No. 4 Ohio State will face Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game on Dec. 19 if the league amends its six-game requirement for participation in the title tilt.
Most outlets reported a formal vote by league members was still pending, but is considered a formality. The 5-0 Buckeyes lead the Big Ten East, but the squad’s previously scheduled sixth game this Saturday against rival Michigan was canceled due to COVID-19 cases in the Wolverines’ program.
Indiana (6-1) would have faced the West-leading Wildcats (5-1) in the championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis if Ohio State had been ruled ineligible. The Buckeyes beat the Hoosiers, 42-35, on Nov. 21.
Ryan Day lobbied for changeOhio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday before the Michigan game was officially called off that he hoped the conference would use a new lens to evaluate the preseason rules if necessary.
“I think it’s one of those things that was put into place early on, and decisions are made based on the information you have at the time, and things change, as we know,” Day said. “… We have to take a hard look periodically at all of this stuff, and this is one of those situations.
“If we don’t quite get the game we need to get in the championship game, I think that needs to be looked at hard, just like anybody else in the conference. There’s no easy solution in times like this. I know those guys are going to come together and take a hard look at it and make sure it was the right decision.” Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez told FOX Sports on Saturday that the conference was planning to review the rule this week in the event it could apply to Ohio State’s College Football Playoff eligibility.
–Field Level Media ()