Big 10 expected to change game rules allowing OSU to play in B1G championship.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:46 PM ^
I get the point, but let’s face it, osu is going to the playoff regardless of whether they play in B1G title game. So put IU in it, won’t matter.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:57 PM ^
OSU had 2 less opportunities to suffer a loss than Indiana did.
Yet had OSU played Michigan this weekend and lost, this discussion in the conference wouldn't be happening as OSU would be in. How does that make sense?
December 9th, 2020 at 1:31 PM ^
OSU had 2 less opportunities to suffer a loss than Indiana did
Their cancelled games were against Illinois, Michigan, and Maryland. Calling those opportunities for a loss is quite a stretch.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
That's a poor argument. In that case, then why ever play a game? Before the game was played, I would have bet you my home, 401K, and first born son that Michigan was going to beat MSU this year. We all know how that turned out.
December 9th, 2020 at 2:46 PM ^
If you would pony up that kind of cash, then you are a bad betting person. Absolutely nothing that has happened in the Harbaugh tenure should make you feel that confident going into any game, regardless of opponent. If a fully healthy OSU came out and played UM this Saturday with 45 guys out or whatever it is, I still wouldn't bet with that type of confidence.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:46 PM ^
BULLSHIT
December 9th, 2020 at 12:46 PM ^
Of all the things to be upset about, and there are a multitude, this isn't very high on my list.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
The politics and institutions of college sports are why outside of my Michigan fandom, I avoid it. I have watched less than a handful of games in any sport that did not have a block M on the player. Until there is an acceptance of the rampant abuse of the "rules" and the organization that oversees the sport sets a payroll cap, this will be worth ignoring.
It is like professional wrestling and whenever Don King has a marquee name in the ring, why bother? It is all set up anyway.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
Well, this won't be a unanimous vote! Indiana is getting ravaged like a poorly made fuck doll...
December 9th, 2020 at 1:03 PM ^
OSU is the better team. Would you watch a Northwestern-Indiana game. Plus, Indiana (Covid) is doubtful not only this week but next - like us
December 9th, 2020 at 1:08 PM ^
Would I watch Northwestern-Indiana in the BTCG? Heck yes. This may be the only time ever we get to witness NW-IU duking it out for the conference crown. Does that reflect poorly on the conference? Maybe a little, but this is also 20-frickin-20, where the only rule is there are no rules. And to expect the unexpected. And wear a mask.
December 10th, 2020 at 3:37 AM ^
I'd much rather watch what could be a competitive IU/NW matchup as opposed to watching OSU rout NW. It'd also be more interesting to see a B1G championship go to a place (Bloomington or Evansville) we'll probably never see it go again. Especially since its irrelevant to OSU's playoff chances which team they beat next. Concerns over fairness for OSU would hold more weight if winning the B1G championship was absolutely necessary for their inclusion in the playoffs-- it's obviously not.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
As they should
December 9th, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
Considering OSU only canceled one game due to Covid themselves and had two opponents cancel on them, it seems fair. The 6 game rule was crap and not well thought out. You could basically run a Covid-free program and have all your games canceled by opponents. The team that can't play should have just been required to forfeit.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:48 PM ^
Dollah dollah bills y'all
December 9th, 2020 at 12:49 PM ^
All this is going to do is make UoM look even much worse in the immediate future. This will prop up osu to win it all to become this football monster which showed up in the face of the most extreme adversity, and destroyed it. The memes of how we supposedly attempted to thwart the inevitable domination via covid will have us looking silly for years, as I don't see us beating them, ever. We all know how this plays out. BS
December 9th, 2020 at 12:50 PM ^
Seems like the right call to me.
You know if the shoe was on the other foot and UM was 5-0, having already beaten the 2nd best team in the division and with 2 games called because of our opponents we'd be screaming that we belonged in the B1G title game.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:33 PM ^
Exactly this. Well said. No one is getting screwed here. Everyone just likes to gloss over that Indy LOST to Ohio State and really, Indy should have 2 losses (go watch that Penn State Game). Northwestern vs Ohio State is the right call.
December 9th, 2020 at 3:40 PM ^
Right, but in that scenario, the B1G wouldn't have changed the rules. Because this is the type of shit they only do for their crown jewel.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
There's a lot of money on the line for the conference if OSU makes the CFP so of course they're going to do this. They'd do the exact same thing if the shoe was on the other foot and Michigan was in OSU's seat right now. Anyone here would be downright foolish to think otherwise.
I know a lot of you think Delaney and the rest of the B1G is out to get Michigan, but money talks. Whatever squabbles the power brokers at the league office have with Michigan (if any even exist at all, which I don't think they do but I digress), those would've all gotten put aside to get Michigan into the BTCG so they'd have a stronger resume for the CFP and, by extension, a big payday would be heading the conference's way. Which all of the member schools get to share in. Yes, even Michigan benefits (financially) from OSU getting to the CFP. And everyone is hurting for additional cash right now. EVERYONE. This is in everyone's best financial interest.
