Big Ten Power Rankings, Week 12: Michigan loses, but still controls its destiny
By David Rouben
With two consecutive 62-3 blowouts, it looks like Ohio State is playing up to their potential. They’re clicking at exactly the right time, and even though a conference title is unlikely this year, it’ll be hard for the playoff committee to deny them.
Just like with Rutgers, when Michigan one-upped Ohio State’s game against them a week later, the Buckeyes bettered Michigan’s effort against Maryland. Through their first seven games, they scored a total of three points on opening drives. But now they’ve scored an opening-drive touchdown in their last three games.
It should come as no surprise that Curtis Samuel continues to produce for this Buckeyes offense. A big reason why they lost to Penn State was because they didn’t use him enough, but against Maryland, he had 112 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on just nine touches. Despite his best efforts this season, he’s not one of the semifinalists for the Fred Biletnikoff Award. What’s up with that?
It was encouraging to see the Buckeyes not let up in this game, as they want to make a statement heading into The Game. They should look to continue that against Michigan State, whose high point this season remains beating Rutgers, although Mark Dantonio’s team could be an upset-minded bunch.
And now that Michigan has lost, Ohio State fans don’t have to root for them anymore. While that is a relief, it’s crushing now because they won’t play in the Championship Game unless Penn State completely capitulates. Regardless, they already have two Top 10 wins, and a win over Michigan would make it three. The Wolverine’s resume is what kept them in the playoff this week, and Ohio State has a better strength of schedule than them.
It would be absolutely criminal for the Buckeyes to not make the College Football Playoff, even without a conference title. A lone loss to Penn State and a win over Michigan is greater than a loss to Pitt and Michigan, or subsequently, two losses to Ohio State and Michigan.
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But it’s no use debating the merits of the College Football Playoff, because as this week proved, chaos is always lurking, and just when we think we have all the answers, they change the questions.