Todd Blackledge predicts how many Big Ten teams should make College Football Playoff

Todd Blackledge looks at the Big Ten and sees a few teams he believes have a legitimate chance to make the College Football Playoff. The former Penn State quarterback turned NBC analyst offered his thoughts on who during an appearance on Always College Football with ESPN’s Greg McElroy.

Of course, his Nittany Lions made the list as they are off to a 6-0 start and one of just three teams in the conference with an unblemished record. The two others, Oregon and Indiana, also made Blackledge’s list of contenders.

Blackledge also named Ohio State, which fell by just one point to Oregon in Week 7 for its only loss of the season. He ranked those four names by their likelihood of making it at the moment.

“I think right now you look at Oregon, Ohio State and Penn State,” he said. “I think those three right now. Then I think Indiana, depending on Kurtis Rourke and what that situation is, I think those four teams are certainly very likely candidates to be considered for the College Football Playoff. Illinois might be a notch below that, but I think those four teams for sure are serious contenders.”

Indiana has demanded the attention of the country and forced it’s way into the Big Ten title race with its 7-0 start to the season. Rourke was off to a hot start as he leads the conference with 15 passing touchdowns in addition to 1,941 yards and only three interceptions, but suffered a thumb injury this past week against Nebraska.

He is a transfer from Ohio whom Blackledge is plenty familiar with as a native of the state, having watched his career with the Bobcats.

“People know about Kurtis Rourke now,” Blackledge said. “I knew about him. I’m from Ohio with Mid-American Conference football and Ohio U. So I knew he was a player. He was the conference player of the year two years ago.”

Rourke is considered doubtful for the team’s upcoming game against Washington, but could be back as soon as the following week. The Hoosiers have a manageable schedule the rest of the way, and a late-season battle with Ohio State could be the factor that determines if they make the league championship game.

While Indiana has been a surprise, Oregon is doing what many expected it to as its transfer quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, is beginning to pick up steam. Gabriel three for 341 yards and scored three total touchdowns, leading his team downfield for the go-ahead field goal in a 32-31 win against Ohio State.

A veteran in his sixth season, he brings the experience and talent that make the Ducks the favorite to win the conference and punch their ticket to the playoff.

“I really think Dillon Gabriel is interesting,” Blackledge said. “Bo Nix was there for two years and the situation is very similar. He comes in, he’s an older guy, he gets away from a situation that maybe wasn’t great for him at the end. He gets a new start, a fresh year.

“But what he’s done in eight months and the leadership he has, the way the team rallies around him, very, very impressive. Not just his numbers on the field, but his effect on the team. He’s a very different personality than Bo Nix was, but from a competitive standpoint and a leader standpoint, they’re very, very similar.”