Big Ten: Week 13 Championship Implications and Possible Outcomes

The last week of the regular season has arrived and there are games left to be played that have massive implications on the outcome of the conference. Each division is still up in the air as Michigan and Ohio State battle out the East division. Wisconsin will clinch the West division if they win or if Iowa loses. Let’s check out each scenario and see how the road to the Big Ten championship will play out. Here we go. 

East Division

Ohio State and Michigan are the only two teams that can win the division. Michigan State is no longer in contention after losing to the Buckeyes on Saturday. The East division comes down to the winner of Saturday, both teams are 10-1 but Ohio State currently leads the division because they are undefeated in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have one loss to Michigan State in the conference. The game on Saturday is in Ann Arbor, Michigan which helps the case for the Michigan Wolverines in pulling off an upset. Rivalry games are different, you can’t treat them as simple as just a normal game as Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said his team expects a war. “That was everything that was planned, built for,” Harbaugh said. “All the energy that was put in since way back in early-2021, January-February.” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said he hasn’t been focusing on Michigan’s success but since beating Michigan State he has turned his attention to the Wolverines. “I’ve watched them a little bit and they’re a very, very good team,” Day said. “I’ve got to watch the film to get an idea, but I know they’re really strong.” Ohio State is the favorite, they have the best offense in the country, but they are going up against a Michigan team that can run the football and take the ball out of Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud’s hands. We are in store for an instant classic on Saturday while the winner will punch a ticket to Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game. 

West Division 

The West division is a bit more complex in comparison to the East. Three teams including Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota all have a path to the Big Ten championship game. If Wisconsin wins on Saturday they are in, Iowa will make it if they win, and Wisconsin loses. Minnesota has an outside shot at making it, but the Golden Gophers need to win combined with both Iowa and Wisconsin losing, and Purdue winning. Wisconsin plays Minnesota this weekend so if the Badgers win that game, they will knock out all other teams in contention. Wisconsin must travel to Minnesota for the game on Saturday giving the Golden Gophers an advantage. Wisconsin is playing great football; they are winners of seven straight games in a row and they are the favorite to make it to Indianapolis. For Iowa, they don’t have an easy game on Saturday as they play a tough Nebraska team. The game is in Nebraska which doesn’t help Iowa, Nebraska has played every ranked opponent super tough. All three teams will have their hands full this weekend so only time will tell on who makes it to Indianapolis. 

References: https://247sports.com/Article/Ryan-Day-shares-first-thoughts-on-Ohio-State-Michigan-game-175897403/

Writer

-Justin Howard