According to a report from Stadium’s Brett McMurphy, the Big Ten athletic director’s are likely going to change Big Ten title game requirements to ensure Ohio State can be in. Is anybody surprised?
The Buckeyes are about to improve to 5-0 as they currently lead Michigan State by 30+ late in the fourth quarter, but if next week’s rivalry game with Michigan cannot be played due to the Wolverines COVID-19 concerns, the Buckeyes would not qualify for the championship game due to not playing six games.
The initial league policy was that a team must play six of eight games in order to qualify for the championship game, unless the average number of games played across the league fell under six (which even if every game is cancelled next week it will not).
B1G ADs will likely change B1G title game requirements to allow 5-0 Ohio State in title game if it can’t play 6th league game, sources told @Stadium. But it won’t be an easy decision, source said. A win in B1G title game would all but guarantee Buckeyes a spot in @CFBPlayoff
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 5, 2020
With Ohio State having the only legitimate chance to represent the conference in the College Football Playoff, and likely needing a Big Ten title game win to get there, the conference is on its way to making the obvious decision.
This also potentially effects Wisconsin, who will not get to six games played. If Northwestern loses next week and the Badgers win out, this rule change would likely allow UW into the Big Ten championship game as well. Although nothing is confirmed yet, the AD’s were always going to do everything possible to ensure the Buckeyes could represent the conference in the playoff.