The Michigan Wolverines‘ contest this weekend against the Maryland Terrapins was canceled earlier today due to COVID-19 cases within the Michigan football program.
As we saw with the Wisconsin Badgers earlier this season, COVID-19 outbreaks within a program are rarely a 1-week thing.
Why is this significant? Because on December 12 the Wolverines are scheduled to face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes, a team that has already seen two games canceled due to COVID-19 cases.
Related: Opinion: A Big Ten rule is close to taking away the remaining credibility of the 2020 season
According to Chris Balas, senior editor of Rivals’ TheWolverine, the situation at Michigan is not getting any better and the rivalry contest against Ohio State is in serious jeopardy.
Sources: Michigan football's situation has not gotten better on the COVID front. At this point, we'd bet heavily against games this week or next.
— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) December 2, 2020
If this were to come true, the Buckeyes would only have five regular-season games and would not qualify for the Big Ten Championship.
That then, if Wisconsin is able to defeat Indiana and Iowa to close out the regular season, would set up a Big Ten “Champions Week” matchup between the Badgers and the Buckeyes.
Going into the season, many predicted a postseason matchup between these two schools. The thought was that it would occur in the conference championship, though, and not as the second-place game.
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Wisconsin still, believe it or not, has a long-shot chance at making the College Football Playoff with ESPN FPI still giving them a 4 percent chance. For that to happen these reports must come true and the Badgers must face off and defeat the Buckeyes.
It’s a long shot, and if the Big Ten didn’t have a 6-game requirement to qualify for the conference championship we wouldn’t even be in this position. But that is the situation we’re in as the Big Ten season continues to unravel as it nears the finish line.