With dreams of reaching the College Football Playoff once again, Ohio State will return to the site at which a magical run began three seasons ago.
Win their win over Illinois on Saturday afternoon — and Michigan’s loss to Wisconsin earlier in the day — the Buckeyes have now clinched at least a share of the Big Ten East Division Title and a trip to Indianapolis for the conference championship on Dec. 2.
Ohio State (9-2 overall, 7-1 in the Big Ten) entered the day one game ahead of Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State in the conference standings. A win over the Illini clinched at least a share of the division title for the Buckeyes, while the Wolverines’ loss wiped out any chance for a four-way tie atop the standings.
That means even if Ohio State were to lose at Michigan next Saturday, it’d still be one game ahead of the Wolverines and own tiebreakers over Michigan State and Penn State, even if both win out.
The Buckeyes are 1-1 under head coach Urban Meyer in the Big Ten Championship, with an upset loss to the Spartans in 2013 and blowout win over the Badgers in 2014.
This year’s Big Ten Championship will take place Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, home of the NFL’s Colts.
