Penn State is your 2016 Big Ten champion.

The Nittany Lions (11-2) overcame a 28-7 first-half deficit with an absolute barrage of haymakers from Trace McSorley and a loaded receiver unit. The Wisconsin Badgers (10-3) had built their championship run on the strength of one of college football's best defenses, but the unit crumbled in a surprising 38-31 shootout in Indianapolis Saturday night. 

The win clinched the first conference title for Penn State since 2008, while the loss handed Wisconsin its second consecutive defeat in the league title game. 

Wisconsin: Offense

Wisconsin's championship run was built on the strength of one of college football's stingiest defenses, but it was the offense that created the big first-half lead.

Corey Clement was red hot out of the gate, using a 67-yard touchdown to fuel a 113-yard first half. He was the key as the Badgers bulldozed their way to 164 first-half rushing yards and 230 total yards.

There was concern at quarterback when Alex Hornibrook couldn't go, but Bart Houston was the efficient game manager the offense needed. He finished with 174 passing yards, completing 76.2 percent of his passes.

But the offense faded in the second half, scoring just three points on five possessions. They also missed a field goal in the third quarter, punted twice and couldn't get the yard they needed on fourth down with a little more than a minute to go.

That failed fourth-down attempt sealed the win for Penn State.

Grade: B-

Penn State: Offense

Penn State's offense made some huge plays in the first half, mainly on the arm of Trace McSorley, but it unwisely neglected its best playmaker through two quarters.

Running back Saquon Barkley got just seven touches before the break desptie chewing up the Wisconsin defense for 56 yards and eight yards per carry. McSorley was excellent, completing 60 percent of his passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns through two quarters, but Penn State needed to keep its defense off the field, and that's where Barkley would've thrived.

Getting McSorley in a rhythm paid off, though. The Penn State quarterback continued to roll in the second half and finished with a career-high 384 passing yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target was Saeed Blacknall, who registered a Big Ten Championship Game record 155 receiving yards to complement two touchdowns. 

The Nittany Lions piled up 435 total yards against the nation's No. 7 total defense and scored points on every drive in the second half except the last one, when it ran out the clock and clinched the win. 

Grade: A

Wisconsin: Defense

Wisconsin's defense started the game like it had played all season. It was dominant, got after the quarterback and forced timely turnovers to build a huge lead.

The Nittany Lions went three-and-out on their first two drives, then had two fumbles and two turnovers on downs. But Trace McSorley and the offense found a weakness they could exploit, and they started attacking Wisconsin's undersized cornerbacks down the field.

If Wisconsin's defense had a weakness, it was its pass defense, which still ranked 23rd nationally in yards surrendered. McSorley made easy work of that secondary, though, throwing a career-high 384 yards.

While their offensive counterparts did them no favors, the Badgers defense didn't get a single stop in the second half. 

Grade: D

Penn State: Defense

Penn State's defense won't get enough credit for what it did in the second half.

The first half was ugly, as Corey Clement ran wild and the Wisconsin offense piled up 230 total yards and was responsible for three touchdowns. It's incredibly difficult to stop the Badgers when they're rolling, but the Nittany Lions found a way.

Brandon Bell and Co. allowed 185 yards in the second half, but they only surrenederd three points. The biggest play of the game came late in the fourth quarter, when the Badgers had advanced the ball near the red zone with time running out. Wisconsin needed just one yard, but Penn State's front seven stood tall and forced the turnover on downs.

Grade: A

Wisconsin: Coaching

Very few teams have had much luck against Penn State in the second half this season.

The Nittany Lions lead the country in scoring margin after halftime, so to beat the Nittany Lions, you need to have a sizeable halftime lead and a good defense. 

Wisconsin had both of those, but they came out flat after the break. The offense moved the ball into scoring position but failed to convert the drive into points. And on Penn State's first offensive play of the half, confusion in the coverage had Saeed Blacknall wide open to convert a 70-yard touchdown.

Those mistakes fall on the coaching staff, and Wisconsin's inability to turn the momentum back their way was the difference in the game.

Grade: D

Penn State: Coaching

Down 21-7 midway through the second quarter, James Franklin and the Penn State coaching staff flinched.

Very little went right for the Nittany Lions in the first half, and the bad snap that led to a Badgers defensive score had just created a 14-point deficit. Facing a 4th-and-2 at its own 42, Penn State went for it instead of punting. The busted play resulted in a throw away from Trace McSorley and gave the Badgers great field position.

The momentum was already solidly in favor of Wisconsin, but the offense marched right down the field and scored to make it a 28-7 game.

On the very next drive near midfield, Franklin's offense stalled and faced a 4th-and-1. Penn State doubled down and went for it again, only for McSorley to get sacked. Wisconsin didn't score, but Penn State forfeited an unnecessary advantage in the field-position battle.

While that aggressiveness hurt in the first part of the game, it paid off in the second half. Despite playing one of the best defenses in the country, Franklin stuck to his guns and kept firing. 

Grade: A