With Ohio State's chances of winning the Big 10 Championship basically out the window, the Big 10's chances of placing a team in the playoff also goes basically out the window. The reason is simple. In the Big 10 East, Michigan State now becomes the overwhelming favorite. Unless they trip up at Penn State at the end of the year, they really should have no problem running the Big 10 Conference schedule that they have. There is just one little problem facing MSU. A trip to Eugene to play Oregon. MSU loses that game. Not too much doubt about that.
Now we go West. Iowa certainly has the easiest schedule, playing contenders Wisconsin and Nebraska at home. Unfortunately, they are on back to back weeks. Is it reasonable to think that they can win both of those games, and then the CC game a week later? Probably not. Nebraska is next, but they get Michigan State and Northwestern back to back on the road in October, and also go to Wisconsin and Iowa in November. They will not survive that schedule. Wisconsin is last, and they seem to have a personnel advantage. Wisky must play Nebraska and then go to Iowa back to back n November. They also must open the season against LSU. A loss to LSU gives Wisconsin the same problem that a loss to Oregon gives Michigan State.
I think that Michigan State will win the Big 10 championship, but will be odd man out in the playoff if the winners of the ACC (Florida State), Big 12 (Oklahoma), Pac 12 (Oregon), and SEC (LSU. How about that for a long shot) have one loss or less.
Now we go West. Iowa certainly has the easiest schedule, playing contenders Wisconsin and Nebraska at home. Unfortunately, they are on back to back weeks. Is it reasonable to think that they can win both of those games, and then the CC game a week later? Probably not. Nebraska is next, but they get Michigan State and Northwestern back to back on the road in October, and also go to Wisconsin and Iowa in November. They will not survive that schedule. Wisconsin is last, and they seem to have a personnel advantage. Wisky must play Nebraska and then go to Iowa back to back n November. They also must open the season against LSU. A loss to LSU gives Wisconsin the same problem that a loss to Oregon gives Michigan State.
I think that Michigan State will win the Big 10 championship, but will be odd man out in the playoff if the winners of the ACC (Florida State), Big 12 (Oklahoma), Pac 12 (Oregon), and SEC (LSU. How about that for a long shot) have one loss or less.