Somehow, Pat Fitzgerald did it.
The literal how is very clear. His Northwestern Wildcats — at one point 1-3 and still winless in the non-conference — clinched the Big Ten West with a 14-10 victory at Iowa (6-4, 3-4).
They needed one loss each between divisional contenders Wisconsin and Purdue to officially punch their ticket to the Big Ten Championship.
The Badgers dropped a 22-10 decision at Penn State, and Minnesota blew the doors off the Boilermakers 41-10. Once he found out, Fitzgerald and his team (6-4, 6-1) partied in Kinnick Stadium.