Big Ten Standings 2012: Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State Share Title

A wild final day of the Big Ten regular season has produced a three-way tie at the top of the standings. Because Michigan beat Penn State and Ohio State edged Michigan State on Sunday, three teams will be listed as champions for the 2011-12 season: Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Going into the day, Michigan State held a one-game lead over Michigan and Ohio State. After Michigan managed to hold off Penn State on the road earlier in the day, the Wolverines moved into position for a share of the Big Ten title if it got some help from the Buckeyes. For much of the first half, Ohio State gave Michigan very little help. Michigan State was having its way with the Buckeyes, but Ohio State battled back and won 72-70 on a last-second shot by William Buford, giving itself and Michigan a share of the Big Ten title. For the Wolverines, this is their first regular-season title since 1986.

With the way things shook out on Sunday, the final Big Ten standings at the top of the conference look like this:

t-1. Ohio State (13-5)
t-1. Michigan State (13-5)
t-1. Michigan (13-5)
4. Wisconsin (12-6)

Next in line are Indiana and Purdue, which are playing right now to determine who will finish fifth in the conference. After that, you have Northwestern and Iowa tied for seventh, Minnesota and Illinois tied for ninth and Nebraska and Penn State tied for last.

For the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis next week, Michigan State holds the No. 1 seed. Michigan is slotted second and Ohio State is third based on a variety of tiebreakers.

For more on the Michigan State Spartans, go to The Only Colors. For more on the Michigan Wolverines, go to Maize n Brew. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball.

Big Ten Standings: Michigan, Ohio State Still In Title Picture

Going into the final weekend of the regular season, we know that Michigan State will be hanging a banner after winning the Big Ten regular season title. That is already decided. The big question is if the Spartans will be the only team that gets to hang a banner after this season or if they will be joined by Michigan and Ohio State.

Currently, Michigan State is one game ahead of both Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten standings. Because Michigan State hosts Ohio State on Sunday, the Buckeyes have a chance to clinch a share of the Big Ten title with a victory. For Michigan to end its Big Ten title drought, it needs to win at Penn State on Sunday and get help from Ohio State in the form of a win over the Spartans.

For Michigan State to win the title outright, it needs a victory. Only two teams can share the title if Michigan is upset by Penn State, but Tom Izzo has made it clear that Michigan State doesn't want to share the title with anyone. Yes, the Spartans will be called regular season champions regardless of what happens on Sunday, but for them there is still work to be done in order to win the title outright.

Michigan can't win the title outright, but considering the Wolverines haven't won a Big Ten championship since 1986, sharing is more than okay at this point. It's out of their hands beyond beating Penn State to have a chance at sharing the title, but considering where this program was just four years ago, the fact that they're in the hunt in the final week says a lot about the progress John Beilein and company are making.

For more on the Michigan State Spartans, go to The Only Colors. For more on the Michigan Wolverines, go to Maize n Brew. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball.

Big Ten Standings: Michigan State's Loss Keeps Michigan, Ohio State In Title Race

A lot has to happen, but Michigan is still in the race for its first Big Ten basketball title since 1986. The same goes for Ohio State. Both teams stayed alive thanks to Indiana's 70-55 victory over Michigan State on Tuesday night. The Spartans could have clinched an outright title with a victory, but since they lost, the door for a shared title remains open.

Because Ohio State plays at Michigan State on Sunday, the title picture is especially interesting. Michigan State has already clinched at least a share of the regular-season crown, and a win on Sunday would ensure an outright title. If Ohio State loses to Northwestern on Wednesday and Michigan slips up in one of its final two games, the Spartans would also be ensured an outright title.

If Michigan State were to lose on Sunday, it's possible there could be a three-way tie for first in the Big Ten. Ohio State can clinch a share of the title with a win against Northwestern and Michigan State, and Michigan can get to the top of the conference with wins at Illinois and Penn State if Michigan State loses.

It's possible that by the time Michigan State's game tips off against Ohio State that the Spartans will already be the outright champs, but for now, the hopes of a Big Ten title in Columbus and Ann Arbor are still alive.

For more on the Michigan State Spartans, go to The Only Colors. For more on the Michigan Wolverines, go to Maize n Brew. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball.

Michigan State Basketball Clinches At Least A Share Of Big Ten Title

Michigan State is guaranteed to finish with at least a share of the 2011-12 Big Ten basketball title. To clinch an outright title, the Spartans need to win only one of their final two games.