Scarlet Sunrise: Big Ten releases tiebreaker rules for league title game

COLUMBUS — Ohio State doesn’t want to have to worry about any tie-breaker scenarios when it comes to making the Big Ten title game. But if the Buckeyes do, those rules have now been laid out.

Yes, as the Big Ten expands to 18 teams and ditches divisions, which have sorted out the conference title game participants since 2012, the top two teams will now meet in the conference championship game. This season’s is in Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 7.

The Big Ten will break potential ties for conference title game participation through six different criteria per the release:

1. The tied teams will be compared based on head-to-head matchups during the regular season.
2. The tied teams will be compared based on record against all common conference opponents.
3. The tied teams will be compared based on record against common opponents with the best conference record and proceeding through the common conference opponents based on their order of finish within the conference standings.
4. The tied teams will be compared based on the best cumulative conference winning percentage of all conference opponents.
5. The representative will be chosen based on the highest ranking by SportSource Analytics (team Rating Score metric) following the regular season.
6. The representative will be chosen by random draw among the tied teams conducted by the Commissioner or designee.

Ohio State is hoping to just run the table in league play and get to Indy with a chance to play for the Big Ten title for the first time since 2020. But if there are ties, those rules for breaking a tie have now been laid out.

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Lettermen Row staff picks: Conference champs and national title picks

The offseason is officially over — for some teams. No, Ohio State didn’t take the field in a Week 0 game on Saturday. And the Buckeyes still must wait another few days before finally unveiling what they’ll bring to the Big Ten and national picture this year. But for some other programs, the season is already underway.

Ryan Day’s team has one of the best rosters in college football; that’ll be unveiled next Saturday against Akron (3:30 p.m., CBS). The Buckeyes believe they have the tools to compete for — and win — the national title. Does the Lettermen Row staff think any differently?

In the spirit of the season kicking off, we’re giving out our staff picks to win each of the four major conferences and then also dishing out our national champion picks. Yes, there’s a heavy Buckeyes presence. But no, it wasn’t unanimous that we think the Buckeyes can win the title.

Let’s get to the 2024 Lettermen Row staff picks.

READ: Staff picks: Can Buckeyes snap decade-long title drought, win first 12-team College Football Playoff?

ICYMI: Buckeyes officially open week as massive favorite over Akron

Let the 2024 Ohio State football season officially begin. Yes, it’s finally time for Buckeyes football for the first time in eight months and change.

Ohio State will open its season Saturday inside what should be a packed Ohio Stadium, as the Akron Zips will visit the Buckeyes for the first time since 2021 and just the fourth time this century.

The Buckeyes open their season — and the first game week of the year — as a massive 50.5-point favorite over Akron. It’s the first time the Buckeyes are favored by at least 50 points since they were a 52-point favorite against Rutgers in 2019.

The total is set at 57.5, meaning the folks in Las Vegas project this as a 54-3 Ohio State win.

the Buckeyes held two different opponents to just three points last year; those games came against Michigan State and Minnesota in back-to-back November home games.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 4 days
Ohio State at Oregon: 46 days
Ohio State at Penn State: 67 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 95 days

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