Ad Disclosure
WATCH: Big Ten Network analyst discuss CFB Playoff outlook for Michigan, Ohio State
Published:
Despite each having one loss, Michigan (7-1, 5-0) and Ohio State (7-1, 4-1) appear to be the Big Ten Conference’s only chance at receiving a College Football Playoff bid in 2018.
Michigan fell in its season opener, losing by a touchdown to a Notre Dame team that remains undefeated and likely controls its own destiny for a playoff spot. The Wolverines have won seven in a row — including 25- and 14-point wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State — and have a good chance of being 10-1 when they head to Columbus to play Ohio State in the regular season finale.
Though it has an identical record, Ohio State has had a trajectory opposite to its hated rival from up north. The Buckeyes started 7-0 but have struggled mightily their last three games, including a shocking 49-20 blowout loss at Purdue in Week 8. They can still achieve all their goals they started with this season, but coach Urban Meyer has a lot of issues to address (and correct) if his team has any shot of finishing 11-1.
Here’s Big Ten Network analysts Chuck Long and Stanley Jackson discussing each team’s current path to a potential playoff bid:
The first @CFBPlayoff rankings come out Tuesday night.@UMichFootball and @OhioStateFB figure to have #B1G's best shot to get an invite.@ChuckLongIowa and @Jacksonville8 discuss what they need to do to make it. pic.twitter.com/0GBNFH0g3j
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 28, 2018
At the end of the day, all you can control is the game in front of you. Michigan will host Penn State next Saturday and Ohio State takes on Nebraska.
Tyler has covered college football on a freelance basis since 2010. In addition to Saturday Football, his work has been featured on ESPN Radio, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, Cox Media Group, Athlon Sports, and more.