The Big Ten put Ohio State in a difficult position. Due to rules established and agreed upon by all 14 of the conference's athletic directors upon the announcement of the shortened 2020 season, a team must play at least six games in order to be eligible for the Big Ten Championship Game at the year's end. This rule can change if the average number of total games played by each team drops below six.
At the time of this decision, those in charge likely hoped this rule would never come into play. But being that it is 2020, it has.
Ohio State currently sits at the top of the Big Ten East with a 4-0 record and wins against Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers and the division's second-place team, Indiana. But the Buckeyes had one game canceled by Maryland due to an elevated number of COVID-19 cases within the Terrapin program in mid-November and ended the month having to cancel last Saturday's trip to Illinois after a COVID-19 outbreak of their own.
While the Scarlet and Gray still have the chance to play six games and be in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 19, that will only happen if Ohio State takes the field in each of its two scheduled games remaining. While there is optimism that the Buckeyes will make the trip to East Lansing to face Michigan State this weekend, rivals Michigan, who is the final team on the schedule, have already announced this week's game against Maryland has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
And while the Scarlet and Gray remained at No. 4 in the second College Football Playoff rankings, it was clear from selection committee chair Gary Barta's comments on Tuesday that, while there is no minimum to make the Playoff, the number of games played will become a bigger factor going forward. And soon top teams will be able to add a conference championship to their résumé, something Ohio State could miss out on.
It seemed unlikely that the Big Ten would change its rules at this point in the year just to benefit the Buckeyes until Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who was the chair of the Big Ten's return-to-play committee this offseason, spoke with The Detroit News on Wednesday.
Asked about where the Big Ten could go from here with Michigan canceling the game this weekend and if the Big Ten could chance any requirements, Alvarez gave the following answer:
"I would think if something would happen to Ohio State and they'd have to cancel another game, that that's something we've got to revisit. They're sitting up there ranked No. 4. Our league can't keep them from having the opportunity if they have the chance to be in the finals."
Alvarez was then asked if that was an athletic director-level decision and he said, "Yeah, we meet weekly. Those are things we discuss. We may make some adjustments on that last week. That's sort of a flexible week of scheduling. But those are things we talk about and certainly you've got to consider, or reconsider"
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now!
If the Big Ten athletic directors would consider changing the rule to ensure the top teams in each division meet, Ohio State coaches, players and fans would sleep easier these next two weeks. There are also other possiblities of the Buckeyes playing a different opponent if the Wolverines cannot play, but that would mean a cancelation in another game and some last-minute work that, given the unneccessary rule, would have to be done if a change is made.
Sports - Latest - Google News
December 03, 2020 at 04:32AM
https://ift.tt/2JC4ptE
Alvarez: B1G could discuss title game rule change for Ohio State - 247Sports
Sports - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Mbsnt7
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Alvarez: B1G could discuss title game rule change for Ohio State - 247Sports"
Post a Comment