Heres how Ohio State can break the College Footbal

Credit Ohio State Urban Meyer for not getting caught up in a conversation thats going to intensify over the next two to three weeks if the chalk holds in the Big Ten East Division race. Meyer, however, isnt focused on those College Football Playoff rankings right now.I will not watch it, he said on the Big Ten teleconference Tuesday. Weve got to get ready for Michigan State.The rest of us will go there with the Buckeyes because its that first real threat to plunge the College Football Playoff into pure chaos. Ohio States predicament could be the test of all tests for the committee if that Bit Ten chalk holds.BENDER: Heres the test:Ohio State is No. 2 in the rankings, which were unveiled Tuesday. If they win out and No. 8 Penn State wins out, then Rod Carew Jersey the two-lo s Nittany Lions would represent the Big Ten East in the conference championship game by virtue of their head-to-head victory against the Buckeyes. One-lo s Ohio State would sit home but seemingly still be in position to make the playoff.Thats the potential debate that could re-shape the College Football Playoff thinking for years to come. To this point, every playoff team won their conference championship. Its always fun to talk about teams that dont win a conference making the playoff, but Ohio State can force the i sue.We would find out how important the championship label is, Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo told SN. We dont know all these things. They are going to do what they think is right with the best four teams in the end hoping they dont get put in a situation like this where the best team in a conference isnt the champion Mitch Garver Jersey .DiNardo said one sentence will shape this committees playoff thinking:This is an art, not a science.There are other variables at work, too. The Big Ten has four of the top eight teams in the playoff. Ohio State still has to beat Michigan State this week and No. 3 Michigan on Nov. 26. The Wolverines path to Indianapolis is much more straightforward. Win out, and the Wolverines are in because they beat Penn State in the regular season.No. 7 Wisconsin also controls its destiny in the Big TenWest. The Badgers lost to Ohio State, but they have played one of the toughest schedules in the country. They could get a rematch with the Buckeyes or Wolverines or take on the Nittany Lions. Thats led to more conventional thinking about their fate.Wisconsin wins out and they beat Penn State in the finals, I think Wisconsin would be in the playoffs, DiNardo said.The art vs. science debate would be heated between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions. Penn State own head-to-head but has one more lo s. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 2 now, a nod to how good the committee thinks they are. How would that hold up if chalk wins out?Would they pick Ohio State over Penn State if Ohio State won out and Penn State won Michael Pineda Jersey the Big Ten championship? DiNardo asks. I think if they think they look better on tape they will. Same thing with Wisconsin if Wisconsin wins, though I think their case is stronger. Then the i sue becomes, Will they take two teams from the Big Ten? Thats where we are headed.So Ohio State could make the playoff. They could be the only Big Ten team or they could be one of two Big Ten teams along with Penn State or Wisconsin. The committee could avoid the question and put two teams from the same conference in at the expense of two conference champions (probably Pac-12 and Big 12) and a one-lo s contender like Louisville.MORE: Ohio State could break the playoff. Penn State could win the Big Ten and get pa sed over in favor of the Buckeyes. Could you imagine the reaction to that? That would qualify as art over science, and then some. The Nittany Lions would have that head-to-head and a conference title, but two lo ses are more than one. The committee would answer the question with Ohio State, and the fallout would be off the charts.Ohio State could revolutionize the playoff, too. Once a non-conference champion cracks the top four, thats going to force the Power 5 to re-think conference championship games. If the committee doesnt value them, then whats the point other than television money? That would lead to more questions.Are there enough teams? TCU and Ohio State teams that were left out the last two seasons made Max Kepler Jersey that case with convincing New Years Day Six Bowl victories the last two seasons. The Buckeyes were dangerously close to being a one-lo s team without a conference title to get in the playoff last year. This would renew the call for playoff expansion, .Six doesnt solve the problem, DiNardo said. Because what happens if there should be three teams in the same conference in there?DiNardo is right on target. Theres going to be this kind of debate whether its four, six or eight teams. Ohio State is just the team that could take it to the limit first. This is so much different because right now the Buckeyes are considered the team that could give No. 1 Alabama the biggest challenge. Thats reflected in the rankings.Which scenario seems most plausible? Ohio State is going to stir up some form of chaos, especially if they win out. They are in much better position to do that this year. Of course, we have to let it play out.That leads back to Meyer. Dont bother him with any of Tony Oliva Jersey this. Hes busy getting ready for Michigan State.Given what happened last year against the Spartans, thats the best po sible scenario for the Buckeyes right now.