The college football landscape is buzzing as we approach the next-to-last week of the regular season. With the Big Ten boasting four teams in the top five, excitement is palpable. But here’s the catch: only two of those teams can secure a spot in the Big Ten championship game, set to take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on December 7. Currently, No. 1 Oregon is guaranteed a spot, while No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State, and No. 5 Indiana are still in the race for glory and a coveted spot in the College Football Playoff.
Big Ten football standings 2024
As we dive deeper into the standings, let’s take a closer look at the teams in contention. Here’s how they stack up:
| SCHOOL | BIG TEN | OVERALL | PF | PA |
| Oregon | 8-0 | 11-0 | 373 | 173 |
| Indiana | 7-0 | 10-0 | 439 | 138 |
| Ohio State | 6-1 | 9-1 | 378 | 103 |
| Penn State | 6-1 | 9-1 | 330 | 136 |
Big Ten contenders’ path to the championship game
Now, let’s break down the paths these contenders must navigate to reach the championship game.
Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten)
Remaining schedule: vs. Washington
The Ducks have already locked in their spot in the Big Ten championship, regardless of the outcome against Washington. Their thrilling victory over Ohio State, 32-31, on October 12, gives them a significant edge in the event of a tie among multiple teams.
Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten)
Remaining schedule: at Ohio State, vs. Purdue
Under the leadership of first-year coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers are enjoying their best start in school history. They face a monumental challenge as they aim to snap a 28-game losing streak against the Buckeyes this Saturday. Despite having the weakest strength of schedule among the contenders, a victory over Ohio State would silence critics and solidify their place in the championship conversation.
Ohio State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten)
Remaining schedule: vs. Indiana, vs. Michigan
The Buckeyes are poised for a showdown that could lead to a rematch with Oregon. With both remaining games at home, they have the opportunity to make a strong statement. However, the pressure is on to end a three-game losing streak against Michigan, adding intensity to their final two games.
Penn State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten)
Remaining schedule: at Minnesota, vs. Maryland
The Nittany Lions find themselves in a precarious position after a head-to-head loss to Ohio State. With the new 12-team playoff format, coach James Franklin’s squad has a chance to make a playoff appearance, but they likely cannot afford another loss. Their best hope to reach the Big Ten championship hinges on winning out, Ohio State defeating Indiana, and Michigan pulling off an upset against the Buckeyes.
Big Ten tie-breaker rules
As the drama unfolds, understanding the tie-breaker rules becomes crucial. Here’s how the Big Ten determines which teams advance to the championship game:
Head to head
“The tied teams will be compared based on head-to-head matchups during the regular season.”
Common conference opponents
“The tied teams will be compared based on record against all common conference opponents.”
Common Opponents
“The tied teams will be compared based on record against common opponents with the best conference record, proceeding through the common conference opponents based on their order of finish within the conference standings.”
Cumulative conference winning percentage
“The tied teams will be compared based on the best cumulative conference winning percentage of all conference opponents.”
SportSource Analytics ranking
“The representative will be chosen based on the highest ranking by SportSource Analytics (team Rating Score metric) following the regular season.”
Random Draw
“The representative will be chosen by random draw among the tied teams conducted by the commissioner or designee.”
Most likely Big Ten championship game scenario
Looking ahead, the most straightforward scenario is that Oregon will face the winner of the Ohio State-Indiana game. If Indiana falls to the Buckeyes, we could see a three-way tie among Ohio State, Penn State, and Indiana, each with one loss. Since Indiana and Penn State do not meet on the field, the tie-breaker will rely on their records against common opponents, with Purdue being the only shared foe.
Currently, Ohio State leads with a cumulative record of .531 against conference opponents, followed by Penn State at .423 and Indiana at .353. The stakes are high, and every game counts as we head into the final weeks of the season.
Big Ten common opponents tracker for 2024
To keep track of how these teams fare against their common opponents, here’s a handy chart:
| OPPONENT | OREGON | INDIANA | OSU | PENN ST |
| Indiana | – | – | Nov. 23 | – |
| Illinois | W 38-9 | – | – | W 21-7 |
| Iowa | – | – | W 35-7 | |
| Maryland | W 39-18 | W 42-28 | – | Nov. 30 |
| Michigan | W 38-17 | W 20-15 | Nov. 30 | |
| Michigan State | W 31-10 | W 47-10 | W 38-7 | |
| Minnesota | – | – | – | Nov. 23 |
| Nebraska | – | W 56-7 | W 21-17 | |
| Northwestern | – | W 41-24 | W 31-7 | |
| Ohio State | W 32-31 | Nov. 23 | – | L 20-13 |
| Oregon | – | – | L 32-31 | |
| Penn State | – | – | W 20-13 | |
| Purdue | W 35-0 | Nov. 30 | W 45-0 | W 49-10 |
| Rutgers | – | – | – | |
| UCLA | W 34-13 | – | – | W 27-11 |
| USC | – | – | – | W 33-30 |
| Wisconsin | W 16-13 | – | – | W 28-13 |
| Washington | Nov. 30 | W 31-17 | – | W 35-6 |
With so much on the line, fans are eagerly anticipating the thrilling matchups ahead. The final weeks of the regular season promise to be nothing short of electrifying, as teams battle for supremacy in the Big Ten and beyond.
