It was played on December 1, 2012, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, to determine the 2012 champion of the Big Ten Conference.

The Cornhuskers, led by fifth-year head coach Bo Pelini, finished the regular season as the champion of the Legends Division.

To date, this is Nebraska's lone appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.

The 2012 Big Ten football championship game would be the last time Bret Bielema coached the Badgers.

He departed Wisconsin three days after the Big Ten championship game to accept the head coaching position at Arkansas.