Nebraska Football: Wisconsin-Nebraska Big Ten Championship Is Inevitable

With the huge victory over the No. 11 Michigan State Spartans today, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have firmly placed themselves in the driver's seat in the Legends Division of the Big Ten.

The first ever Big Ten Championship Game is now little over a month away, and Nebraska and the Wisconsin Badgers look almost certain to be the two teams that will meet on December 3rd in Lucas Oil Stadium. Here's why.

From Nebraska's side

Today's game between Nebraska and Michigan State seemed like it would be the deciding factor in who will win the Legends Division. The Michigan Wolverines are in the race (as they too only have one conference loss), but with the way they were dominated by Michigan State, I don't see them beating a Nebraska team that seems to be getting better and better, and just pummeled that same Michigan State team.

The only other team in the running is the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that also only has one conference loss. However, the unranked Hawkeyes haven't beaten a single good team yet this season, and still have to play Michigan, Michigan State, and of course Nebraska.

If Nebraska beats Michigan on November 19th (which I think they will), they will have the tiebreaker over both competitors, and almost certainly win the Legends Division.

From Wisconsin's side

Things are a little murkier on the Leaders' side of the conference. The Penn State Nittany Lions currently sit atop the division. However, I think anyone who has watched both teams play this season should see that Wisconsin is clearly the better team.

After all, Wisconsin lost the Michigan State game on a Hail Mary, and without so many mistakes (two turnovers, blocked field goal, blocked punt returned for a touchdown), Michigan State wouldn't even have been in a position to make that play.

Penn State hasn't beaten a ranked team all season. I imagine they'll have at least one loss (Nebraska will beat them) coming into the regular season finale against the Badgers, while Wisconsin will have bounced back with four straight wins (as all four of those games are against unranked teams).

There are really no other challengers on the Leaders' side. The Purdue Boilermakers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Illinois Fighting Illini each have at least two conference losses. If Wisconsin does indeed beat Penn State (which I'd be willing to stake my reputation on happening, especially since the game's in Madison), there will be a rematch between Nebraska and Wisconsin in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game. I know that's something the Cornhuskers would be hungry for.