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This season, the Big Ten will likely have three teams competing in the College Football Playoffs. Football Playoff, things could get chaotic when unbeaten Ohio State and Indiana slip on the last stretch. Two of college football’s best teams will meet in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium for an epic No. 1 vs. No. Michigan’s win over Northwestern kept them in the playoff discussion. USC’s rain-soaked victory over Iowa was a game that effectively eliminated the Trojans from the playoffs. USC’s win over Iowa in the rain was a game that effectively eliminated the Trojans from the playoffs. The same stakes are involved with their Week 13 matchup with the Ducks. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has pushed for an “NFL style” playoff, with play-ins keeping CFP dreams alive late into the season. Ironically, the conference has five teams capable of reaching double-digit wins this year, which would be a record.The Big Ten announced new tiebreaking procedures ahead of the 2024 season and will follow them to determine which two teams meet for the conference championship on Dec. 6.Big Ten tiebreakers, explained The tied teams will be compared based on head-to-head matchups during the regular season.The tied teams will be compared based on record against all common conference opponents.The tied teams will be compared based on record against common opponents with the best conference record and proceeding through the common conference opponents based on their order of finish within the conference standings. The tied team will be compared using the conference winning percentages of all opponents.
Ohio State (10-0, 7-0). While there is no guarantee that the Buckeyes can end their four-year losing streak against Michigan, the Wolverines will be the last obstacle between Ohio State’s top seed and the title game.
If Ohio State wins against Rutgers, but loses at Michigan: Buckeyes will miss out on the Big Ten Championship Game if Indiana or Oregon win. The Ducks have a better record than the Buckeyes against the common Big Ten opponent (Rutgers).
Curt Cignetti’s Indiana team is well-positioned to compete for the conference title. The Hoosiers are in great shape to compete for a conference championship.
Oregon (9-1, 6-1 )The loss at home to Indiana this year weakened Oregon’s chances of repeating as Big Ten champs. The Ducks have two options to defend the crowd, and both involve an Ohio State loss.
USC (8-2 – 6-1)At the moment, Lincoln Riley has only one goal: to win at Oregon this week before completing things against UCLA. USC’s ten wins will likely get them into the Big Ten playoff as their second at-large pick without the need to play another game in Indianapolis.
If the Trojans defeat Oregon and UCLA, and Ohio State loses against Michigan, then they are in the Big Ten Championship Game because of their better record among the Buckeyes’ common Big Ten opponent (Michigan).
Michigan (8-2-6-1)The Wolverines’ conference title hopes will be determined by how they perform against Maryland. The Ann Arbor finale is also important. If the Wolverines defeat Maryland and Ohio State, and Indiana loses Purdue, then they are in the Big Ten Championship Game. If the Wolverines win the Boilermakers, and Oregon beats USC, and Washington beats Oregon they are in the Big Ten Championship Game. In this scenario, Michigan would have one conference loss, and play Indiana in a final. If the Wolverines win Maryland and Ohio State and USC defeats Oregon, and UCLA beats USC they will be in the Big Ten Championship Game. USC is the team that has the edge in head-tohead competition with Michigan. Therefore, Michigan needs the Trojans not to win again.
2025-11-21 14:08:07
