We could be on the doorstep of an announcement by the Big Ten to play a shortened season (we hope). As soon as it is potentially announced, all eyes will be on the schedule and who teams will play and how, if at all, it can impact the College Football playoffs. Even with the season, it may be too little too late, or maybe not.
Nobody really knows.
The questions surrounding the playoffs will certainly come to the forefront if the Big Ten does in fact play a season. Will the committee use their stated goal of putting the four best teams in and allow a Big Ten team in, even with fewer games played than other schools? The answer is probably not going to be easy.
Let the madness ensue.
If the Buckeyes do run the table on the shortened season and look really impressive doing so, then the argument for putting them in can be condensed to the committee’s past comments on putting the four best teams in. However, they have an easy out to say they didn’t face the same amount of games as someone else.
And if we’ve seen anything over the course of the first six years, it’s that Ohio State often tries to break the CFP, often being the first team or two either out, or in.
Let's say the season kicks off October 17.
Would that allow the B1G enough time to get a team in the CFP?@PeteThamel thinks so.
Full interview ➡️ https://t.co/emju4fE6lW pic.twitter.com/rURnIyCD3V
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 15, 2020
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An example, if Oklahoma runs the table in the Big 12, LSU runs it in the SEC, and Clemson runs it in the ACC, that would probably be three of the four teams. Without the Pac-12 playing, the only other Power Five conference left is the Big Ten. However, if a team like BYU goes undefeated, it would be an interesting debate. Unless …
If the Buckeyes can run the table and blow everyone out while doing it, they can make a stone-cold case they are in fact one of the best teams in college football. If a Group of Five team struggles against a lesser opponent, it could open the door for the Buckeyes to still sneak in regardless.
This is madness that the committee has to now decide as soon as the Big Ten announces they are playing (we still wait). As long as they are not playing there is no real question, but even in a condensed schedule there will be some hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing over all of this.
Let me the madness begin.
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