July 25, 2007

CHICAGO - They are epic sports battles that are etched in hearts and minds of Big Ten fans across the nation. They are unforgettable moments that stir passion and pride. They are echoes of both triumphant victories and devastating defeats. Throughout the fall, college football fans will have the opportunity to relive 24 of those match-ups on the Big Ten Network series, "The Big Ten's Greatest Games."

The Big Ten Network will televise two classic games each week throughout the football season. "The Big Ten's Greatest Games" will highlight some of the best moments in the rich histories of all 11 Big Ten football programs.

Series producers have interviewed many legendary players and coaches from those games along with those who were on hand to cover the event. Their insight and memories will be integrated into each episode.

Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the "Greatest Games" series honors the legacy of the conference's recent past, and will be a consistent presence year-round. "We know that these are the games that our fans talk about most, and we know they will love to see them time and again," he said.

Two Northwestern games from the memorable 2000 Big Ten Championship season will be among the "Greatest Games." One is the 41-35 come-from-behind win at Minnesota followed by the 54-51 shootout victory over Michigan a week later at Ryan Field.

The win in Minneapolis was one of the most stirring comebacks by a Wildcat football team in school history. With the game tied, 35-35, as time expired, Northwestern ran "Victory Right." Quarterback Zak Kustok tossed a 45-yard pass to the end zone, which was tipped by Kunle Patrick before ending up in the hands of Sam Simmons to give NU the win. The Wildcats scored the game's last 27 points to erase a 35-14 halftime deficit that Minnesota held with more than two minutes left in the third quarter. Kustok rushed for 90 yards and passed for more than 200 while running back Damien Anderson ran for 230 yards and a pair of scores.

Not to be outdone, Northwestern edged Michigan 54-51 the very next week at home in one of the most riveting college football games ever played. Kustok's 11-yard touchdown pass to Simmons with 26 seconds left was the difference as the Wildcats outscored the Wolverines 18-6 in the final quarter for the win. The Wolverines seemed to have the game wrapped up when a wide-open Anderson dropped a fourth-down pass at the goal line that would have given NU the lead with 1:35 to go. But as Michigan attempted to run out the clock, NU safety Sean Wieber stripped UM running back Anthony Thomas of the ball. NU's Raheem Covington recovered at the Michigan 30 with 46 seconds left, giving the Wildcats new life and setting up the game winner. Northwestern piled up 654 yards of total offense that day. Kustok passed for 322 yards and two scores and ran for two more. Simmons caught 12 passes for 124 yards while Anderson racked up 268 yards on 31 attempts.

The series premieres August 30 at 9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT, with the 2006 Ohio State-Michigan "Game of the Century" before settling into its regular time slot with back-to-back episodes on Tuesday nights beginning at 6 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. CT.

Last year's memorable showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan was termed the "Game of the Century." An Ohio Stadium record crowd of 105,708 saw the first-ever No. 1 vs. No. 2 match-up in this storied rivalry. The game was played a day after legendary former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler passed away and the teams couldn't have honored his memory with a better game. Ohio State quarterback and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith threw for a career-high four touchdowns and a season-high 316 yards to propel the Buckeyes to a 42-39 win. The victory sealed a Big Ten championship for Ohio State and a berth in the BCS Championship Game.

"The Big Ten's Greatest Games" then flashes back to 1999 for Minnesota's upset victory in Happy Valley. An undefeated Penn State team appeared to be in the driver's seat for a Big Ten title and perhaps its third national championship. But one Minnesota miracle dashed those dreams. Trailing by two with less than 90 seconds to go, the Gophers faced 4th-and-16 at the Penn State 40-yard line. A last gasp pass from Gopher quarterback Billy Cockerham tipped off the hands of receiver Ron Johnson and into the hands of the diving Arland Bruce for a first down. The amazing play put the Gophers in range for kicker Dan Nystrom, who nailed a 32-yard field goal as time expired to give Minnesota a 24-23 victory.

"The Big Ten's Greatest Games" continues throughout the fall with many memorable match-ups, including the 2004 contest between No. 5 Purdue and No. 10 Wisconsin. The Boilermakers were clinging to 17-14 lead with 2:36 to play when Wisconsin's Scott Starks and Robert Brooks jarred the ball free from Purdue's Heisman hopeful, quarterback Kyle Orton. Starks returned the fumble 40 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Orton led the Boilermakers into field goal range on a frantic 16-play drive inside the final two minutes. But a 42-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. The Badger victory spoiled Homecoming at Purdue and the Boilermakers' perfect record.

Another one of "The Big Ten's Greatest Games" happened on Sept. 23, 2000 in East Lansing, Mich., where Michigan State defeated Notre Dame for the fourth straight time thanks to some late drama. The Spartans built a 20-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but with eight minutes to go the Irish rallied to take a 21-20 edge. Michigan State's freshman quarterback Jeff Smoker, making just his second career start, stepped in. With just 1:48 remaining, Smoker connected with Herb Haygood for a 68-yard touchdown pass, lifting the No. 23 Spartans over the No. 16 Irish, 27-21.

An additional 20 classic games will be televised, and those games will be released as the season progresses.

The official launch of the Big Ten Network comes Aug. 30, two days before the kick-off of the 2007 Big Ten college football season. Big Ten Tonight, a nightly studio show hosted by Dave Revsine, will preview the upcoming season and closely examine all of the weekend's conference teams in action. The network will televise more live events in HD than any other new network in television history. The network recently announced a commitment to gender equality by 2010, when all Big Ten Network-controlled television, Internet and mobile media will provide equal men's and women's athletic coverage.

About the Big Ten Network: The Big Ten Network is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its 11 member institutions. The Big Ten Network will provide unprecedented access to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original programs in academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities; and associated personalities. Sports programming will include live coverage of more major men's and women's events than ever before, along with news, highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of university-produced campus programming. The network is available to all cable and satellite carriers and television distributors nationwide, with most programs offered in stunning high-definition television (HDTV). The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. For more information regarding the Big Ten Network, visit www.BigTenNetwork.com