What in the world is the College Football Playoff committee going to do with the Big Ten?
The conference created a dilemma simply by having a conference championship game. Ohio State won’t play in that game but still looks like the surest bet to make the College Football Playoff. Two-loss Penn State and Wisconsin will play in that game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday despite both losing to Michigan in the regular season.
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It’s going to be the most-talked about conference heading into unveiling of the latest rankings Tuesday, and that’s going to be a tone-setter for conference championship weekend.
Ohio State (11-1, 8-1)
Strongest argument: The Buckeyes are the only one-loss team to come out of the Big Ten, and they have wins against Oklahoma, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Urban Meyer doesn’t lose that argument often.
Biggest flaw: They didn’t win the Big Ten East, they aren’t going to Indianapolis and they lost head-to-head to Penn State.
Will they get in? Unless the committee starts to re-think their current position, the Buckeyes look like the first non-conference champion that will make the playoff.
If they get in, it will piss off … Penn State fans.
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Penn State (10-2, 8-1)
Strongest argument: The Nittany Lions are a hot team now, and they won the Big Ten East. They earned their shot to play for the Big Ten title by beating Ohio State. Should that conference championship weigh more than two regular-season losses?
Biggest flaw: It’s either the three-point loss to Pitt or the blowout 39-point loss to Michigan.
Will they get in? The Nittany Lions aren’t a sure thing even if they win the Big Ten championship even though they have the head-to-head against the Buckeyes. The problem is that’s their only victory against a ranked team this season.
If they get in, it will piss off … Ohio State and Michigan fans.
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Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2)
Strongest argument: The Badgers played a brutal schedule that included five teams that were ranked in the top 10 at the time they played them. Granted, LSU, Michigan State and Nebraska are nowhere near that now.
Biggest flaw: Wisconsin lost back-to-back, one-score games against Michigan and Ohio State. They played tough in those games, but they still lost.
Will they get in? Wisconsin should get in with a win in the Big Ten championship game, and they probably have a better case.
If they get in, it will piss off … Ohio State fans.
Michigan (10-2, 7-2)
Strongest argument: If the committee is going to let Ohio State in ahead of Penn State and Wisconsin, then why wouldn’t Michigan be in that discussion for a second Big Ten team? Michigan beat the Nittany Lions and Badgers in the regular season and they had the same regular-season records.
Biggest flaw: That loss to Iowa is probably going to keep Michigan out of the playoff.
Will they get in? Those chances are slim, but if Colorado wins the Pac-12 and Penn State wins the Big Ten, then Michigan might wiggle into the discussion. It’s a little harder to justify than Ohio State, however, given the two losses.
If they get in, it will piss off … Wisconsin and Penn State fans.
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Five quick hits
Best bet for one team? Ohio State
Biggest argument this week: Ohio State or Penn State?
Best bet for two teams: Ohio State and Wisconsin
A little chaos could create: Ohio State and Michigan
Could three teams happen? No, but just imagine if Washington, Clemson and Oklahoma lose next weekend. Would you take Colorado or Oklahoma State over Ohio State? Michigan? Wisconsin? Penn State?
