Ohio State football: Here’s how two Big Ten teams make the CFP

Yesterday was the first release of the College Football Playoff rankings for the 2022 season. The Ohio State football team was ranked second in the first edition of the rankings, which wasn’t a surprise. The top four consist of Tennessee, Ohio State, Georgia, and Clemson.

We knew Ohio State was going to be in that top four. What we didn’t know was whether or not another Big Ten team was going to make that threshold. Michigan is also undefeated and has looked like a really good team against certain opponents as well.

They were left out and currently sit at five in the rankings. Yet, there is a way for both Ohio State and Michigan to make the College Football Playoff because there is a lot that still can happen between now and the beginning of December when the final rankings come out.

Here’s how both the Ohio State football team and TTUN can make the CFP this year.

In order for the scenario above to happen, both teams have to win out before they face each other on that last weekend in November. Both teams have to be 11-0. That would mean Michigan would get a win against Illinois the week prior to coming to Columbus, giving them another top-25 win.

What would need to happen next is that Ohio State would have to beat the Wolverines by a close margin. Something similar to what happened back in 2006 when the Buckeyes won 42-39 would suffice. That would get the Buckeyes in for sure as long as they win the Big Ten Championship.

Here’s what would need to happen for TTUN to also get in. They would need Alabama to lose one more time, either to Ole Miss, LSU, or in the SEC title game. TTUN would then need the winner of Tennessee/Georgia to go undefeated. That’s two teams in the CFP already at this point.

TCU would need to lose a game down the stretch and not win the Big 12 title. Oregon, USC, and UCLA would need one more loss too, or for Utah to just win the Pac-12 Ole Miss would need to falter once more as well. If all that happens, it doesn’t matter what Clemson does.

It’s a lot, but it’s possible. The last month of the season is when stuff starts to get really crazy in college football. We’ll see what happens down the stretch and whether or not two Big Ten teams do in fact get in.