In the hours before Penn State was scheduled to kick off its final road game at Minnesota, Penn State got a little bit of a clearer picture of its Big Ten championship title hopes thanks to what went down in the early afternoon timeslot in the Big Ten. Indiana took its first loss of the season, against Ohio State, and the scenario for Penn State playing in the Big Ten championship game got a little bit easier to figure out. And, potentially, a bit more realistic than it may have been if Indiana won against the Buckeyes.
The first order of business is Penn State still has to beat Minnesota, and then take care of Maryland in next week’s regular-season finale at home. Without wins in these two games, Penn State will not be able to get past Ohio State in the Big Ten title race thanks to a head-to-head tie-breaker favoring Ohio State over the Nittany Lions.
The scenario to root for now may not require paying any attention to what Indiana does next week against Purdue. It may all just boil down to The Game, the annual rivalry matchup between Ohio State and Michigan. If Ohio State happens to stumble yet again to their rivals from up north, then the door swings wide open for Penn State for a spot in Indianapolis if it picks up wins against Minnesota and Maryland.
Penn State would stay ahead of Ohio State, who would have two conference losses in this scenario. Penn State would also be projected to come out ahead of Indiana in the remaining tiebreakers in the Big Ten between tied teams who did not face each other. Of course, if Indiana somehow loses to Purdue, it will be much easier to send Penn State to the Big Ten championship game.
Is it still unlikely to come together? Even if Penn State beats Minnesota, it may be too much to ask for help from Michigan this year. Michigan has taken the rivalry with Ohio State in recent years but the Wolverines will be an underdog against Ohio State next week as the Michigan football program is not the same as it has been in recent seasons.
But, there is a reason you play the games! So there is still something big to play for other than the College Football Playoff.
Oregon clinched a spot in the Big Ten championship game with a win last week. If Ohio State wins next week or if Penn State and Indiana lose, the Buckeyes will clinch a spot in the Big Ten title game for a rematch with the Ducks, the only team to beat them this season.
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