Rosemont, Ill. – For the second consecutive season, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller was named the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year, the Big Ten Conference announced on Tuesday. Also among Tuesday’s individual award winners from the 2013 football season were Wisconsin’s Chris Borland as the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg as the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year and Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio as the Hayes-Schembechler and Dave McClain Coach of the Year.

Since the honor began in 1990, Miller becomes the first player in Big Ten history to claim two consecutive Offensive Player of the Year awards. The only other player to earn the conference’s top offensive honor twice was Purdue quarterback Drew Brees (1998 and 2000). Prior to 1990, Indiana running back Anthony Thompson won two consecutive Player of the Year Awards in 1988 and 1989. Miller is the fifth Buckeye to collect the award, along with Joe Germaine (1998), Orlando Pace (1996) and Heisman Trophy winners Troy Smith (2006) and Eddie George (1995). The Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year for the second straight year, Miller averaged 265 yards of total offense per game and accounted for 29 total touchdowns in leading Ohio State to a perfect 12-0 record.

Voted first-team All-Big Ten for the third straight season, Borland is the fifth Badger to receive the conference’s top defensive award, following Erasmus James (2004), Jamar Fletcher (2000), Tom Burke (1998) and Troy Vincent (1991). Borland was named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and leads Wisconsin and ranks third in the conference with 9.3 tackles per game. He also tied the conference record with his 14^th career forced fumble earlier this season.

An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Hackenberg is the third Nittany Lion and second in as many seasons to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, joining Deion Barnes (2012) and Curtis Enis (1995). The quarterback ranked third in the conference with 246.2 passing yards per game and connected on 20 touchdown passes. Hackenberg was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week five times this season, which ranks second since the award began in 2010.

Dantonio claims his second Big Ten Coach of the Year laurel in the last four years after being honored in 2010, when he became the fourth Michigan State coach to earn the award. In his seventh year in East Lansing, Dantonio led the Spartans to an 11-1 overall mark, including an 8-0 record in conference play and the outright Legends Division title. He coached six players to first-team All-Big Ten status, including Shilique Calhoun, the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Darqueze Dennard, the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year.

For more information on the Big Ten’s enhanced football awards program, and to read more about the trophy namesakes, visitbigten.org.

Big Ten Football Award Honorees and Trophy Namesakes

Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year: Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Named for Northwestern’s Otto Graham and Ohio State’s Eddie George

Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Borland, Wisconsin

Named for Minnesota’s Bronko Nagurski and Michigan’s Charles Woodson

Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year: Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

Named for Minnesota’s Darrell Thompson and Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El

Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote): Mark Dantonio, Michigan State

Named for Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler

Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote): Mark Dantonio, Michigan State

Named for Wisconsin’s Dave McClain

Rosemont, Ill. – The Big Ten on Monday announced the 2013 All-Big Ten teams as well as 10 postseason individual award winners, with Michigan’s Taylor Lewan, Northwestern’s Jeff Budzien, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller and Penn State’s Allen Robinson earning individual honors for the second straight season. Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State each claimed two individual trophies, while one standout each from Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin earned an award.

Michigan’s Lewan was named the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year for the second consecutive season, the first conference player to earn back-to-back accolades since fellow-Wolverine Jake Long was honored in 2006 and 2007. After sharing the award last season, Northwestern’s Budzien was named the Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year for the second straight season. Ohio State’s Miller earned the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year honor for the second consecutive year, while Penn State’s Robinson claimed the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year award in back-to-back seasons.

In other Big Ten individual honors, the Wolverines’ Devin Funchess was tabbed the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year, Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard earned the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year honor, while teammate Shilique Calhoun was named the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year. The Buckeyes’ Carlos Hyde was tabbed the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year, Purdue’s Cody Webster claimed the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year honor, while Wisconsin’s Chris Borland was named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year.

Thirteen Big Ten players were named repeat selections to the All-Big Ten first-team, including Michigan’s Lewan, Michigan State linebacker Max Bullough, Dennard and punter Mike Sadler, Northwestern’s Budzien, Ohio State’s Miller, guard Andrew Norwell, defensive back Bradley Roby and linebacker Ryan Shazier, Penn State’s Robinson and guard John Urschel and Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis and Borland.

The Big Ten also recognized 12 Sportsmanship Award honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

The Big Ten postseason awards process is voted on by conference coaches and a select media panel and honors teams, coaches and student-athletes with individual honors that each bear the names of one or two former standouts. The Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian and Ford-Kinnick Leadership awards were announced last week, 10 individual trophies were announced Monday, and the remaining five trophy winners will be unveiled on Tuesday.

