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There are no actual clinching scenarios for the 12-team playoff until the first week of December, when the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 have their conference championship games.
The winner of the Ohio State-Penn State clash can take one giant step toward earning the Big Ten’s automatic bid.
Penn State does not have any expected hurdles left on its schedule after Week 10, so a win would set it on a collision course with Oregon to meet in Indianapolis.
Ohio State still has the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers left on their docket, but that game will be played in Columbus, as will the rivalry contest with a Michigan Wolverines team that looks nothing like the title-winning squad of a year ago.
Oregon will likely be viewed as the favorite to win the Big Ten title game, regardless of who its opponent is, The Ducks have looked every bit like the top team in the country through nine weeks.
The loser of the Ohio State-Penn State game will not be eliminated from playoff contention. That team would likely be the third Big Ten team selected for the 12-team postseason format.
However, there is a scenario in which Ohio State loses on Saturday and then gets upset again in November. That would cause the selection committee to re-think the Buckeyes’ status inside the top 12.
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