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Big Ten’s Inclusion Into First College Playoff Seems Unlikely

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Big Ten Has A Slim Chance To Make It Into The College Football Playoff

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

With mere hours until the first college football playoff rankings are unveiled tonight, there is little doubt that things are good down south, as both Mississippi State and Florida State are locks for spots one and two. Barring any major upsets, this seems to be the case for the rest of the season going forward. Many people, at least out here in Big Ten country, are wondering if by the end of the year, one of the conferences teams will even be included. As of now that does not seem to be the case.

Anyone who enjoys college football will tell you that if a Big Ten team does get in, it’s either going to be the Ohio State Buckeyes or Michigan State Spartans. The AP polls ranks Sparty at No. 8, while the Buckeyes are five spots behind them at No. 13. These are respectable rankings for sure, but again, with only two spots (as I see it) up for grabs, both of these teams are on the outside looking in.

The only way either of these two teams gets into the playoff would be to win out. Given that they will play each other on Nov. 8 in East Lansing, we will get an answer very soon as which team that could be.

I think that if Ohio State wins against Michigan State, their road to the playoff will be much easier. They will have a signature win against a big-time opponent (in a game they were considered to be underdogs in in the first place), and they have the name recognition and perception of being a big time, powerhouse program that Michigan State does not. That might sound like a crock to a lot of you readers, but perception is always everything.

If Michigan State wins on Nov. 8, I still don’t think they would get into the playoff at the end of the year. They have nothing really to gain from beating Ohio State, meaning they won’t jump anyone in rankings simply because they beat the Buckeyes, and they still have the loss to the University of Oregon hanging over their heads.

I know what a lot of people are saying in response to that statement is, “well the Virginia Tech Hokies beat Ohio State and they’re not even ranked.” That’s true, but in this case, I think its better to have lost to someone who’s not in the title hunt at all, as the selection committee wouldn’t have to be choosing between Ohio State and Virginia Tech for a spot. They would just see a team with one loss on their record. With Michigan State, the committee would consistently be reminded that Sparty lost a game to Oregon, who is also making their case to be included in the playoff.

So it will be interesting to see how the season pans out. Of course, none of this could come to fruition; Ohio State could lose next week to the University Illinois Fighting Illini, or Michigan State could drop their game the following week to the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights. Then this whole hypothetical is moot, and no one from the Big Ten is making it in. However, if one of those teams wins out after their game Nov. 8, I can guarantee you one thing: it will certainly be an uphill battle for any team from the Big Ten to make it into the college football playoff.

Alasdair Thornton is Big 10 Writer for www.Rantsports.com Follow him on Twitter @Alasdairthornto, or “Like” him on Facebook.

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