The Big Ten Championship and How it Affects the College Football Playoff

As I wrote about a few days ago, the Big 10 East would essentially be decided by the Michigan/Ohio State game. Prior to it, in order to win the division, to road to Indianapolis would look like this:

Michigan advances with a win
Ohio State advances with a win AND a Penn State loss
Penn State advances with a win AND an Ohio State win

This passed Saturday, Ohio State beat Michigan in double overtime, and Penn State beat Michigan State big.

That means that Penn State won the Big 10 East, and will play Wisconsin on Saturday, at 8 PM EST, with the chance to win the Big 10 outright for the first time since 1994 when Joe Paterno was coach.

Now that the Big 10 and all the other championships have been set, I think its time to look to the playoff standings. Assuming they win the conference championships, I think Alabama and Clemson are locks at one and two.

You may notice I left out the Washington Huskies. They play (I'm writing this right before the rankings come out on 11/29) the 9th ranked Colorado team. Do I think UW will lose, no. But I think Colorado has a better chance to beat UW then Florida to Alabama or Virginia Tech to Clemson.

As much as I think the winner of the Big 10 Championship should make it in, I can't hep but wonder if Michigan or Ohio State will make it in as the four seed, with the first three filling out as follows; Alabama, Clemson, Washington. But, first let's take a look at the four Big 10 team's big wins.

Penn State

• Ohio State
• Wisconsin (possibly)

Wisconsin

• LSU
• Nebraska
• Penn State (Possibly)

Michigan

• Colorado
• Wisconsin
• Penn State

Ohio State

• Oklahoma
• Wisconsin
• Nebraska
• Michigan

Personally, I don't think a team should be able to get into the College Football Playoff without winning their conference, let alone a conference championship appearance. So, that rules out Michigan, Ohio State and Nebraska. So, by my logic, the winner of the Big 10 Championship gets in. But, I think if the season ended today, Penn State would have the edge, solely because they beat Ohio State.

So, to solidify their spot, Penn State would need to win big. BUT, to do they RB Saquon Barkley to make a return (he hurt his ankle at the end of last weeks game) and play well.

Should that happen, and should Washington win, the seeding will be Alabama (1), Clemson (2), Washington (3), Penn State (4).

And, if Washington game is close and Penn State wins big, their seeds could very well be swapped.