2011 Big Ten Conference football season 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 . The season was also notable for the Sandusky sex abuse scandal . 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 sack s ) . 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 ) . Spring games . April 9 April 16 April 23 April 30 Regular season . All times Eastern time . Rankings reflect that of the AP poll . Week one . Players of the Week Week two . Players of the Week Week three . Players of the Week Week four . Players of the Week Post - season awards and honors . 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 . All - Big Ten . The following players were named by the coaches . : 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 , LeVeon 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 . 2012 NFL Draft . The conference lost 4 players in the first round of the NFL Draft : A total of 41 Big Ten players were drafted . 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 .