The Michigan Wolverines are looking to pull off the upset of No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday afternoon at the Big House (12:14 p.m., FOX). If they are able to do so, they will have a shot at not only making the College Football Playoff, but also the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis on Saturday, Dec. 6.
In order for that to happen, Michigan not only needs to beat the Buckeyes, but it will also need some help along the way. According to the Big Ten, these are the three scenarios that would put
Michigan in the conference title game. Again, all three of these scenarios are only a possibility if Michigan beats Ohio State.
Scenario #1: Michigan vs Indiana
The Wolverines would play Curt Cignetti and the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers if Oregon loses at Washington (the Ducks are seven-point favorites), and Indiana wins at Purdue. Michigan and Ohio State would be tied with an 8-1 conference record, but the head-to-head win would give the Wolverines the edge here.
This is the most likely scenario for the Wolverines to get to Indy, but there are two other possibilities.
Scenario #2: Michigan vs Oregon
Michigan would take on Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks in Indianapolis if Oregon beats Washington, and Indiana loses to Purdue. Michigan would win the tie-breaker against Ohio State and Indiana thanks to the head-to-head vs the Buckeyes, and because Michigan would have beaten the common opponent (Purdue) that it has with the Hoosiers.
This is highly unlikely, considering Indiana is a massive 28.5-point favorite at Purdue, but stranger things have happened, I suppose.
The final scenario would probably not excite a lot of Michigan fans…
Scenario #3: Michigan vs Ohio State
You read that correctly — there is a world where the Wolverines and Buckeyes play two weekends in a row. However, this is by far the most unlikely scenario, as Oregon and Indiana would both have to be upset this weekend. Michigan would have more conference wins than Oregon, and would have the aforementioned tie-breaker over Indiana due to the win over Purdue.
Needless to say, Michigan needs to not only beat the Buckeyes for a fifth straight season, but there needs to be a bit of chaos elsewhere around the conference in order to get the Wolverines back to Indianapolis.
