One spot in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game has already been filled as Michigan State routed Indiana 55-3 to claim the inaugural Big Ten Legends Division Championship. The other spot will be decided in next week's regular season showdown between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison for the Big Ten Leaders Division.
The Nittany Lions are 9-2 (6-1) after their 20-14 win Saturday over Ohio State. The Badgers are also 9-2, but 5-2 in conference. Although the Badgers have an additional conference loss, a head-to-head win over Penn State would give them the tie-breaker and send them to the championship game.
The Badgers were once considered national championship contenders as quarterback Russell Wilson was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate until their consecutive mid-season losses to Michigan State and Ohio State, both on Hail Mary plays in the last minute of the game. The Nittany Lions lost their FBS opener to Alabama, but were unscathed in the Big Ten until last week's loss at home to Nebraska.
For more coverage of Penn State and the decisive Leaders Division game, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.