▁head ▁coach ▁due ▁to ▁health ▁concerns . ▁ ▁His ▁def ensive ▁coordin ator ▁T racy ▁Cla e ys ▁was ▁named ▁as ▁inter im ▁coach ▁before ▁being ▁named ▁the ▁permanent ▁replacement ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 1 . ▁ ▁In ▁pr ese ason ▁pol ling , ▁Ohio ▁State ▁was ▁un anim ously ▁voted ▁to ▁repeat ▁as ▁the ▁Big ▁Ten ▁champion ▁by ▁the ▁media ▁in ▁the ▁Big ▁Ten ▁Pres e ason ▁poll , ▁receiving ▁all ▁ 4 0 ▁first ▁place ▁votes . ▁The ▁Bad gers ▁were ▁favor ites ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁Big ▁Ten ▁West ▁Division ▁with ▁ 3 2 ▁votes , ▁followed ▁by ▁Neb r aska ▁with ▁five ▁and ▁Minnesota ▁with ▁three . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁conclusion ▁of ▁the ▁regular ▁season , ▁Iowa ▁won ▁the ▁West ▁Division ▁championship ▁with ▁a ▁perfect ▁ 1 2 - 0 ▁( 8 - 0 ) ▁record . ▁ ▁Michigan ▁State ▁and ▁Ohio ▁State ▁finished ▁tied ▁at op ▁the ▁East ▁Division ▁stand ings , ▁both ▁at ▁ 1 1 - 1 ▁( 7 - 1 ), ▁but ▁Michigan ▁State ' s ▁head - to - head ▁victory ▁placed ▁the ▁Spart ans ▁into ▁the ▁Big ▁Ten ▁Championship ▁Game ▁opposite ▁Iowa . ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁season , ▁Illinois ▁removed ▁the ▁inter im ▁tag ▁from ▁Bill ▁Cub it ' s ▁title ▁and ▁gave ▁him ▁a ▁two - year ▁contract ▁as ▁head ▁coach , ▁while ▁R ut gers ▁has ▁decided ▁to ▁part ▁ways ▁with ▁K yle ▁Flo od . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁Big ▁Ten ▁Championship ▁Game , ▁Michigan ▁State ▁defeated ▁Iowa ▁ 1 6 -