The Big Ten has run the numbers and determined the scenarios dictating its potential conference matchups. Oregon, with an 11-0 record and the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff ranking, has clinched a spot in the title game. Penn State, meanwhile, still has a chance despite falling to Ohio State on Nov. 2.
There are two scenarios that could send the Nittany Lions to Indianapolis for the first time since 2016. What are they?
SCENARIO #1
In this scenario, Penn State would first have to win its final two regular season games against Minnesota and Maryland. If it does, it would need Oregon to win its final game, Indiana to lose on Saturday against the Buckeyes and Ohio State to conclude its regular season with a loss to Michigan on Nov. 30.
If all of this transpires, the Nittany Lions would earn a berth due to possessing a higher cumulative conference winning percentage of all conference opponents than the Hoosiers.
SCENARIO #2
The other option again would rely, first and foremost, on Penn State to win out the regular season. If it does this, Indiana loses to the Buckeyes and Purdue and Ohio State falls to Michigan, the Nittany Lions would earn the No. 2 seed in the championship game.
WHAT ABOUT A FOUR-TEAM TIE?
In the instance the Ducks, Buckeyes, Hoosiers and Nittany Lions finish the regular season with an 8-1 conference record, Ohio State would earn a berth due to owning the highest cumulative conference winning percentage of all conference opponents while Oregon would take the top seed due its Oct. 12 win over the Buckeyes.
All other scenarios can be found here.
A SEARCH FOR HOPE
In recent years, a loss to Ohio State and/or Michigan typically meant the end to bids for the conference title game and the College Football Playoff. But with Big Ten divisions eliminated and a 12-team playoff on the horizon, both postseason opportunities are still on the table for the Nittany Lions despite an eighth straight loss to the Buckeyes.
Since that loss, a 20-13 defeat, Penn State has played some of its most complete football this season. The Nittany Lions returned to Beaver Stadium the following weekend for a 35-6 win over Washington and most recently defeated Purdue on the road, 49-10. Everything is still in front of Penn State, which will hit the road again to face the Golden Gophers this weekend.
“We got a whole lot of season left. We got a whole lot more to fight for. Being down and being stuck on one loss, it doesn’t really matter anymore. We got a whole lot left to work for,” offensive lineman Vega Ioane said after the Ohio State loss. “We’re still competing for a National Championship, a Big Ten Championship.”