A complete list of the 2013 All-Big Ten teams and select individual award winners, along with this year’s sportsmanship honorees, can be found on the attached PDF.

Following Big Ten football games on Nov. 29 and 30, the offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week and freshman of the week in the Big Ten were announced this morning. Below are this week’s honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week

Tre Roberson, Indiana

So., QB, Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central

•           Threw six touchdown passes, tied for an Indiana record, in the Hoosiers’ 56-36 win over Purdue last Saturday

•           Completed 25-of-37 passes for 273 yards and rushed for a career-high 154 yards, for a career-best 427 yards of total offense

•           Led a Hoosier offense that accumulated 692 total yards and 42 first downs, each program records

•           Registers the first Offensive Player of the Week honor of his career

•           Last Indiana Offensive Player of the Week: Tevin Coleman (Nov. 11, 2013)

Defensive Player of the Week

Christian Kirksey, Iowa

Sr., LB, St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood East

•           Notched a team-high 11 tackles in Iowa’s 38-17 victory over Nebraska last Friday

•           Recorded three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass deflection

•           Helped the Iowa defense hold Nebraska more than 140 yards below its season rushing average

•           Reels in the first Defensive Player of the Week honor of his career

•           Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: James Morris (Oct. 28, 2013)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Jeff Budzien, Northwestern

Sr., PK, Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead

•           Connected on three field goals and four extra points in a 37-34 win at Illinois to move into first place on the Wildcats’ career scoring list with 280 points

•           His 19-yard field goal in the first quarter was his 21st of the season, which set a new Northwestern single-season record

•           Added field goals of 26 and 42 yards for 13 total points

•           Claims his second career Special Teams Player of the Week honor

•           Last Northwestern Special Teams Player of the Week: Jeff Budzien (Sept. 17, 2012)

Freshman of the Week

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

QB, Palmyra, Va./Fork Union Military Academy

•           Threw for 339 yards on 21-of-30 passing and four touchdowns in Penn State’s 31-24 win at nationally ranked Wisconsin last Saturday

•           Now has 2,955 yards passing this season, which ranks third on Penn State’s single-season list

•           Produced his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season, which is tied for first on the Nittany Lions’ single-season list

•           Wins his fifth Freshman of the Week award, which ranks second since the award began in 2010

•           Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Christian Hackenberg (Nov. 25, 2013)

Rosemont, Ill. – With victories on Saturday, Michigan State and Ohio State concluded conference play with matching 8-0 records, the first time since 2002 and just the second time since 1943 that two Big Ten teams finished with perfect marks. The Spartans and Buckeyes will meet in the third annual Big Ten Football Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Michigan State will make its second title game appearance in three years while Ohio State will play in the championship game for the first time. The winner of the 2013 Big Ten Football Championship Game will earn the Amos Alonzo Stagg Championship Trophy and a chance to play in one of two historic games in Pasadena, Calif. – the 100th Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1 or the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game on Jan. 6.

Michigan State defeated Minnesota today to end the regular season with a perfect conference mark for the first time since finishing 7-0 in 1966. The Spartans earned the outright Legends Division title last Saturday, the program’s second outright division crown in three seasons after finishing first in 2011. Michigan State improved to 8-0 in the Big Ten and 11-1 overall.

Ohio State edged Michigan today to secure its second straight outright Leaders Division title. The Buckeyes built on their school record with a 24th straight victory, which is tied for the fourth-longest winning streak in Big Ten history, and improved to 8-0 in conference and 12-0 overall. Ohio State produced an unblemished conference mark for the second straight season and fourth time since 2002.                 

The Spartans and Buckeyes will meet for the first time since the 2012 Big Ten opener, when Ohio State edged Michigan State, 17-16, in East Lansing, Mich. In a back-and-forth game, Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller connected on a 63-yard scoring strike to Devin Smith to take a 17-13 lead in the third quarter. The Spartans added a fourth-quarter field goal, but Ohio State held on for the one-point victory in Urban Meyer’s first Big Ten game as a head coach.

The Big Ten announced on Nov. 27 that a limited number of suites were still available for the 2013 Big Ten Football Championship Game, but both the general public tickets and the team ticket blocks have sold out. Those interested in purchasing a suite for the 2013 Big Ten Football Championship Game should contact Stephanie Arnold of Indiana Sports Corp at 317-237-5036. Every Big Ten Football Championship Game ticket will allow complimentary admission to the Big Ten Fan Fest presented by Dr Pepper, to be held at the Indiana Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7.

For more information on the Big Ten Football Championship Game, go to www.bigten.org.