By now, all Buckeyes fans are aware of the “Big Noon” game next weekend between fourth-ranked Ohio State and sixth-ranked Wisconsin. Many have heard the phrase collision course uttered a time or two — or more.
But, assuming the goal is to make the playoff, does the game really matter all that much? And yeah, we know there’s still a quirky game to play Friday against Northwestern but we’re going against coach-speak and looking ahead. Don’t criticize, you are too.
Both Ohio State and Wisconsin have looked impressive on both side of the ball thus far. The national perception of these teams feels different than years past. A one-loss B1G Champion will undoubtedly receive serious consideration for a spot in the College Football Playoff this season – especially if that one loss is to a top 10 opponent.
Let’s look at the game from each team’s perspective shall we?
Next … Wisconsin’s situation
Wisconsin’s road
If Wisconsin wins, it will have finished its crossover games with the East having already dominated both Michigan and Michigan State. Sure, a win over Ohio State will help the resume; but the Badgers would likely have to still beat Ohio State again in the B1G Championship which we will review
shortly.
Nobody left on the schedule seems to pose a serious threat to Wisconsin, so it’ll likely finish the regular season undefeated unless a flu epidemic of sorts riddles the team.
If the Badgers lose, they will still control their own destiny to win the West Division and earn a trip (and likely rematch) in Indianapolis. A win there and it would be tough to leave a one-loss, conference champion Wisconsin out of the playoff.
Next … Ohio State’s potential situations
Ohio State’s road
If Ohio State wins, the Buckeyes will still need to beat Penn State and Michigan at the end of the season in order to make it to Indianapolis. Do that and it would be undoubtedly be playing for a berth in the the College Football Playoff. A win or loss against Wisconsin does not change that fact. Beating Wisconsin changes nothing with respect to winning the East Division.
If however, Ohio State loses, the Buckeyes will still control their own destiny to win the East Division – just like Wisconsin. This just proves it’s always better to lose a crossover game than a divisional matchup. All that being said, given conference tiebreakers, it’s likely Ohio State will need to win out regardless of the Wisconsin result in order to make it to the B1G Championship. So, there’s that.
Next … When all the dust settles
The bottom line
A regular season loss next week means nothing given the likelihood of a rematch in early December. It may give a little less room for error, but the playoff berth will all come down to that rematch on December 7 should each team carry on its merry way. The winner of that game is likely to be an undefeated or one-loss conference champion with only a top-ten loss on the resume – that was avenged (see Oklahoma-Texas, 2018).
Win or lose, fans of both teams will still have plenty to root for as the season moves forward unless there is another stumble along the way.
