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Topic: Champions week matchups

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medinabuckeye1

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Champions week matchups
« on: December 09, 2020, 03:40:08 PM »
Now that the six game minimum has been eliminated the Buckeyes and Wildcats will play in the B1GCG in Indianapolis (noon, FOX).  

Where are the other games going to be played and who will play in them?  

Will any or all of Indiana, Purdue, and Michigan be available to play a game?  

Will UW and MN forego the "Champions Week" cross-over and play each other for the Axe instead?  If they do, which two B1G-E teams will do the same thing?  

Indiana will be #2 in the B1G-E so they theoretically should play B1G-W #2 Iowa but what if they and Purdue ask the B1G for a waiver so that they can play their traditional in-state rivalry against Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket?  

B1G-E final standings (assuming tOSU, M, and IU do not play and the rest all play):

  • 5-0 tOSU
  • 6-1 Indiana
  • 3-2 Maryland (if they beat RU)
  • 3-4 Michigan State (if they beat PSU)
  • 2-3 Maryland (if they lose to RU)
  • 3-5 Penn State (if they beat MSU)
  • 3-5 Rutgers (if they beat UMD)
  • 2-4 Michigan
  • 2-5 Michigan State (if they lose to PSU)
  • 2-6 Penn State (if they lose to MSU)
  • 2-6 Rutgers (if they lose to UMD)

B1G-W final standings (assuming PU does not play and the rest all play):
  • 6-1 or 5-2 Northwestern (potentially a lower winning percentage than Iowa but H2H trumps % if losses are equal per B1G rules for 2020
  • 6-2 or 5-3 Iowa
  • 3-2 Wisconsin (if they beat Iowa)
  • 3-3 Minnesota (if they beat UNL)
  • 3-4 Illinois (if they beat NU)
  • 3-4 Nebraska (if they beat MN)
  • 2-3 Wisconsin (if they lose to IA)
  • 2-4 Minnesota (if they lose to UNL)
  • 2-4 Purdue
  • 2-5 Illinois (if they lose to NU)
  • 2-5 Nebraska (if they lose to MN)


B1GCG:
tOSU vs NU

#2 game:
Indiana vs Iowa

#3 game:
B1G-E:
  • Maryland if they beat RU or if they and MSU both lose.  
  • MSU if they beat PSU AND UMD loses to RU.  
B1G-W:
  • Wisconsin if they beat IA, or
  • Minnesota if they beat UNL, or
  • Illinois if they beat NU, or
  • Nebraska if they beat MN

#4 game:
B1G-E:
  • Penn State if they beat MSU, or
  • Maryland if they lose to RU, or
  • MSU
B1G-W:
  • Minnesota if they and Wisconsin both win, or
  • Illinois if they win, UW wins, and MN loses, or
  • Nebraska if they win, UW wins, MN loses, and IL loses

 . . .


LittlePig

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2020, 06:36:09 PM »
Its probably a moot point since Indy and Wiscy won't want to play in a rematch, but...

Wouldn't Wiscy be considered #2 in the West if they beat Iowa?

2 losses is better than 3 losses, right?

OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2020, 08:54:03 PM »
What about Legends week matchups?
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medinabuckeye1

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2020, 09:06:38 PM »
Its probably a moot point since Indy and Wiscy won't want to play in a rematch, but...

Wouldn't Wiscy be considered #2 in the West if they beat Iowa?

2 losses is better than 3 losses, right?
I don't think so. The CG rule (which I assume they would use) starts with winning percentage then there is an exception for teams with the same # of losses but different # of wins. That doesn't come into play.

You would have:
  • 5-3 Iowa .625
  • 3-2 Wisconsin. 600


LittlePig

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2020, 09:38:17 AM »
Some theories. 

It may make sense for Indy and Purdue to play during champions week, not just because of the long rivalry, but because both teams were having COVID problems this week,  so there is a chance their games might get canceled again.  So might as well pair them up.

It also makes sense for Minny and Wiscy to try to reschedule their game for champions week.  Keeping that long streak alive of the 2 teams playing every year.

