The Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers will meet this Saturday in the fourth ever Big Ten Championship game. A lot more is on the line this year than in the three years’ previous as the winner has the opportunity to compete in the first ever College Football Playoff. It will be no guarantee, however, as both the Buckeyes and the Badgers will need help to get one of the coveted four team spots.
A victory for the Buckeyes may be just enough to get them into the Playoff, though the recent injury to star quarterback J.T. Barrett may derail their postseason ambitions. Barrett fractured his ankle Saturday in the season finale against Minnesota and the playoff committee has stated they will consider the ramifications of player injuries on potential postseason performance. Nonetheless, a win against Wisconsin may prove to the committee that Ohio State can compete without Barrett. That is a lot of pressure for third string quarterback Cardale Jones who will start at the helm Saturday.
Wisconsin is on the outside looking in and may not have much of a chance of getting one of those four spots unless several other teams lose. However, a win over Ohio State, coupled with losses by Baylor, TCU, and Florida State could be enough to give the Badgers a date in either the Sugar or Rose Bowl semifinal games. Running back Melvin Gordon is one of the leading Heisman candidates, having rushed for 2,260 yards and 26 touchdowns over the course of the season, and Wisconsin will lean heavily on him Saturday if they want to get the win.
Continue Reading: Buckeyes And Badgers To Meet In Second Least Expensive Big Ten Championship Game
