Wisconsin beats Michigan State in shootout for Rose Bowl berth

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Wisconsin’s Montee Ball hits the end zone on a six-yard run in the first quarter, one of four touchdowns he scored. | Gregory Shamus~Getty Images

Updated: January 5, 2012 8:29AM

INDIANAPOLIS — An LSU-Alabama rematch in the national championship game might be as appealing as day-old coffee to some people outside the Southeast. And day-old beer to others.

Even if they are the best two teams, the way to prove it is to play somebody else, not have some intramural coronation.

But in Big Ten country, people perked up at the thought of a Wisconsin-Michigan State rematch for the conference championship.

Nobody outside the league gets hurt. And face it: A rematch of a wild Hail Mary thriller is a lot more fun than revisiting 9-6 trench-warfare.

In a remarkable offensive circus, Wisconsin defeated Michigan State 42-39 on Saturday night in the inaugural Big Ten championship game before 64,152 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

‘‘Our kids never stopped wavering in their faith,’’ Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. ‘‘They weren’t going to be denied.’’

The Badgers will represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl for the second year in a row. The Spartans, who missed a Rose Bowl trip on a tie-breaker last year, are expected to play in the Outback Bowl.

“It’s tough,’’ said a dejected Kirk Cousins, the MSU quarterback. “We came so close two years in a row. We don’t get to go. It’s tough.’’

To commemorate the occasion, the league minted special coins depicting the first schools meeting in this historic game.

“To win the first-ever Big Ten championship game is pretty awesome,’’ said Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson, the game’s MVP. “A hundred years from now, people will look back and say, ‘Who won that game?’ It’s pretty special.’’

Whoever follows the Badgers (11-2) and Spartans (10-3) in this title game has a tough act to follow.

“It’ll be an instant classic for sure,’’ Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said. “We had them on the ropes. Credit Wisconsin. They showed a great deal of maturity. It’s tough to deal with. You’re going to replay a lot of things in your mind.’’

The rematch of Michigan State’s 37-31 shocker over Wisconsin on Oct. 22 lived up to its build-up. On the entertainment meter, it was filled with 44-yard Hail Mary-worthy moments.

“The way we suffered that first loss, it was devastating,’’ safety Aaron Henry said. “But it feels that much better now that we did win this game.’’

On fourth-and-six, down 39-34 with about four minutes to play, Wilson put up a 36-yard prayer. It was caught by receiver Jeff Duckworth, who shook off two defenders to give Wisconsin a first down at the MSU 7, setting up the TD and two-point conversion for a 42-39 Badger lead.

That score held up when Michigan State’s Isaiah Thomas ran into Badger punter Brad Nortman with less than two minutes left, allowing Wisconsin to kill the clock before the Spartans could put up another Hail Mary.

The 42-39 count is the same score by which Ohio State beat Michigan in November, 2006, the day after Bo Schembechler died. That was the last 1-2 regular-season showdown before LSU and Alabama met last month.

That game prompted clamors for a rematch that didn’t happen. Then Ohio State and Michigan got clobbered in their bowl games.

Montee Ball scored four touchdowns, raising his season total to 38, one short of the NCAA single-season record set by Barry Sanders in 1988. After rushing for two six-yard early TDs, Ball caught a five-yard scoring pass and made a seven-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. He finished with 137 yards on 27 carries.

Known for its punishing running game, Wisconsin also brought out some razzle-dazzle. In the first quarter, Ball took a toss from Wilson, started to sweep right, pulled up and threw a 32-yard pass to Wilson, who was drifting down the left sideline. That set up the Badgers’ second TD.

Not to be outdone, Michigan State roared back with its own creative stuff. On one touchdown, Cousins threw a side-ways pass to Keith Nichol, who gained three yards and tossed a lateral before he went out of bounds to B.J. Cunningham, who went the final seven yards.

Interesting, isn’t it, the role reversals that are taking place this season?

The mighty Southeastern Conference is suddenly defending defense and throwback scores. And the once-stodgy Big Ten is tossing the pigskin around like a Nerf ball.