The first College Football Playoff rankings are just days away. But first, two of the Big Ten’s top teams — the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions and No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes — meet in Happy Valley. The game comes with huge stakes in both the Big Ten race and CFP standings.
The Buckeyes, with a loss to the No. 1 Oregon Ducks, must win to stay near the top of the conference. The Nittany Lions, despite some close finishes, remain undefeated. James Franklin & Co. haven’t beaten Ohio State since 2016, and Penn State’s performance against the Big Ten’s other blue bloods is what has kept it out of the conference title game and the playoff.
According to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, Penn State would have a 97% chance of reaching the playoff with a win Saturday. That drops to 76% with a loss. With the loss already on the books, the Buckeyes, meanwhile, really need to win. Beating Penn State would give Ohio State an 88% chance of reaching the playoff while a loss would drop its chances to 49%.
Here are the best moments from this Big Ten showdown:
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