By RALPH D. RUSSO , AP College Football Writer
COLUMBUS – History suggests a twist in the College Football Playoff race was inevitable.
The top four had never stayed the same for three straight weeks until this past one, and to expect it to hold steady for two more was unrealistic.
The twist came and the debate over which team will join Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame in the new top four, for now, is between Ohio State and Oklahoma.
Big Ten Championship Game
(10) Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten East) vs. Northwestern (8-4, 8-1 Big Ten West)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Dec. 1 (8:00 p.m./FOX)
How thoroughly No. 10 Ohio State dismantled No. 4 Michigan was startling, and it could cause the playoff selection committee to rethink a lot of what has happened so far with the Buckeyes. We could be heading toward a Big Ten vs. Big 12 in the board room where the committee meets. The essential questions: Which team has the worse defense, No. 6 Oklahoma or Ohio State? Does hanging 62 points on No. 4 Michigan make up for allowing 49 to Purdue? The Buckeyes have done both.
Ohio State moved up to No. 6 in the Associated Press College Football Poll, behind Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Georgia and Oklahoma.
How far the Buckeyes (No. 10 CFP) move up Tuesday could be telling and important. They should go past Washington State, which was sitting at eighth but lost the Apple Cup on Friday to Washington, and No. 7 LSU, which lost to Texas A&M in a seven-overtime epic. But can they bounce all the way to sixth, edging ahead of the Sooners, who beat West Virginia to reach the Big 12 title game? Kyler Murray and Oklahoma have won four straight games in which they have allowed at least 40 points. The Sooners’ defense is terrible. Ohio State’s has been a little better.
Ohio State gets No. 20 Northwestern (8-4) next week in Indianapolis to make one more statement. The Sooners (11-1) get a rematch with Texas (9-3), with a chance to avenge a three-point loss in October.
Aside from the ugly loss at Purdue, the Buckeyes have had close calls against Nebraska (4-8) and Maryland (5-7). The Sooners dodged upsets against Texas Tech (5-7) and Oklahoma State (6-6).
Ohio State has beaten Michigan, Penn State (9-3) and Michigan State (7-5). OU has beaten West Virginia (8-3) and Iowa State (7-4).
One of the four playoff teams is pretty much set. Quarterback Ian Book and No. 3 Notre Dame completed a 12-0 season by gritting out a victory at Southern California.
Neither Ohio State nor Oklahoma looks championship caliber, but the playoff needs four teams and those two might be the choices.