Ohio State Football: Buckeyes’ resume worthy of College Football Playoff

2. The Big Ten is one of the two bests conferences in the nation

Notre Dame is undefeated with a host of Top 25 wins. The Irish have done enough, even without a conference championship, to warrant inclusion in the College Football Playoff. Alabama and Clemson are both undefeated as well, winners of the SEC and ACC, respectively. That leaves the Pac-12, Big Ten and Big 12 to fight for the last seat at the table.

Washington, the Pac-12 champion, has three losses. They’re out of the running. Georgia has two losses and doesn’t have a conference title; a two-loss team has never made the Top 4. Then there’s Oklahoma, arguably the toughest competitor with Ohio State for the final slot.

Oklahoma, like Ohio State, has one loss and a conference championship. The difference is Oklahoma won the Big 12 while Ohio State won the Big Ten. Oklahoma had to get past No. 14 Texas and No. 16 West Virginia to claim their title. Ohio State had to best No. 7 Michigan and No. 12 Penn State.

The step change between the two conferences continues from Top to bottom. Northwestern is tougher than Iowa State. Michigan State is better than Baylor. The Big Ten is better than the Big 12. Ohio State deserves credit for winning the tougher conference.