Big Ten Sprint to the Finish
11/05/2009

While the only two teams to win any part of a Big Ten Championship in the last four years meet Saturday in Happy Valley, there are five other teams that still have a chance to win at least a share of the conference crown.  

Of the four teams who are already bowl-eligible, the Buckeyes have the toughest remaining schedule, playing on the road twice against teams that are combined 10-5.  Penn State, with whom OSU split the conference title last season, hosts Indiana before ending the year at Michigan State.  Like OSU, Wisconsin plays twice more on the road but against teams that are combined 4-11 and each of their remaining opponents are seventh or worse in the conference.  The Iowa Hawkeyes, who are the only 9-0 team in the country, gave the Big Ten its fourth straight year with a 9-0 team.  They host Northwestern Saturday before coming to Columbus and then ending their season against Minnesota at home.

Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Purdue could each claim a share of the Big Ten Title if they win out and Iowa loses out.  While three more conference teams can become bowl-eligible with wins this week, Ohio State can clinch their first Rose Bowl bid since 1996 by winning out.

Go Bucks!

By Ben Brown, an OSU senior majoring in journalism