It might also make sense for MD to try to reschedule 1 of its games that got canceled, either against MSU or Mich.

So let's see what we got.

1.  OSU-NW
2.  Indy-Purdue
3.  Wiscy-Minny
4   Iowa vs Mich/Rut
5.  MD vs.  Mich/MSU
6.  PSU vs.  ILL
7.  Mich/Rut/MSU vs.  Neb

847badgerfan

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2020, 09:40:13 AM »
I would love to see the Axe game played next weekend.
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medinabuckeye1

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2020, 11:33:20 AM »
I would love to see the Axe game played next weekend.
This and everything that @LittlePig said above makes a whole lot of sense to me.  If the Buckeyes were NOT in the CG, I would prefer to maintain the rivalry with Michigan rather than to play a B1G-W team that tOSU has less history with.  Will it happen, who knows.  

Brutus Buckeye

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2020, 12:08:27 PM »
Even with OSU in the Big Ten CCG, I would still prefer to get THE GAME in if at all possible.

The years in my sig line aren't Big Ten titles. They are the years that OSU defeated the Wolverines on the gridiron.

THE GAME is bigger than the conference title race, imo.
1919, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 44
WWH: 1952, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75
1979, 81, 82, 84, 87, 94, 98
2001, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

medinabuckeye1

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2020, 12:36:16 PM »
Even with OSU in the Big Ten CCG, I would still prefer to get THE GAME in if at all possible.

The years in my sig line aren't Big Ten titles. They are the years that OSU defeated the Wolverines on the gridiron.

THE GAME is bigger than the conference title race, imo.
I probably would have agreed with that sentiment back when I was in school and John Cooper was losing to Michigan every year.  At the end of the day, however, the game became what it was BECAUSE it was so often played for a league title not the other way around.  

If Michigan and Ohio State had the exact same history amongst themselves but much lesser histories overall the game would still mean a LOT to you and I and other tOSU and Michigan fans but it wouldn't be such a big deal beyond that.  

Going back 40 years to 1980, years when tOSU and Michigan played for the league title (where both were playing for the title and no other teams were involved):
  • 2007:  tOSU came in 6-1 (lost to IL).  Michigan came in 6-1 (lost to UW).  Next best was IL at 5-2 so the winner was guaranteed an outright league title.  Ohio State won, went to the BCSNCG, and lost to LSU.  
  • 2006:  Both teams came in 7-0.  Next best was UW at 6-1 so the winner was guaranteed an outright league title.  Ohio State won, went to the BCSNCG, and lost to UF.  
  • 2003:  Michigan came in 6-1 (lost to IA).  Ohio State came in 6-1 (lost to UW).  Next best was Purdue at 5-2 so the winner was guaranteed an outright league title.  Michigan won, went to the Rose Bowl, and lost to USC.  
  • 1986:  tOSU came in 7-0.  Michigan came in 6-1 (lost to MN).  Next  best was Minnesota at 5-2 so the winner was guaranteed an outright (tOSU) or shared (M) league title and the RB berth.  Michigan won then proceeded to lose to an ASU team coached by some guy named John Cooper.  
  • 1980:  Michigan came in 7-0.  tOSU came in 7-0.  Michigan won then won the RB over UW.  



Brutus Buckeye

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2020, 12:40:14 PM »

With a vacated 2010 title, and an undefeated 2012 season with the Big Ten Title going instead to the third place team in the division, it is my contention that Big Ten Titles are no longer worth the trophy they are engraved on. 

Let Indiana and Northwestern play for it, and give me THE GAME. 

1919, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 44
WWH: 1952, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75
1979, 81, 82, 84, 87, 94, 98
2001, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

FearlessF

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2020, 12:43:10 PM »
This and everything that @LittlePig said above makes a whole lot of sense to me.  If the Buckeyes were NOT in the CG, I would prefer to maintain the rivalry with Michigan rather than to play a B1G-W team that tOSU has less history with.  Will it happen, who knows. 
makes too much sense.  The Commish won't allow it.
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Brutus Buckeye

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2020, 12:52:25 PM »
I probably would have agreed with that sentiment back when I was in school and John Cooper was losing to Michigan every year.  At the end of the day, however, the game became what it was BECAUSE it was so often played for a league title not the other way around. 

