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The Big Ten today voted to allow the Ohio State Buckeyes to play in the Big Ten Championship Game against the Northwestern Wildcats in Indianapolis on December 19th. The original rules for the 2020 season required teams to play in at least six games to qualify to compete for the title, but that rule was overridden today.
This means the Indiana Hoosiers, who are experiencing a bout of Covid-19 themselves that has limited team activity, will not get to play for their first outright conference championship since 1945.
In collaboration with #B1G COP/C & Conference office, ADs & SWAs ✅ vote to eliminate game requirement in 2020 #B1GFCG.@NUFBFamily vs. @OhioStateFB in #B1GFCG
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) December 9, 2020
Decision based on competitive analysis regardless of Ws or Ls this weekend.
➡️FACTS: https://t.co/Ixtoz9rpTZ pic.twitter.com/P5QMlEHyOv
This gives Ohio State the best opportunity to get to the College Football Playoff as one of the top four teams in America. Despite a record of just 6-0 if they’re able to defeat Northwestern, the CFP Selection Committee so far has ranked them No. 4 in their most recent sample, and that’s unlikely to fall with a win over another ranked opponent in the Wildcats.
This move was the best way for the Big Ten to assure themselves a spot in the College Football Playoff, even if for competitive purposes the folks in Bloomington, Indiana are furious about the rules being changed at the last minute.