From ESPN's B1G Blog, today:
Nate from Columbus writes: If two or more teams finish tied for the division lead, does the Big Ten consider them to be division co-champions (similar to the pre-divisional days when you could have conference co-champions with only one going to the Rose Bowl), or is there just one champion per division? Specifically, if Ohio State and Penn State were to finish with 1 conference loss, would they be co-champions of the division or would a tiebreaker be used (presumably head-to-head result)?
Brian Bennett: I double-checked with the Big Ten office, which confirmed that if two or more teams end up tied with the same conference record, they will be considered co-champions. So if Ohio State and Penn State each finished 7-1, they would be considered Leaders Division co-champions. The tiebreaker is used to determine who goes to the Big Ten championship game, but since neither of those teams are eligible, no tiebreaker would need to be used (though Ohio State fans would certainly claim they won the division, not shared it). Wisconsin and Penn State were co-champions in the Leaders last year at 6-2, but Penn State later vacated its wins and the division title as part of its NCAA sanctions.
I mean we did share the conference championship with Penn State one year when they beat us head to head. That was a much bigger deal than this, and we were benefitting in that case.
@BUCKEYECHAD:
To me, the whole B1G Championship concept is about eliminating doubt. Head-to-head results should be factored.
If this scenario plays out, Ohio State should own that trophy. We BEAT those guys!
Wouldn't expect anything different from the B1G.
I understand that, but this just happens to be a freak occasion where the top two teams happen to be ineligible. As it said, if we were both eligible we would get the championship game over them. Either way PSU still plays Nebraska, Purdue, Indiana, and Wisconsin no way they dont drop at least one of those, probably more.
Say the Buckeyes win the div. what will be the label for the team that goes to the Championship game?
O H I O is the Buckeye State
We're not goin to lose so this won't matter. Believe.
I don't understand the purpose of Co-division champions. It seems to me that there should be a head to head record to prove the better team.
Yes there are two Buckeyes in Ann arbor on this site!
I wee PSU at least losing another - most likely Nebraska which is in the legends & posssibly Wisky in the leaders...so I can't see this scenario becoming a reality.
Edit: I see PSU not wee PSU, but I don't want to change that for some reason...
The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.
Not a big deal at all as we have benefited from this in the past. Remember in 2010 when we went to the sugar bowl as big ten champions even though Whisky beat us and had the same conference record. It obviously has to go both ways.
Co-division champs sounds sounds considerably less impressive than co-conference champs. I guess it doesn't surprise me, but I can't say it impresses me, either. Personally, I think it would suck to be a co-winner of a division whose name is mocked nationally and not even get to play in the conference championship game - let's just win all our games and not worry about that...
"The revolution will be televised."
Moral of the story is, don't lose and you don't have to worry about it.
All due respect BTAlbert, I think the moral of the story is: Don't get sanctions levied against your program and you won't miss out on any post season action. :)
"I'm One Bad Buckeye, and I approve this message."
PSU will lose to Nebraska, and we will lose to Michigan. Both teams will have 2 conference losses.
^Blasphomy. Where did i put that pitchfork and torch now.
Why is this even being discussed? Just win baby! No issues, no questions.
"PSU will lose to Nebraska, and we will lose to Michigan. Both teams will have 2 conference losses."
Work on your math... in this scenario, that'd be only 1 conference loss unless you're also saying Ohio State doesn't beat Illinois and Wisconsin.