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 Penn State child 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 sacks).
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).
Rankings
Pre Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 FinalIllinois AP 24 24 19 16 23 RVC RV 22 16 15 21 RVHarrisNot released 14 20 RV RVBCS Not released 23Indiana APCHarrisNot releasedBCS Not releasedIowa AP RV RVC RV RV RV RVHarrisNot released RVBCS Not releasedMichigan AP RV RV RV 22 19 12 11 18 17 13 22 20 17 17 13 12 C RV RV RV 21 19 11 10 17 17 13 21 18 16 16 12 9HarrisNot released 10 17 16 13 21 18 16 16 12BCS Not released 18 18 15 24 18 15 16 13Michigan State AP 17 17 15 RV RV RV 23 15 9 15 13 12 1111 12 11C 17 16 15 23 25 20 19 13 10 16 13 12 10 9 13 10HarrisNot released 22 15 11 17 13 12 11 11 13BCS Not released 16 11 17 17 15 14 11 17Minnesota APCHarrisNot releasedBCS Not releasedNebraska AP 10 10 10 9 8 14 14 13 13 9 18 16 22 20 21 24C 11 10 10 9 8 15 14 11 13 9 17 16 22 19 20 24HarrisNot released 13 11 13 9 17 16 21 19 20BCS Not released 13 14 10 19 16 21 20 20Northwestern AP RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RVHarrisNot releasedBCS Not releasedOhio State AP 18 15 17 RV RV RVC 16 15 16 RV RV RV RVHarrisNot released RVBCS Not releasedPenn State AP RV 23 RV RV RV RV RV RV 21 16 12 21 20 23 24 RVC 25 20 RV RV RV RV 25 22 19 15 12 21 19 22 23 RVHarrisNot released RV 24 19 16 12 19 18 22 23BCS Not released 21 19 16 12 21 19 23 22Purdue APCHarrisNot releasedBCS Not releasedWisconsin AP 11 8 7 6 7 4 4 4 12 19 16 15 15 15 9 10C 10 9 8 7 7 5 4 4 11 17 14 13 12 12 8 11HarrisNot released 4 4 12 18 14 13 14 13 8BCS Not released 6 15 20 18 17 16 12 10
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week No change in ranking from previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
Spring games April 9 Purdue Boilermakers April 16 Indiana Hoosiers Iowa Hawkeyes Michigan Wolverines Nebraska Cornhuskers Northwestern Wildcats Penn State Nittany Lions April 23 Illinois Fighting Illini Minnesota Golden Gophers Ohio State Buckeyes Wisconsin Badgers April 30 Michigan State Spartans Big Ten spring dates update
Regular season Index to colors and formattingBig Ten member wonBig Ten member lostBig Ten teams in bold All times Eastern time.
Rankings reflect that of the AP poll.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Date Bye WeekSeptember 24 Northwestern Purdue
Week 5
Date Bye WeekOctober 1 Iowa
Week 6
Date Bye WeekOctober 8 Michigan State #4 Wisconsin
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 15 Minnesota #14 Nebraska
Week 8
Date Bye WeekOctober 22 #18 Michigan Ohio State
Week 9
Week 10
Date Bye WeekNovember 5 Illinois #16 Penn State
Week 11
Date Bye WeekNovember 12 Indiana
Week 12
Week 13
Big Ten Championship Game
Players of the week Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams Freshman Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position Team Player Position TeamWeek 1Russell WilsonQBWISBrandon HerronLBMICHBrett MaherP/PKNEBHouston BatesLBILLChaz PowellKRPSUWeek 2Denard RobinsonQBMICHMike TaylorLBWISAmeer AbdullahKRNEBAmeer AbdullahKRNEBWeek 3James VandenbergQBIOWAJonathan BrownLBILLDuane BennettRBMINND'Angelo RobertsRBINDWeek 4Denard RobinsonQBMICHTom NardoDTIOWADerek DimkePKILLDonovonn YoungRBILLMatt McGloinQBPSUWeek 5A.J. JenkinsWRILLMike TaylorLBWISAnthony FeraPK/PPSUMarcus RushDEMSURussell WilsonQBWISWeek 6Taylor MartinezQBNEBTavon WilsonCBILLBrett MaherP/PKNEBShayne WynnKRINDWeek 7Montee BallRBWISJohn SimonDTOSUAnthony FeraP/PKPSUMike SadlerPMSUWeek 8Marvin McNuttWRIOWAGerald HodgesLBPSUKyler ElsworthLBMSUTre RobersonQBINDKirk CousinsQBMSUKawann ShortDTPURWeek 9Drake DunsmoreTENWGerald HodgesLBPSUJordan WettsteinPKMINNBraxton MillerQBOSUWeek 10Kain ColterQBNWChris BorlandLBWISMike SadlerPMSURaheem MostertKRPURMontee BallRBWISWeek 11Russell WilsonQBWISRyan Van BergenDEMICHBrett MaherP/PKNEBMike SadlerPMSUKawann ShortDTPURBruce GastonDTPURWeek 12Denard RobinsonQBMICHChris BorlandLBWISAnthony FeraP/PKPSURyan ShazierLBOSUMontee BallRBWISWeek 13Denard RobinsonQBMICHKim RoystonDBMINNCarson WiggsPKPURBraxton MillerQBOSUMontee BallRBWISLavonte DavidLBNEB
