An Argument to keep Indiana in the B1G Title Game
Now that the OSU game is officially canceled, I expect that the B1G will change the rules for OSU. The most obvious argument for that is that OSU beat Indiana, is undefeated, and is pretty obviously the best team. Hard to really push back much against that.
But, if you wanted to make the case for Indiana from a B1G perspective, I would argue there is a financial incentive to keeping Indiana in the championship game in that the B1G champion is guaranteed a NY6 bowl game and it doesn't look like a second B1G team has a realistic shot at one of those bowls if OSU is the B1G champ.
It seems likely that a 6-0 OSU with a win over Wisconsin or Iowa that isn't technically the B1G champ is just as likely as a 6-0 OSU with a win over Northwestern and a B1G championship to make the playoff.
I say give Indiana the shot, they'll probably never get another shot at it. Shame that the Rose Bowl is a semifinal this year so they won't get to play there.
December 8th, 2020 at 3:26 PM ^
They are not clearly one of the 4 best. They have benefitted from playing a shitty Big Ten schedule. Switch OSU and Texas A&Ms schedules and A&M would undefeated and OSU would have a loss. Florida would be undefeated playing OSU’s schedule.
December 8th, 2020 at 3:30 PM ^
this argument would have more merit if aTm didn't lose to alabama by 100. i would also argue that osu would be undefeated playing florida's schedule. finally, no mention of clemson in your post, who sits comfortably at 3 despite losing the only hard game it played.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:00 PM ^
Purdue is cancelling practice due to covid too. They’re supposed to play Indiana on Saturday.
If that game is cancelled too... I kinda wonder if there’s any chance that an OSU/Indiana rematch would possibly be considered for this Saturday?
December 8th, 2020 at 5:28 PM ^
Many in Nebraska are convinced that in that scenario, Warren cancels the Minnesota-Nebraska game in Lincoln (The Huskers third home game), sends the depleted Gopher team to Columbus, and the Huskers to Bloomington.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:00 PM ^
since minnesota v. wisconsin and osu v. michigan were canceled, and seeing today that purdue had to emergency cancel its practice due to covid tests, which puts the purdue v. indiana game in jeopardy, why doesn't the b1g just do away with the conference championship game/crossover week and make next week "rivalry week."
play all of osu/michigan, purdue/indiana and minnesota/wisconsin next week. crossover the rest. the b1g can spin it by saying they're a historic conference that values 100+ year old rivalries and they will do what they can to play them. decide the conference champion by win percentage. seems easy. which of course means it won't happen.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:09 PM ^
Sounds like a good idea to me.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:52 PM ^
This is the most logical recovery plan that I've heard, although an OSU stomping of Michigan won't do much for OSU's resume but at least it's a game played.
December 8th, 2020 at 3:05 PM ^
Not against the idea but based on our numbers at least it doesn't seem promising that Michigan (not sure about the others) would necessarily be in a position to play next week either
December 8th, 2020 at 2:01 PM ^
Why would they not change the rule? as much as it pains me.
OSU could schedule a game and forfeit the game and still be in the title game. The rules were not made to keep a team that literally could forfeit a game and be in the title out.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:02 PM ^
Doesn't matter if they're playing in the B1G 'ship or not. They'll still be in the playoff.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^
I think it does matter, actually
Florida beats Bama in SEC title game and Clemson beats ND in rematch
Who gets left out over a 5 win OSU team whose best win is IU by 7 at home?
December 8th, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^
Yeah, it wouldn't be the worst idea to let IU maybe play their way into the top 10 without hurting OSU. The ADs could absolutely play it off as "rules are rules" and not make it look obvious what they're trying to do.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
rules is rules.....
if you didn't have to play the game, an unranked purdue team wouldn't have drubbed The ohio state penitentiary who was #2 in the country.
the rule says 6 games, unless the average number of games played falls below 6 games (and it won't)
December 8th, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^
I really think we're making too big of a deal out of this.
Ohio State's the best team in the Big Ten. Agreed.
So what if they don't play the best team from the Big Ten West? If they don't play Northwestern in the Big Ten championship game, my understanding is that they would probably play Iowa in the crossover game. Does it really make a difference whether OSU beats 5-2 Iowa or 5-1 Northwestern (those are their current records)? I don't know of anyone who's going to be like, "Holy crap, they beat Northwestern?!?!?!?! Those Wildcats are a juggernaut!"
The Big Ten sucks this year. Let OSU go to the CFP if the committee really wants them. The Buckeyes' defense is a question mark, and they'll lose in the playoff if they make it, anyway.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:12 PM ^
I like when things don't work out for OSU...alot
December 8th, 2020 at 2:44 PM ^
I concur
December 8th, 2020 at 2:29 PM ^
The problem is they could match up with ND, guaranteeing that one team (OSU) will be in the championship
December 8th, 2020 at 2:09 PM ^
Could the Big Ten allow Ohio State to find a substitute opponent in order to have Ohio State play its sixth game and thus qualify for the Big Ten Championship game?
Last week, with under 72 hours to prepare before the game would be played, Brigham Young agreed to play at Coastal Carolina after Coastal Carolina’s game against Liberty had to be canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Liberty. That did not go too well for previously unbeaten BYU.
Among the teams that are scheduled to be off on December 12, SMU (7-3) Boston College (6-5)* and UCF (6-3) might consider a trip to Columbus to be worth the opportunity.
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* Imagine what would happen if former Ohio State assistant coach Jeff Hafley were to lead his Boston College Eagles to an upset win over Ohio State in Columbus. Would Warde Manuel then have to get on a private jet to Columbus and offer Hafley the Michigan head coach's job on the spot. Wasn't there another former Ohio State assistant coach who eventually compiled a pretty good record as Michigan's head coach?
