We have just one more week left in the college football regular season before the conference championship games take center stage. In the case of the Big Ten, there are still four teams: Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, and Michigan that all have a legitimate chance of making it to Indianapolis to play for a trophy and confetti.
With the expansion of leagues in the era that we are in, and the decision to eliminate divisions, determining the teams to play for a conference title involves more complex tiebreaking scenarios, and that’s exactly what we might be dealing with in the Big Ten. In fact, there are seven different scenarios that could still play out (some more likely than others) to determine the two teams playing in Indianapolis.
First things first, though, to get it out of the way, if both undefeated teams in the league, Ohio State (11-0, 8-0) and Indiana (11-0, 8-0), both win on the road against Michigan and Purdue, that takes all of the drama out of things. Those two would obviously be the two playing for the Big Ten Championship. If, however, either of the two should falter, that’s where tiebreakers will kick in.
Here are the seven scenarios that are still in play when determining the two teams that will play in the Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game, including the tiebreaking scenarios that would kick in.
But first, a look at the conference’s tiebreaking standards and procedures. Don’t worry about getting the scientific graphing calculator out; just trust us on the process and what we received from the Big Ten.
Big Ten Championship Game tiebreaking scenarios
Big Ten Championship Game scenario No. 1 – Ohio State (9-0) vs. Indiana (9-0)
No drama here. Ohio State and Indiana would be the only two undefeated conference teams and would head to Indy to settle things on the field
Big Ten Championship Game scenario No. 2 – Indiana (9-0) vs. Oregon (8-1)
Big Ten Records:
Indiana (9-0)
Michigan (8-1)
Ohio State (8-1)
Oregon (8-1)
Tiebreaker Step No. 1 | No head-to-head among 3 tied teams
Tiebreaker Step No. 2 | 2-0 vs. common opponents (WASH and WIS)
Tiebreaker Step No. 3 | N/A
Tiebreaker Step No. 4 | Oregon confirmed to have the best overall record of conference opponents among tied teams and clinches a berth
Big Ten Championship Game scenario No. 3 – Indiana (9-0) vs. Michigan (8-1)
Big Ten Records:
Indiana (9-0)
Ohio State (8-1)
Michigan (8-1)
Oregon (7-2)
Tiebreaker Step No. 1 | Michigan def. Ohio State head-to-head; Michigan clinches berth
Big Ten Championship Game scenario No. 4 – Ohio State (9-0) vs. Indiana (8-1)
Big Ten Records:
Ohio State (9-0)
Indiana (8-1)
Oregon (8-1)
Tiebreaker Step No. 1 | Indiana def. Oregon head-to-head; Indiana clinches berth
Big Ten Championship Game scenario No. 5 – Oregon (8-1) vs. Michigan (8-1)
Big Ten Records:
Indiana (8-1)
Ohio State (8-1)
Michigan (8-1)
Oregon (8-1)
Tiebreaker Step No. 1 | No head-to-head among tied teams
Tiebreaker Step No. 2 | 1-0 vs. common opponent (WIS)
Tiebreaker Step No. 3 | N/A
Tiebreaker Step No. 4 | Oregon confirmed to have best overall record of conference opponents among tied teams and clinches berth
Proceed to three-way tiebreaker between OSU/MICH/IND at 8-1
Tiebreaker Step No. 1 | No head-to-head among tied teams
Tiebreaker Step No. 2 | OSU and MICH 2-0 vs. common opponents, IND 1-1 (PUR and WIS). Indiana removed from tiebreaker.
Revert to two-way tiebreaker between OSU and MICH
Tiebreaker Step No. 1 | Michigan def. Ohio State head-to-head; Michigan clinches berth
Big Ten Championship Game scenario No. 6 – Ohio State (8-1) vs. Michigan (8-1)
Big Ten Records:
Indiana (8-1)
Ohio State (8-1)
Michigan (8-1)
Oregon (7-2)
Tiebreaker Step No. 1 | No head-to-head among tied teams
Tiebreaker Step No. 2 | OSU and MICH 2-0 vs. common opponents, IND 1-1 (PUR and WIS) Indiana removed from tiebreaker; Ohio State and Michigan clinch berths
Big Ten Championship Game scenario No. 7 – Ohio State (9-0) vs. Indiana (8-1)
Big Ten Records:
Ohio State (9-0)
Indiana (8-1)
Michigan (7-2)
Oregon (7-2)
Ohio State and Indiana clinch berths
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten Championship game scenarios still have four teams alive
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
