Michigan can literally sabotage Ohio State’s Big Ten championship hopes

I’m tellin’ y’all it’s sabotage.

Michigan can’t beat Ohio State but that can prevent the Buckeyes from playing for the Big Ten Championship Game and blocking their path to the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State had their second game canceled this year with Saturday’s game with Illinois called off due to COVID concerns within the Buckeye program. Head coach Ryan Day tested positive for the coronavirus among the primary concerns. This means Ohio State is one cancelation away from falling below the Big Ten’s minimum game requirement to qualify for the Big Ten Championship Game.

This already was triggered for the Wisconsin Badgers who had their third game canceled earlier in the week. This means, should Michigan or Michigan State have COVID concerns within their program, campus or community they can elect to pull out of the game with Ohio State.

Michigan can sabotage Ohio State’s Big Ten title hopes

Considering there is no love lost between the rivals, Michigan and Ohio State, it’s something to keep an eye on, and if it happens, expect what Dabo Swinney thought of Florida State canceling their game with Clemson to look awfully tame by comparison.

Unless there are countless cancelations within the Big Ten the next week, the league won’t alter their minimum game rule. They would need the threshold to fall below seven games on average for the rule to be amended and give new life to Ohio State and Michigan should both be under the number.

While it’s not impossible to have a number of games canceled, it’s not likely, so for Ohio State football players, coaches and fans alike, they have to hope that both Michigan State and Michigan don’t have any COVID issues the next two weeks. Their championship hopes rest with them as much as it does with their own program.

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