COLUMBUS – First place in the Big Ten East will be on the line when Michigan State visits Ohio State, though how long the winner can hang onto that spot remains to be seen.
CFP No. 6 Ohio St. (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) vs. CFP No. 24 Michigan St. (7-2, 5-1); Ohio Stadium, Nov. 11 (Noon/FOX)
The Buckeyes have won 10 of the last 13 games against the Spartans but the visiting team has won each of the seven regular-season meetings since 2008.
“Usually it’s just a prizefight so the tougher team usually wins,” Buckeye head coach Urban Meyer said Monday.
Ohio State was stunned last weekend at Iowa while the Spartans are coming off a win at home against Penn State.
Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke has thrown for at least 400 yards in his last two games.
The grind of playing in the East Division of the Big Ten has taken a toll on teams over the past four years, and this year the biggest hit may be on the conference itself.
Depending on how this weekend goes, the Big Ten may not have a team in the College Football Playoff for the first time since it started in 2014.
Michigan State and Ohio State are tied for first place in the East with 5-1 records while undefeated Wisconsin can clinch at least a share of the West title and a berth in the conference championship game with a win at home over Iowa.
The 9-0 Badgers are currently the only undefeated team in the Big Ten and, even if they run the table, they have not earned much respect from the playoff rankings committee.
There are four Big Ten East teams with two losses but there will only be three after Sparty and Brutus match up. The Buckeyes still have 0-6 Illinois and 7-2 Michigan on their schedule and the Wolverines travel to Wisconsin the week before the season finale against OSU in Ann Arbor.
Closing out its season against Rutgers, Nebraska and Maryland, Penn State could find itself in the title game but only if Michigan State and Ohio State each finish with three conference losses. The Nittany Lions would win the tiebreaker over Michigan thanks to a 42-13 win on Oct. 21.
The matchup for Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Pac-12 title game pairings could be set this weekend as well.