INDIANAPOLIS — A loss in Indianapolis is also a loss of College Football Playoff hopes for the 10-3 Wisconsin Badgers.
Wisconsin ranked sixth in the College Football Playoff heading into their Big Ten Championship game against #7 Penn State. The 38-31 loss was an unfortunate loss in a successful Badgers season by head coach Paul Chryst and his players despite injuries and the difficulties of their schedule. With only four teams headed into the Playoffs, it will not be enough to convince the Committee, particularly with such a strong Big Ten this year.
The four expected teams to enter the Playoffs are Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and Washington. All three teams that played in conference championships won, maintaining their top four rankings heading into Selection Sunday. Ohio State did not represent the Big Ten East because of their loss to Penn State back in October, giving Penn State the lead in a tiebreaker.
Alabama was locked in the College Football Playoff before their 54-16 win against Florida even began. Ohio State at 11-1 with no game this weekend to adjust their standing holds the number 2 spot.
Clemson sealed the third spot in their win against Virginia Tech, and Washington’s 41-10 win over Colorado on Friday night should hold them in the top four.
With the 10-2 Michigan Wolverines ahead of Wisconsin in the previous rankings, despite their 30-27 loss to Ohio State in the final game of the season, Wisconsin’s hopes to move up two spots into the rankings are nonexistent.
The loss in Indianapolis will move Penn State to a probable Rose Bowl Berth while Wisconsin should fall in the bowl game selection.