As for IU, I just hope we get to see them in an NY6 bowl. Obviously the Rose Bowl is off the table, but maybe the Cotton Bowl or Fiesta Bowl would take them, and I think that would be an awesome thing to see. They'd deserve it. Depending on who they got matched up with, they could win that game.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:19 PM ^
Great post... however I'm betting Indiana gets left out of a NY6 bowl because Penix is out for the season. That guy threw all over OSU... and with him out, there will likely be a lot of questions about Indiana going forward. I'd like to see them get in, but not confident it's going to happen.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:35 PM ^
I'm pretty sure the B1G has to send a representative to the NY6 in OSU's place. Who else in the conference is going to go?
Wisconsin has two losses and has looked awful the last two games. Northwestern will almost certainly have two after they play OSU, and if they get shellacked it won't be a good look for them to go to an NY6. The East outside of IU and OSU is a mess, but IU has looked really good in all of their wins, and acquitted themselves extremely well against OSU.
I guess you could send Iowa, but they have two losses as well. I don't think Iowa commands more eyeballs on the TV screen than IU would (enough to make a difference, anyway, there's still a ton of proud IU alums out there who's watch) so name brand wouldn't be much of a thing to think about here. If IU wins their crossover game (assuming its played), that would get them to 6-1. I don't think there's anyone else in the conference you could send that would be half as worthy as IU.
If IU is going to be left out of the BTCG, they'd better damn well get a good consolation prize in an NY6 bowl.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:57 PM ^
I agree with everything you said here. Indiana has 1 blemish, against OSU (assuming they go to the playoffs). Everyone wrote them off when Penix went down, they went up to Wisconsin and won anyway. There is nobody else that would deserve a NY6 invite than them in this scenario. How they will perform in the game is not part of the conversation as it diminishes everything they have done this year to get to this point. They deserve it, they deserve the national attention. Tom Allen specifically deserves it.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
I would say this is a logical move and very unlike the B10. Ohio St clearly won the East. If they had to do this for Northwestern no one here would even care.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
The rule should be changed OSU is the best team in the East
December 9th, 2020 at 1:13 PM ^
With Indiana now shutting down their football operations due to a Covid outbreak.. it's unfortunately either Ohio State or Michigan State (MSU is the best team left in the East that has played 6 games and not under a quarantine). The thought of dealing with MSU fans gloating about their 2-4 team making the BIG championship game under first year head coach Mel Tucker makes my skin crawl.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^
Well, they changed the game rules in 2016 to allow OSU to only need 9 yards on 4 tries for a first down, so this is no surprise.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:17 PM ^
It's obviously bush league decision, but in OSU's defense they didn't cause 2 of the 3 cancellations; they would have played against UM and MD had those teams been able to field a team. They were as much a victim of scheduling as anything else, so I can see the conference making this decision with at least a shred of credibility. Now, if the roles were reversed and it was OSU being the one-loss team while IU hadn't played 6 games I'm not sure this decision happens, but ultimately the conference only cares about money and fame and this increases the likelihood of the conference making the playoffs and winning games.
December 9th, 2020 at 2:18 PM ^
How is it a bush league decision. There was once a "rule" that there wouldn't be a Big Ten season. That got changed. Was it "bush league" as well?
December 9th, 2020 at 3:05 PM ^
Was that rule changed without universal consent? Was some conference school forced to play? Because this is definitely happening without Indiana's consent and forcing them out of a title game.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:20 PM ^
This is fine, I think. OSU beat IU. It's hard to argue that they aren't the best team in the East or even the conference. I just hope that Michigan isn't being flexible about this while being inflexible about when it will make a decision on whether Coach Harbaugh returns.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^
Might as well just give Ohio State the B1G Championship if they are going to do this. Like Northwestern is going to beat them....
December 9th, 2020 at 1:26 PM ^
COWARDS!
Northwestern vs Indiana for a shot in the playoffs is the showdown 2020 deserved.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
I think this decision might ultimately hinge on Indiana's COVID situation. They are likely not gonna play Purdue (who has their own issues) on Saturday. I would think that their readiness to go on the 19th would be a big question mark.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:28 PM ^
One more question: timing. It's Wednesday. I expect that a decision would be made today. Right?
(This, of course, assumes some sort of minimum base level of competency here, and I'm not sure I should assume that).
December 9th, 2020 at 1:29 PM ^
This season cannot, and should not, be taken very seriously by us fans.
And yes, OSU was always going to play in the CFB playoff. And yes, so was Clemson, Bama and ND. At this point, I’m fine with it. Should be fun to watch. Hope they can do it safely.
Then Michigan needs to get serious and make some decisions about how we operate and who leads this program. We were facing these issues before this year. They cannot wait if we really want to compete for Big Ten and National titles.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:35 PM ^
What? I am sick of those 3 teams constantly there and very sick of osu. And I'm sick of covid. This team has some problems but people don't care about em. Whatever, screw osu.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:36 PM ^
Pat Forde is saying that it's pretty much a done deal.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:39 PM ^
I mean obviously it is a terrible move to block Ohio State from playing for the Big 10 title over an arbitrary rule someone dreamed up 2 months ago....but why can't they just organize another game for Ohio State? Why does the Big 10 office insist on making every situation they come into contact with worse?
