Denver originally sent running back J. J. Arrington to Philadelphia, with the condition that if Arrington did not make Philadelphia's 53-man roster, Denver would instead send the sixth-round selection. [source 4]
  1. No. 224: New York Jets → Green Bay (PD). The Jets traded this selection to Green Bay in exchange for guard Caleb Schlauderaff. [source 5]
  2. No. 238: New England → Kansas City (PD). New England traded this conditional selection to Kansas City for safety Jarrad Page. [source 6]

Sources

  1. Reiss, Mike (April 28, 2011). "Patriots trade 28th pick to Saints". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  2. PFW Staff (April 29, 2011). "Patriots make third trade; get Raiders' '12 second-round pick". Pro Football Weekly . Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  3. McLane, Jeff (July 28, 2011). "Kolb-for-Rodgers-Cromartie trade done". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  4. "Eagles trade Mays for RB or draft pick". ESPN. July 30, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  5. Silverstein, Tom (September 3, 2011). "Packers trade Johnson, Schlauderaff for draft picks". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  6. Reiss, Mike (September 4, 2010). "Patriots trade for safety Jarrad Page". ESPNBoston.com. Retrieved September 4, 2010.