There will be no Big Ten championship game for the Indiana Hoosiers in 2020.
Because of the Big Ten changing the rule where teams must play at least six games in order to qualify, the 5-0 Ohio State Buckeyes will face #14 Northwestern in Indianapolis this month. Lucas Oil Stadium will host the conference championship on December 19.
To react to the news, former Ohio State head coach and current Fox analyst Urban Meyer called into The Dan Dakich Show.
“Normally the College Football Playoff Committee and conferences have had data,” Meyer said. “That data was the same number of games, non-conference games, big wins, and a chance to evaluate people on the same wavelength. There are not a lot of big wins out there. I think you should break down all the units on the team, list who is the best, and then pick your four teams.”
According to a Big Ten statement, “the decision was based on a competitive analysis which determined that Ohio State would have advanced to the Big Ten Football Championship Game based on its undefeated record and head-to-head victory over Indiana regardless of a win or loss against Michigan.”
Tough luck for Tom Allen’s Hoosiers.
“They’re going to keep some people out who should be in,” Meyer added. “In 2014, (Ohio State) was the recipient of jumping two teams and getting into the Playoff. In 2016, we lost to Penn State and still got in. I believe strength of schedule should be enormous in the decision making. That’s more important to me than where you’re ranked in total defense.”
A College Football Playoff of Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, and Ohio State feels imminent.
Would Ohio State still get in if the Big Ten did not change the six game rule? Maybe. But they now get a chance to enter the playoff with some serious momentum.
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