Ryan Day shares his stance on conference championship games with looming playoff expansion

There is an argument to be made over conference championship weekend with the College Football Playoff expanding. Not as much could be on the line, with 12 teams making the final cut. For example, Georgia losing to Alabama on Saturday will not hurt as much since they would have still been alive to win a national title.

Ohio State‘s Ryan Day was asked about the Big Ten championship potentially losing value. He understands how important the game is to the conference, which has been held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis since 2012.

“I know that the conference championship game means a lot to the league,” Day said. “But when it comes down to it, I think you have to consider what that means when you’re one of the top two teams in the conference and then you’re playing each other for that moment.”

Had the top two teams in the Big Ten, regardless of divisions, played in Indianapolis this season, Ohio State would have gotten a rematch with Michigan. That does not include what the four future conference members did either, considering Oregon (11-1 regular season) and Washington (12-0 regular season) had great years.

Getting another chance to beat Michigan would have been great for Day but there are larger picture stakes too. More times than not, winning the Big Ten Championship should earn a bye in the College Football Playoff due to being one of the four highest-ranked champions.

“I think being a conference champ should really matter, though,” Day said. “And being ranked inside the top four.”

Had Ohio State won in the theoretical rematch, they would have likely been one of the top four teams and automatically through to the quarterfinals. Absolute worst case, they are slotted at No. 5 and hosting whoever earned the 12-seed at Ohio Stadium.

Even a loss probably would have not been detrimental, though. Ranked No. 6 by the committee last Tuesday, it would require the Buckeyes to drop another five spots before really being in danger of missing out on the College Football Playoff.

For a few years now, Day has made his goals for the season clear. No. 1 is beating Michigan, followed by winning the Big Ten, and then a national championship. He has certainly valued winning a conference championship since taking over in Columbus.

The changing landscape of college football does not seem to change his opinion.