Updated Big Ten Championship Game scenarios: Path to title game after Michigan tops Ohio State
One of the biggest upsets of the 2024 season came in one of the biggest games. Michigan stunned Ohio State with a field goal in the final seconds, dashing the Buckeyes’ Big Ten Championship hopes – and the scenarios have been updated.
UPDATE: Oregon and Penn State are set to face off in the Big Ten Championship Game. Oregon is a 3.5-point favorite in the game, per FanDuel.
Penn State and Indiana are still in contention for a trip to Indianapolis. Both teams needed Ohio State to lose, and that happened when Michigan put the finishing touches on a 13-10 victory in Columbus. Now, two teams will work to punch their ticket to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on Oregon.
Ohio State had just one loss entering Week 14, only falling to Oregon at Autzen Stadium earlier this year. That meant a victory would set up a highly anticipated rematch. However, the loss knocked the Buckeyes out of the race for the Big Ten title once again.
Rivalry Week is off to a thrilling start, and it’s sure to heat up even more. Here are the updated Big Ten Championship scenarios for Penn State and Indiana.
Penn State
Loss: vs. Ohio State, 20-13
Week 14 game: vs. Maryland
Along with needing to hold serve and beat Maryland on Senior Day in Happy Valley, Penn State needed an assist from the Wolverines. They came through, and if the Nittany Lions win against Maryland, Penn State will be back in the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 2016.
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And regardless of what happens with the Big Ten title race, a victory over the Terps likely sews up a College Football Playoff berth for the Nittany Lions.
Indiana
Loss: at Ohio State, 38-15
Week 14 game: vs. Purdue
The Hoosiers’ perfect season ended in Columbus but the title hopes remain alive. But Indiana needs help.
To leapfrog the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions, Indiana needed both to lose. And it can’t be one or the other, as Ohio State holds the head-to-head win and a one-loss Penn State gets in over one-loss Indiana via tiebreakers, despite them not playing head to head.
And the Hoosiers, much like the Buckeyes, Nittany Lions and spot-already-clinched Ducks would surely love not only a shot at the league crown, but the virtual guarantee of an automatic bid to the CFP.