Ohio State's Big Ten Playoff Path Faces UCLA Threat

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Pushing The Odds with Matt Perrault

Ohio State’s Outlook and UCLA’s Big Ten Opportunity

Ohio State’s situation is complicated because the team is strong defensively and currently has a résumé that belongs in the bracket. The concern for Buckeye and Big Ten fans is what happens if Ohio State begins losing more games.

Indiana is 5-1 in conference play, UCLA is 5-0, and Ohio State is 4-1, with 4-2 USC close behind. UCLA still must play at Minnesota, host Illinois, travel to Michigan, and face USC. The Bruins could run the table, win the Big Ten, earn a top-four seed, and receive a bye.

That possibility is why I bought an 80-to-1 ticket on UCLA to win it all. The price did not reflect what UCLA might be able to accomplish, although running the table will not be easy.

UCLA’s upcoming game at Minnesota is a major concern. The 10 a.m. kickoff in Minneapolis looks like a potential trap game. The Bruins are 5.5-point road favorites against a 3-2 Minnesota team that took Indiana to overtime and had opportunities to win.

The Big Ten picture could leave the committee with a difficult decision about how many teams to include. Ohio State is 6-2 overall, with a loss to Texas, and 4-1 in the conference. Its remaining schedule includes Oregon at home, Northwestern, a road game at Nebraska, and Michigan at home. If the Buckeyes begin losing consistently, their place in the bracket could become much less secure.