Lilly Donahue | Indiana University
For the first time in the young College Football Playoff’s history, we have a major conflict. And, just like the first minor conflict, it’s all about conference titles. In the first year of the playoff, the Big 12 was left out of the playoff, and many speculated that this was due to the conference’s lack of a conference title game, which led to two top teams, Baylor and TCU, to tie for first place, and subsequently be eliminated from the playoff. This year’s conference title controversy is a LOT more problematic.
The teams currently in the running for the playoff are:
- Alabama, 12-0
- Clemson, 11-1, Lost to Pitt
- Ohio State, 11-1, Lost to Penn State
- Penn State, 10-2, Lost to Michigan and Pitt
- Wisconsin, 10-2, Lost to Michigan and Ohio State
- Washington, 11-1, Lost to Southern Cal
- Oklahoma, 10-2, Lost to Houston and Ohio State
If I am the committee, here’s what I’d consider in order of importance:
- Record
- Head to Head Matchups (if applicable)
- Strength of Schedule
- Conference Title
To start off, barring the greatest upset in CFB history, Alabama is a lock for #1. Clemson, so long as they can dispatch Virginia Tech, is in as well. Based on record and lack of a head to head matchup, Washington, if they win their conference, is in also. That leaves one spot open. Oklahoma, barring chaos, is out. Then there’s the Big 10. Let’s look at each team in contention and see how they do with my rankings system. All 4 factors must be considered if applicable.
- Record
- Ohio State
- Wisconsin (T2)
- Penn State (T2)
- Head to Head
- Penn State
- Ohio State
- Wisconsin
- Strength of Schedule
- Ohio State
- Wisconsin
- Penn State
- Conference Title
- Winner of PSU-Wisconsin
- Ohio State
So, according to my rules, Wisconsin is eliminated because even f they win the Big 10 Title, they’d lose to OSU, especially since they lost head to head. So, if Penn State wins the Big 10, should they get the final spot? I say yes, and here’s why. While OSU has a better record, the Buckeyes lost TO Penn State. I find it impossible to put two teams side by side and say one is better than the other when they’ve actually played each other and proved who is superior. But, I fully expect the CFB Playoff Committee to disagree with me and put in OSU and either not include the Big 10 Champ or exclude the Pac 12 Champ. So, the committee has to ask, and answer the question: Do conference titles matter? I say yes, because you should have to be the best in your conference to be the best in the nation, but many disagree. If I were OSU, I’d pull hard for the Badgers.