The Big Ten championship already has been decided.

The Game — Michigan vs. Ohio State — has been B1GGER than the league’s title game since the inception of the current format.

East vs. West is in the final year of its 10-year run, which means it’s 10 years past its expiration date. This was a bad idea from the start. Back then, apparently, the league cared about geographical honesty and keeping the greatest rivalry in sports as an annual rite. It didn’t care nearly as much about giving its television partners an attractive matchup to cap the season.

So there will be one more prime time stinker emanating from Indianapolis, home of the conference headquarters. The powers that be won’t have to travel to take in what they have wrought.

Sure, No. 17 Iowa (10-2) will carry an incredible overachievement story into Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night to face off at 8 p.m. with No. 2 Michigan (12-0). It’s a battle of 2 of the best defenses in the land, so maybe the Hawkeyes can stay in range of the Wolverines for a half or more. But oddsmakers have Michigan as a 23.5-point favorite for a reason.

The matchup is brutal for the Hawkeyes. They have the worst offense is the country (243.6 ypg), led by the lowest rated quarterback in the country — Deacon Hill at 91.29. According to cfbstats.com, Hill is the only qualifying Power 5 quarterback with a rating below 100. There are only 2 others in the entirety of the FBS.

Pit that offense against the No. 1 scoring defense in the country, and the outcome seems assured: The East champ will prevail for the 10th time in 10 tries. Michigan hasn’t lost in its past 24 matchups with Big Ten opponents. It won this very matchup 42-3 in the 2021 B1G championship game. No West team has hung within 1 score in this contest  since Ohio State beat Wisconsin 27-21 in 2017. That was the first of 4 straight titles for the Buckeyes, and now Michigan is going for a 3-peat.

Let’s get this over with, and move on to the new 18-team, no-divisions Big Ten that will stretch from coast to coast. This tradition-laden conference is due for a makeover.

Does Iowa stand any chance?

The only time this season Iowa faced similar competition, it lost 31-0 at Penn State, generating 76 yards and 4 first downs while losing the turnover battle 0-4. And that was when touted Michigan transfer Cade McNamara was still running the Hawkeyes’ offense; he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee the next weekend against Michigan State.

Iowa really should be 11-1. Its other loss came at home to now 5-7 Minnesota, 12-10, as Cooper DeJean’s game-winning punt return touchdown was wiped off the board by an official’s ruling that he had signaled for a fair catch.

On the other hand, the Hawks could easily be 6-6, maybe worse. They’ve escaped more times this season than Harry Houdini did in a lifetime. Somehow, Phil Parker’s defense, Tory Taylor’s punting and some timely big plays have made up for an offense that averages 18 points per game (t-124th among 133 FBS teams).

Iowa’s perseverance strains credulity. DeJean joined McNamara on the done-for-the-season list a couple weeks ago. TEs Luke Lackey and Erick All were already on it. Even  with  all those guys, the Hawkeyes would be overmatched. We’re talking about a Michigan team loaded with future NFL players.

The Wolverines have suffered some of their own key injuries lately, most notably OL Zak Zinter’s broken leg in Saturday’s 30-24 victory over Ohio State. But Jim Harbaugh’s program has depth Kirk Ferentz can only dream about.

Iowa has a chance only in an Any Given Saturday kind of way. It will need to win the turnover and field position battles.

Michigan hasn’t looked quite as dominant the past 3 games, beating Penn State by 9, Maryland by 7 and the Buckeyes by 6. QB JJ McCarthy has just 1 TD pass over the past 4 games after throwing for 18 over the season’s first 8 games.

So you’re telling me there’s a chance? Uh, no.

What is worth watching?

The game is supposed to be about the young men on the field. But FOX’s cameras likely will spend plenty of time focused on the adults on the sidelines.

For Michigan, Jim Harbaugh returns from his second 3-game suspension of the season. Fill-in Sherrone Moore handled the job so well against Ohio State that Harbaugh might be in the way on Michigan’s sideline. Expect emotions to run high as the players transition to embracing their returning leader rather than embracing the battle cry his absence provided.

Over on the Iowa sideline, Brian Ferentz will continue to play out the string as offensive coordinator despite being let go — effective after this season — weeks ago. He’s been the recipient of postgame love and hugs from the players as well as dad in the past several low-scoring victories.

These are both programs that stick together despite whatever flak comes from the outside world or even their own fans.

FOX’s Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt will play up some melodrama, one way or another. It just might not be coming from the playing field once Michigan puts its first points on the board.

The over/under, set at a whopping 35.5, will keep the degenerates tuned in. There’s always something B1G of rooting interest.