If Michigan and Ohio State had the exact same history amongst themselves but much lesser histories overall the game would still mean a LOT to you and I and other tOSU and Michigan fans but it wouldn't be such a big deal beyond that. 

Going back 40 years to 1980, years when tOSU and Michigan played for the league title (where both were playing for the title and no other teams were involved):
  • 2007:  tOSU came in 6-1 (lost to IL).  Michigan came in 6-1 (lost to UW).  Next best was IL at 5-2 so the winner was guaranteed an outright league title.  Ohio State won, went to the BCSNCG, and lost to LSU. 
  • 2006:  Both teams came in 7-0.  Next best was UW at 6-1 so the winner was guaranteed an outright league title.  Ohio State won, went to the BCSNCG, and lost to UF. 
  • 2003:  Michigan came in 6-1 (lost to IA).  Ohio State came in 6-1 (lost to UW).  Next best was Purdue at 5-2 so the winner was guaranteed an outright league title.  Michigan won, went to the Rose Bowl, and lost to USC. 
  • 1986:  tOSU came in 7-0.  Michigan came in 6-1 (lost to MN).  Next  best was Minnesota at 5-2 so the winner was guaranteed an outright (tOSU) or shared (M) league title and the RB berth.  Michigan won then proceeded to lose to an ASU team coached by some guy named John Cooper. 
  • 1980:  Michigan came in 7-0.  tOSU came in 7-0.  Michigan won then won the RB over UW. 





Okay, bear with me for a moment while I venture out in the weeds with an absurd hypothetical. After all, this is a message board. 

Let's say that THE GAME wasn't cancelled, but it is technically "meaningless" as OSU has already clinched a spot in the CCG. 

The Football Gods then appear before you with good news and bad news. 

The Bad News is that you are definitely going to go 1-1 in those two games, taking you out of the CFP equation. 

The good news is that you get to pick which game you win and which game you lose.

Are you seriously trying to convince me that you would sign up for a loss in THE GAME, if it guaranteed you a victory over Northwestern in Indianapolis? Really? 
1919, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 44
WWH: 1952, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75
1979, 81, 82, 84, 87, 94, 98
2001, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

betarhoalphadelta

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2020, 01:09:03 PM »

Okay, bear with me for a moment while I venture out in the weeds with an absurd hypothetical. After all, this is a message board.

Let's say that THE GAME wasn't cancelled, but it is technically "meaningless" as OSU has already clinched a spot in the CCG.

The Football Gods then appear before you with good news and bad news.

The Bad News is that you are definitely going to go 1-1 in those two games, taking you out of the CFP equation.

The good news is that you get to pick which game you win and which game you lose.

Are you seriously trying to convince me that you would sign up for a loss in THE GAME, if it guaranteed you a victory over Northwestern in Indianapolis? Really?
Absolutely. Sure, you're not in the CFP, but a Big Ten Championship and a trip to Rose Bowl are two things that will have larger echoes in the history books than beating Michigan in a meaningless THE GAME and then losing when it actually counts.

I realize that for OSU fans, "Big Ten Champion" is just assumed to be your birthright... But for those of us mere mortals, it's different. 

If Purdue in a normal year was 7-1, had tiebreakers in the B1G West over Iowa and Wisconsin (who are both sitting at 6-2) and you offer me the same question: lose to Indiana and win the B1G CCG and go to the Rose Bowl, or beat Indiana before losing in the B1G CCG and not having a conference championship and going to a lesser bowl...

I'm taking the B1G title every damn year. 

Brutus Buckeye

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Re: Champions week matchups
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2020, 01:16:20 PM »
Yeah, that'd be my answer too if I were a Purdue fan. 

Only an OSU fan can wrap their brain around the specific hypothetical that I posited. 
1919, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 44
WWH: 1952, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75
1979, 81, 82, 84, 87, 94, 98
2001, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

 

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