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BTN analyst, former Indiana head coach says Ohio State should get bid to B1G Championship Game
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Ohio State has earned the right to play in the Big Ten Championship, so says BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo. Even if, of course, they haven’t technically qualified for it.
The Buckeyes, at 5-0, are one game short of the necessary threshold of six games played to qualify for the conference championship game. With Saturday’s season-ending game against Michigan cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Wolverines program, Ohio State is now a game short of qualifying for the championship game and with dire consequences.
The argument about @OhioStateFB playing Iowa as opposed to going to Indy to play Northwestern is just as good misses the point that the OSU players miss an opportunity to play for a championship.The next snap is never guaranteed. OSU players earned right to play 4 championship
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) December 9, 2020
Despite Ohio State technically not qualifying for the game, DiNardo’s bigger point stands, however. Ohio State is clearly the class of their division in the Big Ten and has won all the games they were able to play. They are not only the best pick from the division but also the Big Ten’s best hope of making the playoff.
If Ohio State can’t qualify for the Big Ten Championship Game, then it is unlikely they will be selected for the College Football Playoff. And in all likelihood, the Big Ten won’t have a team in the playoff this year.
The four-team playoff would likely overlook Ohio State’s qualifications, given a relatively weak schedule hampered by several game cancellations. And sitting at No. 4 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, Ohio State doesn’t have any wiggle room when it comes to making the playoff.
On Wednesday morning, the Big Ten is meeting to discuss allowing Ohio State into the championship game despite being a game short in terms of their schedule.