Penn St will make the college football playoff

No one expected Wisconsin to be ranked so highly, either.

I am not trying to burst your bubble but if Clemson and Washington win, I suspect Wisconsin or Penn State (whichever wins) will NOT make the top four. They'll take Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson and Washington.

If Clemson or Washington loses, I think you get two Big Ten teams (Ohio State plus the title game winner).

I am rooting for a Washington loss, they haven't played anyone good other than USC and they lost that game. They may be 11-1 but their strength of schedule doesn't even closely match Alabama, Ohio State, Wisconsin, or Penn State. I don't know much about Clemson's schedule.

They have 2 losses including a loss to Pittsburgh so I think that causes penn state to lose their chance at a playoff spot. I'm not entirely sure though.

Sucks though because Ohio state is basically benefitting by staying home next week and not playing in the big ten title game. They get to sit with their 1 loss record and you know the playoff committee will be biased in favor of Ohio state.

The other problem with Penn State is that they didn't play a tough non-conference game, unless you count Pitt, which they lost.

Ohio State beat Oklahoma, Wisconsin beat LSU, and Michigan beat Colorado.

Penn State also had some of the weakest Big Ten teams this year -- Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana. Wisconsin played a much harder Big Ten schedule, for example, didn't get any of them.

The reason I say this, that PSU will make the playoffs, is because I know that the college football playoff system emphasizes conference champions. The big10 is doing great this year in football. However, if Wisco (also has 2 losses) wins the big 10, they may be left out because they lost to Ohio St head to head. That's key. But I'll bet PSU gets in with a W even with 2Ls. If Clemson or Washington loses, Ohio st will probably get in with Penn State.

Alabama

Ohio State

Clemson

Washington

Are all in. If Clemson or Washington lose then 2 loss Michigan will be the first team in. Michigan has wins over Penn State and Wisconsin. Also a loss by Washington would mean they lost to Colorado and guess what? Michigan beat them as well.

Penn State won that Ohio State game on a lark, really, wasn't it a blocked field goal run back? I mean it's still a win, of course. Wisconsin went to OT with Ohio State, after leading most of the game. So neither Penn State or Wisconsin was dominant or dominated in their win (PSU) or loss vs Ohio State (Wisconsin).

I really think Penn State's strength of schedule hurts them a bit.

I hope you are right and that PSU does sneak in as the 4 seed. They would then meet 1 seed Alabama in the national semifinals. Score of that one should be about 45-3, and I would enjoy that immensely. I will never forgive PSU for their mishandling of the Sandusky affair, to say nothing of the blind reverence so many Penn Staters have for Joe Pa, who is not and will not be considered so fondly by those more than about 50 miles from "Happy Valley". He made a decision to protect "the brand" rather than do the right thing.

Big 10 is messed up wrote:

Are all in. If Clemson or Washington lose then 2 loss Michigan will be the first team in. Michigan has wins over Penn State and Wisconsin. Also a loss by Washington would mean they lost to Colorado and guess what? Michigan beat them as well.

I can't see that happening if Wisconsin wins. Michigan has lost 2 of their last 3 games, and Iowa is not a "quality" loss. Michigan only beat Wisconsin like 14-7, a Big Ten Championship for Wisconsin would keep them over Michigan. Penn State, who got blew out by Michigan...maybe not.

IT Guy wrote:

Penn State won that Ohio State game on a lark, really, wasn't it a blocked field goal run back? I mean it's still a win, of course. Wisconsin went to OT with Ohio State, after leading most of the game. So neither Penn State or Wisconsin was dominant or dominated in their win (PSU) or loss vs Ohio State (Wisconsin).

I really think Penn State's strength of schedule hurts them a bit.

I don't think you know what "lark" means.

B1G's best shot at getting 2 teams is if Wisconsin wins.

Wisconsin has a much stronger OOC schedule than Penn State (win over LSU is better than a loss to Pitt). Both of Wisconsin's losses were by a TD, and both were to very good teams (Ohio State and Michigan).

