Earlier today, it appeared as if some ESPN commentators thought the playoff committee wasn't showing the Big Ten enough respect with their latest rankings. On Tuesday night, the committee released their second batch of top 25 rankings, which included the following Big Ten teams:
8. Michigan State (7-1)
13. Nebraska (8-1)
14. Ohio State (7-1)
25. Wisconsin (6-2)
Michigan State was leapfrogged by Kansas State on Tuesday, Nebraska and Ohio State are behind two-loss Mississippi, and outside of Duke, the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes are the lowest ranked of the one-loss teams. So, do the ESPN talking heads have a point or is the playoff committee right in not giving the Big Ten as much respect as most other major conferences?
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint the ESPN "analysts," but there's a very good reason why the playoff committee isn't displaying much respect for the Big Ten conference; they're a power 5 worst 5-11 against the other four major conferences (and Notre Dame). Michigan State's defeat was a 19-point loss to Oregon. Nebraska lost by 5 to Michigan State. Lastly, Ohio State lost by 14 at home to 4-5 Virginia Tech. As for Michigan State's other non-conference opponents, they defeated: Jacksonville State, Eastern Michigan, and Wyoming. They're only good win of the season to this point was a 27-22 victory over Nebraska, in a game they almost blew in the 4th quarter. Nebraska's non-conference victories came against: Florida Atlantic, McNeese State, Fresno State, and Miami (Florida). They needed a late-game miracle to beat FCS McNeese State. Their lone semi-impressive win of the season was the 41-31 victory against Miami. As for Ohio State, their non-conference wins were against: Navy, Kent State, and Cincinnati. Sadly, their best win may have been double-overtime road victory against 4-4 Penn State.
So, judging by the resumes of the Big Ten's three one-loss teams, and of the conference in general, the Big Ten will be hard-pressed to get a team into the four-team playoff this year. Even if Michigan State, Nebraska, or Ohio State win out, a two-loss SEC, Pac-12, Big XII team, or Florida State or Notre Dame, could potentially leapfrog them due to their overall resumes. Unfortunately for the Big Ten conference, the next time they'll be able to impress voters is in the bowl games and in their non-conference games to start next year. Until that point, the playoff committee will continually be saying, "Well, there's this one-loss team from the Big Ten, but their one loss was pretty bad, the conference has been awful in their non-conference games, and their most impressive victory wasn't all that impressive, so let's go with this two-loss team instead." Even if Michigan State upends Ohio State over the weekend, they'll stay behind the TCU/Kansas State winner and may be leapfrogged by the Arizona State/Notre Dame winner in a week or two.
8. Michigan State (7-1)
13. Nebraska (8-1)
14. Ohio State (7-1)
25. Wisconsin (6-2)
Michigan State was leapfrogged by Kansas State on Tuesday, Nebraska and Ohio State are behind two-loss Mississippi, and outside of Duke, the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes are the lowest ranked of the one-loss teams. So, do the ESPN talking heads have a point or is the playoff committee right in not giving the Big Ten as much respect as most other major conferences?
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint the ESPN "analysts," but there's a very good reason why the playoff committee isn't displaying much respect for the Big Ten conference; they're a power 5 worst 5-11 against the other four major conferences (and Notre Dame). Michigan State's defeat was a 19-point loss to Oregon. Nebraska lost by 5 to Michigan State. Lastly, Ohio State lost by 14 at home to 4-5 Virginia Tech. As for Michigan State's other non-conference opponents, they defeated: Jacksonville State, Eastern Michigan, and Wyoming. They're only good win of the season to this point was a 27-22 victory over Nebraska, in a game they almost blew in the 4th quarter. Nebraska's non-conference victories came against: Florida Atlantic, McNeese State, Fresno State, and Miami (Florida). They needed a late-game miracle to beat FCS McNeese State. Their lone semi-impressive win of the season was the 41-31 victory against Miami. As for Ohio State, their non-conference wins were against: Navy, Kent State, and Cincinnati. Sadly, their best win may have been double-overtime road victory against 4-4 Penn State.
So, judging by the resumes of the Big Ten's three one-loss teams, and of the conference in general, the Big Ten will be hard-pressed to get a team into the four-team playoff this year. Even if Michigan State, Nebraska, or Ohio State win out, a two-loss SEC, Pac-12, Big XII team, or Florida State or Notre Dame, could potentially leapfrog them due to their overall resumes. Unfortunately for the Big Ten conference, the next time they'll be able to impress voters is in the bowl games and in their non-conference games to start next year. Until that point, the playoff committee will continually be saying, "Well, there's this one-loss team from the Big Ten, but their one loss was pretty bad, the conference has been awful in their non-conference games, and their most impressive victory wasn't all that impressive, so let's go with this two-loss team instead." Even if Michigan State upends Ohio State over the weekend, they'll stay behind the TCU/Kansas State winner and may be leapfrogged by the Arizona State/Notre Dame winner in a week or two.
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