Playoff question for Big 10 (non-smack)

[westsiderSJHS77]

Can the looser of the OSU-Michigan game still make the playoff?

A Michigan win would put them into the Big 10 title game due to owning the tie breaker, but would they place OSU over Penn State (win over OSU) or Wisconsin (Division winner and conference runner up) in the playoff?

A Ohio State win would put Penn State into the big 10 title game due to owning the tie break. Who then would get in if Penn State goes on and wins the title or better yet, if Wisconsin beats Penn State and wins the conference? OSU with a top 4 win over Michigan, but didn't win their division. Would that be enough to jump over a Clemson or Louisville ACC runner up with one loss or Washington conference title.

1. Alabama should be a lock.
2. One Big 10 team from above
3. ACC Clemson or Louisville
4. ??

Granted, there is too much football left to play out, but I thought that there can be a civil - intelligent discussion about where you guys might think we are heading.

 

[tOSUGrad90]

Yes, but it would be extremely unlikely. I would expect the Committee to take a two-loss conference championship game winner over a two-loss Ohio State or Michigan. If tOSU wins out, then I think that the Buckeyes will make it. A two-loss B1G Champion Wisconsin might make it, but not over a one-loss tOSU, given that tOSU won in Madison, and would have one fewer loss than Wisky. Penn State's winning out likely would put the Nits in the Playoffs, but probably as a four seed. If Michigan wins out, then Michigan will make the Playoffs, and be the only B1G school that does, barring several losses by other highly ranked teams in other conferences.