College Football Playoff: Big Ten can definitely get 2 teams in

The SEC did it last year and the Big Ten can definitely do it this year and get two teams in the College Football Playoff.

HIstory was made in the College Football Playoff last year when the SEC got a pair of teams in as Georgia got in after winning the SEC Championship Game over Auburn and Alabama, the eventual national champion, got in with one loss despite the lack of a conference championship.

SEC haters didn’t like it, but the Playoff committee absolutely got it right as Georgia and Alabama played a thrilling National Championship Game that went to overtime and launched Tua Tagovailoa to instant stardom.

The very same scenario could play out again this year in the Big Ten.

Ohio State is undefeated and the No. 2 team in the country and could be headed for another trip to the Playoff. If Ohio State goes undefeated, they’ll be in the Playoff, without any drama about their inclusion.

However, the Playoff scenarios get awfully interesting should Ohio State lose, just like Alabama lost in their regular season finale to their rival.

Alabama was undefeated before losing to Auburn and still got in. Ohio State could lose to Michigan in the season finale and still find a way to get in.

Scenario 1: A one-loss Michigan beats an undefeated Ohio State to advance to the Big Ten Championship Game. The Wolverines would then need to win that game. A one-loss Ohio State could sneak in with a loss from Notre Dame, or any of the Big 12 or Pac-12 teams in contention. This would follow the same path that Alabama used to get in. Like Alabama, Ohio State is a perennial contender and a blue blood who could be perceived as getting a little nudge in.

Scenario 2: This is a little less likely, but if a one-loss Iowa advances to the Big Ten Championship Game and knocks off an undefeated Ohio State, both could find their way in. In this scenario, Iowa would have to be in by virtue of winning the conference. And if Ohio State’s only loss is a close one to a one-loss Big Ten champion, they’d have a great case for inclusion.

If I had to bet on one scenario, I’d take the first one because Michigan is playing really well since their season-opening loss to Notre Dame,  who by the way, is a top-five team, so maybe it’s not that bad of a loss. Michigan is the only team capable of beating Ohio State, and if it happens, I think they’d take care of business against whoever they face from the Big Ten West in the Big Ten Championship Game.

I don’t have a lot of faith in beating Ohio State, so that’s pretty much the end of that scenario.

Will either come to fruition? Only time will tell, but it’s looking like Michigan should have one loss and Ohio State will be undefeated when they meet in The Game. At which point, the Playoff scenarios will be running wild.

What do you think? Can the Big Ten get two teams in? Will they?