Penn State's loss to Pitt was close, but Pitt isn't a marquee team. They got blown out by Michigan.

Neither is going to matter if Alabama, Clemson and Washington both take care of business, though. The committee is not going to choose a 2-loss conference champion, or a 1-loss non-champion, over a 1-loss conference champion. The biggest question IMO is if they will include Ohio State (1-loss, strong SOS, dominant team all year long) or the B1G Champion (2-loss team, and if it is Penn State then also a mediocre schedule) at #4.

1) Alabama

2) Ohio State

These two teams are guaranteed a spot in the playoff no matter what happens.

3) Clemson

4) Washington

These two teams are guaranteed a spot if they win their conference championships.

5) Big 10 Champion

This team is going to be pissed. Have an argument, but Ohio State will be the lone big 10 representative unless Clemson or Washington falter.

6) Michigan

This team will not make the playoff unless Clemson and Washington both lose bigly, the big 10 championship is a crappy 13-10 game, and the committee says efff it.

The may sneak in like Joepa did in the showers to watch. Terrible what he did to those kids

Wisconsin lost by 7 at Michigan.

Won on the road at Iowa where Michigan lost.

OSU beat Michigan barely in OT at home.

OSU beat Wisconsin at Wisconsin.

Penn State beat OSU at home barely.

PEnn State lost badly at Michigan.

Michigan is 2-2 on the road lost at Iowa and OSU

penn State is 3-2 on the road

OSU is 4-1 on the road but against some awful teams.

Wisconsin is 4-1 on the road

The committee is supposed to select the best 4 teams. Supposed to consider conference championship as a big factor.

I'm not the committee but as I see it, if either Penn State or Wisconsin wins convincingly at a neutral site against a 9-2 big10 team and wins the conference - they are in. If it is a close sloppy game then OSU is in.

It also does. It matter because Alabama and Clemson are gonna take it in the end.

The Big 10 is not as great as people say:

Iowa lost at home to North Dakota State but beat Michigan. OSU beat nobody outside of the Big 10 of meaning besides Oklahoma.

It is either Penn state or OSU.

I hope somehow Colorado makes it in

macdaddy wrote:

1) Alabama

2) Ohio State

These two teams are guaranteed a spot in the playoff no matter what happens.

This is right. These teams will draw bigger audiences and sell more tickets than the other contenders. Nothing else matters in the final selection from the one loss and undefeated teams. The committee is praying for Washington to lose so they can put PSU or Michigan in.

Idontreallyknow wrote:

I hope somehow Colorado makes it in

Colorado does have the one thing that could possibly threaten the Alabama defense: A QB who is a legitimate threat to run and throw (See: Chad Kelly lighting them up each of the last two years). The problem is Sefo is already banged up and a couple of hits from that defense and he could be toast.

A couple years ago TCU was ranked #3 and Ohio State was #5 going into the last game of the season. Ohio St played in the Big10 championship game (winning big) while TCU played cupcake Iowa St (and won big by 50+) because their conference, the Big 12, does not have a conference championship game. The final rankings were released after those games, and Ohio St jumped into the top 4 while TCU actually dropped a couple spots despite winning by 50+ points vs Iowa St and was out of the playoff! Ohio St ended up winning it all. TCU won convincingly in their bowl game against Mississippi. So this shows that conference titles are valued and nothing is certain going into the final week. And yes, a team like Colorado may even have a shot if they win big in the Pac12 title game this week. You never know.

Their program should have suffered the death penalty after Sandusky. I'd root for Al Qaeda over Penn State.

1. Alabama (safe)

2. Ohio State (safe)

Ohio State as a #2 beat #3 Michigan. No way they drop out. I know they aren't in the Big 10 title game, but if all of the voters were asked who is the best team in the Big 10, it would be Ohio State. They simply will not drop to #5 after beating #3, no matter what Penn State or UW do.

Now if either Penn State or UW have a huge win in the title game, then they could make an argument for the 4th spot, but they will probably need Clemson or Washington to lose.