Ohio State is one of Will Howard’s bad timing escapes from its current 11-0 mark and has already secured a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. Instead, a loss to Oregon last month means the Buckeyes need a win on Saturday (or a loss to Penn State or Indiana) to secure a ticket to the Big Ten Championship, which also gives them a ticket to college football would secure playoffs. Currently, ESPN gives Ohio State a 99 percent chance of making the CFP. Pretty good.

The only universe in which Ohio State has to worry about missing the CFP is a universe in which the Buckeyes lose to Michigan this weekend and still manage to reach the Big Ten Championship Game, which they also lose. And even in that universe, the Buckeyes could still get in.

Not likely. The Buckeyes may be coming off a loss, and losing in the final game of the regular season is never a great final impression to leave on the selection committee, but Ohio State has done a lot this season to bolster its CFP chances, especially Wins against rival Big Ten opponents Penn State and Indiana.

Although losing the season finale would give Ohio State two losses, it does not eliminate the Buckeyes from the Big Ten Championship Game, which, as strange as it may sound, may not be a good sign for the team.

If Ohio State loses on Saturday and then loses in the Big Ten Championship, then we’re talking about a three-loss Big Ten team that isn’t the conference champion and the odds of that happening The Team to make the CFP a little leaner – but still pretty likely.

If Ohio State beats Michigan on Saturday, it will be in the College Football Playoff, no matter what happens in the Big Ten Championship. If Ohio State loses on Saturday and not Whoever makes it to the Big Ten Championship still makes it to the College Football Playoff. The only scenario in which Ohio State doesn’t make the CFP would be if it loses to Michigan, still makes it to the Big Ten Championship Game and then loses The Game,