The latest College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday, suggest that the Big Ten will have a lot at the top of its hierarchy, perhaps its greatest battle season ever. Three Big Ten teams headline the rankings, and they did so in a manner that has never been seen before in three dominant and high-stakes matchups, each drawing immense fan interest.
The top three include the University of Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. But Michigan tops the chart first, then Ohio State, after winning challenging games without losing, whereas Penn State stands at No. 5 despite one loss, given their defensive record and great wins that make the Nittany Lions a prime playoff contender if they close the season with a bang.
The two teams that ranked this season rank coming as just the two programs prepare to face off in their highly anticipated annual showdown later this month. The game not only promises to be a decisive moment for control of the Big Ten but also, fittingly, will decide which team will earn its way into the coveted top-four playoff spot. And yet both these programs have seen on the field fantastic defenses, pounding rushing attacks, and, at key moments, discipline them set for what many hope is going to be one of the biggest home games in this season.
“We know every game matters, but there’s something special about playing in November with so much at stake,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said. “Our guys are focused on finishing strong.”
The rankings of this season have further highlighted the competitive advantage of the Big Ten over other conferences like the SEC and Pac-12 in which traditional powerhouses faced some unexpected setbacks. According to some analysts, the Big Ten’s chances could end up letting two of its teams into the final four playoff spots depending upon the results of the season’s last games.
All this has created debates regarding competition quality across other conferences, also reopen discussions about playoff expansion to allow more big-time programs from competing conferences such as the Big Ten. As the posture of the playoff begins to take shape, fans are keeping an eye on how the season will spill out because any shake-ups in rankings could drastically alter the road to the national championship.
For now, however, the Big Ten has the attention, with its teams playing for a shot at college football glory.