December 8th, 2020 at 3:34 PM ^
all they'd have to do is get MD to agree to play the game that was previously cancelled.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:32 PM ^
The B1G denied Nebraska this opportunity in Week 2 after Wisconsin was the first to cancel for COVID, but we all know this league seems to make up rules to fit whatever is their agenda.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:11 PM ^
They CANT just change the rules on the fly. Well they can, and they will, but they shouldn't. Especially when it impacts Indiana. The revenue Indiana would get by playing in the championship game goes a long ways for the program.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:14 PM ^
You can't change the rules now. Not saying they won't but there is no guarantee that OSU wins the games they missed so it is unfair to punish Indiana for playing. Indiana has played 7 games and OSU played 5 - Maryland, Illinois and Michigan were canceled. Indiana has 6 B1G wins and OSU has 5 and if Indiana beats Purdue on Saturday they will have 7 wins.
Granted OSU might be the best team and they beat Indiana head to head (42-35 @ home) but you can't make a decision based on who you would think would have won missed games if there is a minimum number of games to qualify.
I think the only fair decision (if they do change the rules) would be to set up the top 4 B1G teams to play against each other over two weekends - OSU, Indiana, NW and Iowa - for the B1G championship.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:19 PM ^
College football really needs to expand the playoff already. Get rid of these dumbass conference championship games that are played in sterile NFL stadiums, and play the first round then, on campus.
December 8th, 2020 at 3:31 PM ^
We already had a 100+ team "playoff" where the playoffs was the whole season. This is why the playoff concept was always dumb. Expand it to 8 then 16 before you know it we're basically back to what it was before.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:21 PM ^
The rules in place were 100% to keep a theoretical 4-0 Indiana from getting in over a 7-1 OSU. It was always going to cave if it hurt OSU's playoff chances
December 8th, 2020 at 3:19 PM ^
This^^^
Fuck Ohio State.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:21 PM ^
The only leg (though it's a good one) IU has to stand on in the rule. I'll laugh and be happy if IU gets to go to Indy, but I'm not going to pretend they belong there.
December 8th, 2020 at 2:32 PM ^
Knowing how this year is going OSU will get a rule change to suit their needs, win the B1G, get a playoff bid, and win a NC. This is the world we live in.
December 8th, 2020 at 3:16 PM ^
In this scenario... you just have to LOVE 2020!!!!
December 8th, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
How about OSU and ND both make the championship game, and then it's canceled for COVID?
December 8th, 2020 at 2:37 PM ^
This is not just limited to B1G fans scoffing, the rest of the country, esp. SEC and ACC, will scoff that OSU has only played X games vs what they've played.
December 8th, 2020 at 3:01 PM ^
In the old days, the AD's would declare the B1G's best-in-show behind closed doors in such situations. Sorry, OSU. These aren't the old days. So we might as well let Indiana play Northwestern for the unofficial B1G championship in this insane 2020 college football "season".
December 8th, 2020 at 3:10 PM ^
Not going to happen nor should it. OSU is clearly the best team and beat IU already. This is just wishful thinking
December 8th, 2020 at 3:42 PM ^
LEAVE NO DOUBT
Purdue's COVID cases are rising, and the Indiana-Purdue game is trending towards being cancelled.
Let the Big Ten reschedule a rematch between OSU-Indiana, and hopefully reaffirm control of the B1G East.
December 8th, 2020 at 3:45 PM ^
OSU insider is saying that the BIG is trying to arrange another game for OSU. OSU may play Indiana again because Purdue is having COVID issues.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:33 PM ^
This scenario would make the most sense to me. And then winner plays NW for the B1G title on the 19th. I don't see why this couldn't (or shouldn't) happen. We're weird in the B1G sometimes about "replaying" teams, but hell, it seems to happen in the SEC often enough, eh?
December 8th, 2020 at 5:56 PM ^
The only problem I see is convincing Indiana to give up their essentially automatic berth to the B1GCG.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:42 PM ^
Absolutely true. In another thread, I mentioned that I think that the B10 will likely stick to the rules they set and keep the B10 championship game of Indiana v. NW.
OSU will still get game six in, one way or the other. Whether that's a crossover game vs Iowa, or even a game against us, possibly -- they''ll get their six, AND they'll still go the playoffs with a win.
Seems like that would pretty much make everyone happy.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:55 PM ^
So, the college football live show has IU with the 5th best percentage for making the playoffs.
And for some reason having a flashback to Allen Iverson. But substituting “Indiana” for “practice”.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:10 PM ^
Not with Penix out. Let's be honest, an Indiana minus Penix vs. Northwestern, Championship game has all the charm of a dangling hemorrhoid.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:58 PM ^
If they change the rules to give it to OSU when Indiana has won it by the rules, Indiana should leave the conference.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:28 PM ^
December 8th, 2020 at 9:30 PM ^
Please. They were drubbed by OSU and ain’t close to them. B1G needs to do the right thing and change this stuff so OSU qualifies.
Or ... play a re-match this weekend. Right, IU will never do that.
December 8th, 2020 at 10:32 PM ^
The final score was 42-35, and Indiana had the ball in the final minute with a (slim) chance to score to tie or take the lead. That's not what anyone would call a drubbing.
December 8th, 2020 at 9:44 PM ^
No argument unless you are stupid. OSU should be in the title game. Fuck IU.
December 8th, 2020 at 10:08 PM ^
NO this stupid talk. Please stop