IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – It turns out that Iowa might have a say in the Big Ten title race after all.
By stunning Michigan 14-13 on Saturday, the Hawkeyes made it possible for a two-loss team to represent the powerful East division in the conference championship game – and for the once-unthinkable prospect of a playoff without the Big Ten.
It can no longer be assumed that the annual rivalry game between the Wolverines (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) and Ohio State (9-1, 6-1) will determine the league’s playoff representative.
That’s because Penn State (8-2, 6-1), which beat the Buckeyes two weeks ago, has joined Michigan and Ohio State atop the East.
If Michigan State beats Ohio State at home next week and Ohio State beats Michigan the week after, the Nittany Lions – assuming they beat lowly Rutgers and the Spartans at home – would win the East.