It all comes down to one make-or-break game for Iowa and Michigan State to make the College Football Playoff. Those clamoring for an eight-game playoff will be happy to know that this game is essentially a national quarterfinal -- the winner of the Big Ten Championship will be one of the top four teams in the country this year.
Michigan State vs. Iowa, 2015 Big Ten Championship: Time, TV schedule, live stream and 3 things to know
This one is for the Big Ten’s spot in the College Football Playoff.
Iowa still has a lot of doubters, but the Hawkeyes are 12-0 after beating Nebraska on the road, something Michigan State couldn't do. Iowa hasn't been all that convincing in recent weeks, due in part to some awful weather, but the balanced offense will get the chance to take some shots downfield in the climate-controlled confines of Lucas Oil Stadium. And the opportunistic defense, which picked off Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong four times last week, gets to go against the best quarterback it's faced all season in MSU's Connor Cook. Can this special team prove the doubters wrong again?
Michigan State is playing its best football of the season coming off a win at Ohio State without Cook and a 55-16 drubbing of Penn State. While there were hiccups earlier in the season, including close wins over Purdue and Rutgers and the loss at Nebraska, the Spartans can beat anyone in the country if they play like they did against Penn State. MSU’s offense is clicking, and Cook-to-Aaron Burbridge is the best quarterback-to-wide receiver combination in the Big Ten. The defense hasn’t been what it once was, but it has a great front seven and makes a lot of big plays.
These will be two similar teams fighting for a place on college football’s biggest stage. Nothing better than making the Big Ten title game a national quarterfinal.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 8:17 p.m. ET, FOX
Radio: Iowa, Michigan State
Online streaming: Fox Sports GO
Spread: Michigan State is favored by 3.5 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Black Heart Gold Pants for Iowa fans and The Only Colors for Michigan State fans.
Three big things to know
1. The most important thing to know? This is a national quarterfinal. The winner goes to the College Football Playoff. Those are some pretty high stakes.
2. Will the loser go to the Rose Bowl? Maybe not. The Rose Bowl will select the next-highest team in the College Football Playoff poll and the loser of this game might fall below Ohio State. So in a way, the loser might be punished for winning its division by playing in the Peach Bowl or Fiesta Bowl instead of the Rose Bowl, though that's not a terrible consolation prize, by any means.
3. C.J. Beathard vs. the Michigan State secondary and Connor Cook vs. the Iowa secondary. Those matchups will decide this game. Both passing offenses probably have the edge over the opposing secondaries. Whoever gets more of an edge has the best chance to win.
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