Paul Finebaum puts onus on B1G to find a way to get Ohio State into College Football Playoff

If Ohio State misses another game, then Paul Finebaum doesn’t think the Big Ten will have a team in the College Football Playoff. If that’s the case, then the whole reason for the Big Ten season will have evaporated.

The ESPN personality postulated on Wednesday morning that Ohio State, who has already seen two games cancelled this year due to COVID-19 protocols, could be out of the College Football Playoff if they don’t complete the regular season. Ohio State is currently 4-0 and No. 4 in the playoff.

“The ownership is on them right now to adjust, and they have to find a way to get Ohio State playing for a Big Ten Championship,” Finebaum said on the ESPN morning show ‘Get Up’ on Wednesday.

“That’s going to be critical to the Buckeyes to get into the playoff. There’s a good chance if the Buckeyes miss another game that you’ll get the ACC with two teams and the SEC with two teams, and the Buckeyes are going to be done.”

Peculiar for Finebaum to pin the onus on the Big Ten to get Ohio State into the conference’s title game but his overall point is largely valid. Ohio State needs to play six games this season to be eligible for the Big Ten Championship Game.

Win out, including the championship game, and the pathway seems to be there for the Buckeyes to make the playoff.

Right behind Ohio State in the recently released rankings this week are Texas A&M followed by Florida.

Much like The Office‘s Creed Bratton’s sole purpose in life is to scuba, Finebaum espoused the idea that the Big Ten playing this year was all about getting Ohio State into the College Football Playoff.

“Remember one thing, and this can be disputed. I’m going to say that the Big Ten came back for one reason, which was supporting Ohio State’s chances of playing for a national championship,” Finebaum said. “And that hangs in the balance right now.”