Attendance TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Game 8TotalAverage% of CapacityIllinoisMemorial Stadium60,67045,15442,21250,66943,68453,24355,22960,67054,633405,49450,68783.5%IndianaMemorial Stadium52,92941,54941,20342,62141,66539,23942,005248,28241,38078.2%IowaKinnick Stadium70,58570,58570,58570,58570,58570,58570,58570,585494,09570,585100%MichiganMichigan Stadium109,901110,506114,804110,343110,707111,106112,115113,718114,132897,431112,179102%Michigan StateSpartan Stadium75,00575,91070,24972,11977,51576,40572,21974,128518,54574,07898.8%MinnesotaTCF Bank Stadium50,80548,80749,95048,80249,18746,54349,15841,549333,99647,71493.9%NebraskaMemorial Stadium81,06784,88385,10185,11085,42685,64185,11585,595596,87185,267105%NorthwesternRyan Field47,13028,04247,33040,00426,88626,21527,137195,61432,60269.1%Ohio StateOhio Stadium102,329105,001105,016105,096105,306105,511105,159105,493736,582105 226102.8%Penn StateBeaver Stadium107,28296,461107,84695,636103,497100,82097,828107,193709,281101,32694.4%PurdueRoss–Ade Stadium62,50042,11046,11661,55538,20745,14643,33440,106316,57445,22572.3%WisconsinCamp Randall Stadium80,31277,08580,33778,88081,38480,73279,708478,12679,68899.2%
Post-season awards and honors
Individual Big Ten Award Winners Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year: Russell Wilson, Wisconsin Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year: Marvin McNutt, Iowa Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year: Montee Ball, Wisconsin Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year: Drake Dunsmore, Northwestern Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year: David Molk, Michigan Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Devon Still, Penn State Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Lavonte David, Nebraska Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year: Brett Maher, Nebraska Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year: Brett Maher, Nebraska
All-Big Ten The following players were named by the coaches.:
Position Player Class Team First Team Offense QB Russell Wilson Sr. Wisconsin RB Montee Ball Jr. Wisconsin RB Rex Burkhead Jr. Nebraska WR A.J. Jenkins Sr. Illinois WR Marvin McNutt Sr. Iowa TE Drake Dunsmore Sr. Northwestern OT Riley Reiff Jr. Iowa OG Joel Foreman Sr. Michigan State C David Molk Sr. Michigan OG Kevin Zeitler Sr. Wisconsin OT Josh Oglesby Sr. Wisconsin First Team Defense DL Whitney Mercilus Jr. Illinois DL Jerel Worthy Jr. Michigan State DL John Simon Jr. Ohio State DL Devon Still Sr. Penn State LB Lavonte David Jr. Nebraska LB Gerald Hodges Sr. Penn State LB Chris Borland So. Wisconsin DB Shaun Prater Sr. Iowa DB Johnny Adams Jr. Michigan State DB Alfonzo Dennard Sr. Nebraska DB Aaron Henry Sr. Wisconsin First Team Special Teams K Brett Maher Jr. Nebraska P Brett Maher Jr. Nebraska
Position Player Class Team Second Team Offense QB Kirk Cousins Sr. Michigan State RB Marcus Coker So. Iowa RB Silas Redd So. Penn State WR B.J. Cunningham Sr. Michigan State WR Nick Toon Sr. Wisconsin TE Brian Linthicum Sr. Michigan State OT Taylor Lewan So. Michigan OG Adam Gettis Sr. Iowa C Mike Caputo Sr. Nebraska C Mike Brewster Sr. Ohio State OG Travis Frederick So. Wisconsin OT Mike Adams Sr. Ohio State Second Team Defense DL Michael Buchanan Jr. Illinois DL Mike Daniels Sr. Iowa DL Mike Martin Sr. Michigan DL William Gholston So. Michigan State DL Jack Crawford Sr. Penn State DL Kawann Short Jr. Purdue LB Max Bullough So. Michigan State LB Andrew Sweat Sr. Ohio State LB Mike Taylor Jr. Wisconsin DB Isaiah Lewis So. Michigan State DB C.J. Barnett So. Ohio State DB Nick Sukay Sr. Penn State DB Ricardo Allen So. Purdue Second Team Special Teams K Carson Wiggs Sr. Purdue P Cody Webster So. Purdue
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, Le'Veon 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.
Position Player Class Team First Team Offense QB Russell Wilson Sr. Wisconsin RB Montee Ball Jr. Wisconsin RB Rex Burkhead Jr. Nebraska WR A.J. Jenkins Sr. Illinois WR Marvin McNutt Sr. Iowa TE Drake Dunsmore Sr. Northwestern OT Riley Reiff Jr. Iowa OG Joel Foreman Sr. Michigan State C Peter Konz Jr. Wisconsin OG Kevin Zeitler Sr. Wisconsin OT Josh Oglesby Sr. Wisconsin First Team Defense DL Whitney Mercilus Jr. Illinois DL Jerel Worthy Jr. Michigan State DL Devon Still Sr. Penn State DL Kawann Short Jr. Purdue LB Lavonte David Jr. Nebraska LB Chris Borland So. Wisconsin LB Mike Taylor Jr. Wisconsin DB Trenton Robinson Sr. Michigan State DB Alfonzo Dennard Sr. Nebraska DB Brian Peters Sr. Northwestern DB Antonio Fenelus Sr. Wisconsin First Team Special Teams K Brett Maher Jr. Nebraska P Brett Maher Jr. Nebraska