SOUTH BEND, IN – The eight members of the Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference assembled at Stinson Rugby Field for four thrilling finals weekend matches. With the first snow of the season on the forecast, the Big Ten would crown a competition in true Midwest fashion.
Purdue and Michigan opened the day in whiteout conditions. The Wolverines seemed well suited to the snow, playing an electric, sideline-to-sideline attacking brand of footy. Michigan earned a 49-14 victory and 7th Place finish in the Big Ten.
Next up, Michigan State took on Wisconsin. The Badgers took a 12-0 lead into halftime. The Spartans struck back early in the second half but the Badgers quickly replied with two more tries of their own. Wisconsin walked away 24-7 winners and 5th Place finishers in the conference.
The Consolation Final pitted Illinois against the championship hosts, Notre Dame. Illinois drew first blood and took a 12-10 lead into the locker room. In the second half, Notre Dame territorial dominance and an injury to a key Illinois half back were the recipe for the Fighting Irish to complete the comeback. Notre Dame iced the game with a late try to secure the 24-12 victory and 3rd Place in their first Big Ten XVs season.
The snow had slowed and the lights were on for the Grand Final between the Buckeyes and Hoosiers: a repeat of the last two finals which the programs had split with one win a piece. The Hoosiers had the run of play and jumped to an early lead. Indiana was scoring tries while Ohio State was only answering with penalty goals. At halftime, the Hoosiers looked secure with a 19-9 lead.
Ohio State regrouped in the locker room and turned the momentum of the match. In the 55th minute, the Buckeye's earned their first try and closed the deficit to two. A long range penalty goal in the 67th minute then gave Ohio State its first lead of the match. The Buckeyes held their lead for just six minutes. Territorial pressure gave the Hoosiers a kickable penalty. Indiana converted and restored their two-point lead with under seven to play.
Ohio State had one last opportunity to win – a penalty from just inside the 50. The stadium was suffocatingly silent as the ball missed its mark by only a few metres. Indiana saw out the clock to claim a 22-20 victory and the 2022 Big Ten XVs Championship.