December 9th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
If they are going to change the rules anyway, why don't they just have a rematch between IU/OSU?
With a loss to State, Northwestern can never make the playoffs, but if IU has only one loss in two games against OSU they'd have probably #1 SOS in country and pretty strong resume.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
Michigan should get the fuck out of this stupid conference. It has become obvious to me that they won't win shit in football as long as the B1G continues to cater to OSU, as they give the rest of the teams in the conference constant dong-punches. I'm tired of it.
Be an independent, join the PAC12 or form a conference with other teams that still care about student-athletes actually, you know, BEING STUDENTS. College football in general is continually losing my interest and shit like this ain't helping.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:43 PM ^
A rematch...this weekend? Couldn't happen. IU is COVID-shutdown (or about to be).
But if you're talking about next weekend, how would that be fair to NW? Playoffs aside, NW would kinda want to play for a B10 championship, I would think. Right?
(I was responding to gpsimms -- not sure why my post turned up here)
December 9th, 2020 at 1:55 PM ^
oh, it's totally unfair to northwestern. but they lost to a horrible state team, so i've disqualified them from my imaginary big championship game.
I didn't realize IU was probably being shut down for the year, so there's that, too.
December 9th, 2020 at 2:33 PM ^
It was always about the money. OSU in the playoff and IU playing in the NY6 bowl game would net them more money than just having OSU in the playoff or OSU playing in NY6 bowl game. B1G are starved for money so that's why they chose to do it. If Michigan is in the same position as OSU, B1G would still vote for Michigan to be in the B1G Championship game.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:48 PM ^
ok play osu michigan the week after
December 9th, 2020 at 4:07 PM ^
On the 26th? Nah. Michigan wants to shut it down before then.
Also, um -- wouldn't you guys have a game to prepare for on the 1st of January? Yeah, we all know your Buckeyes desire Michigan blood more than anything else in the world, but they are NOT gonna play on the 26th and then turn around and play on the 1st in a playoff semifinal. It'd be pretty stupid to do so, first of all, and it would be completely ludicrous to ask Michigan to extend out their season another week simply to accommodate a head-caving.
Now, on the 19th? Yeah. Would have been a good idea. I think you said it elsewhere, but since the B10 title game opponents are set in stone now, why not have THAT game this weekend, and then at least TRY for UM-OSU on the 19th? Unsure if UM would be able to field a team then, either, but why not at least TRY for that date?
I dunno. Everything was mismanaged/mishandled here months ago, really. The original revised schedule had UM-OSU happening in October -- and they should have stuck with that.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:57 PM ^
My main issue with this, is that if Michigan had this situation, Indiana would be playing in the BigTen Championship.
We all know it.
Go Blue.
December 9th, 2020 at 2:32 PM ^
Please explain exactly why the Big Ten has it in for one of its largest fan bases, a team with the most wins in football history, one of its best academic institutions and a charter member of the conference? Why should it be so apparently obvious to "all" of us that this goes without saying?
December 9th, 2020 at 2:48 PM ^
There is no explanation, It's called self pity. People like that poster have an excuse for everything in life.
December 9th, 2020 at 7:36 PM ^
Another pseudo-psychology session from a key-board attack artist....
whatever..... Buckeye apologist. It's not self-pity or excuses. It's called enabling cheating and having prior proof (1973) that Michigan is on the losing end of any popular vote by the Big Ten. And the point is simply that if Michigan were in osu's position this year, the Big Ten would vote to "stick to the original rules" and let Indiana play.
Talk about "excuses in life" - that's what Big Ten football is exactly doing.
Let's make an excuse to let osu play.
Let's use a different analogy... one, even a simple-minded fool might understand.
Hey little Sally (osu), we're going to play a board-game. (the Covid season).
We establish all the rules up front - BEFORE the game (season) --
--- then, we play the game (season).
If during the game (season), you don't like the rules or you don't get your way, or you lose... that's too bad. It's what was agreed to prior to the game (season).
Changing the rules DURING the game (season) is called CHEATING.
Isn't that what we teach children?
That's what happened here. By the rules, Indiana should get to play. I mean, how do Indiana fans live with this? Oh, listen -- osu has a 'chance' to bring us more money and you're a nothing university in a corn-field, so you lose out on the best season you've had in 50 years.
There is enormous hate towards the University of Michigan in the media, with BigTen athletic directors, referees - you name it. I'm not certain why it is there, but it is.
Like my buckeye friends always tell me,
IF YOU AIN'T CHEATING & GAMING the system, you AIN'T TRYING.
Michigan does not get these kind of breaks. History has proven it.
The Big Ten was/is biased against Michigan (history, 1973)
The Big Ten is biased for osu (2020).
It's not pity or excuse, it is a FACT.
Go Blue.