Tiebreaker Decision Seals Fates: College Football Playoff Expansion to 12 Teams Means More Big Ten Teams Make the Cut

The 2023 Big Ten Conference Championship game has come and gone, leaving fans of the top teams in the conference eagerly waiting to see if their squad will get the call to the College Football Playoff (CFP). But what made the CFP selection process this year a bit more complicated? How did the tiebreakers come into play, and what were the factors that ultimately decided the fate of these teams? In this article, we'll break down the CFP tiebreakers decision, exploring how the rules were applied to determine which Big Ten teams would make the cut to the four-team playoff.

The College Football Playoff has been the pinnacle of college football for several years now, with the top four teams in the country earning a spot in the national championship game. However, with the expansion of the playoff to 12 teams, the selection process has become even more complex. The Big Ten Conference, in particular, has seen its share of drama and excitement throughout the season, with several teams competing for a spot in the CFP.

In 2023, the Big Ten saw several teams fight for a spot in the CFP, with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa emerging as some of the top contenders. However, when the time came to make the final selections, the CFP committee had to use the tiebreaker rules to determine which teams would make the cut. The tiebreakers process is designed to ensure that the teams selected for the playoff are the best of the best, taking into account a range of factors including strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and conference championships.

Breaking Down the CFP Tiebreakers Decision

The CFP tiebreakers decision was made public on December 9, 2023, with the conference championship games having taken place the previous weekend. According to the CFP committee, the decision was based on a comprehensive evaluation of each team's performance throughout the season.

Strength of Schedule

The first factor considered by the committee was strength of schedule. This includes the opponent's strength, as measured by their power rating. The committee evaluated each team's schedule to determine which opponents they faced and how well they performed against those opponents.

• Teams that faced a stronger schedule were given more weight in the evaluation.
• The strength of schedule was calculated based on the opponent's power rating, with more recent opponents receiving more weight.
• Teams that faced more tough opponents were given more credit in the evaluation.

Head-to-Head Results

The second factor considered by the committee was head-to-head results. This includes the outcomes of games between each team and their opponents.

• Teams that won their head-to-head matchups were given more credit in the evaluation.
• The committee evaluated each team's head-to-head record to determine their relative strength.
• Teams that lost head-to-head matchups were given less credit in the evaluation.

Conference Championships

The third factor considered by the committee was conference championships. This includes the winner of the Big Ten Conference championship game.

• Teams that won their conference championship game were given more credit in the evaluation.
• The committee evaluated each team's performance in the conference championship game to determine their relative strength.
• Teams that lost their conference championship game were given less credit in the evaluation.

How the Big Ten Teams Fared

Now that we've broken down the CFP tiebreakers decision, let's take a look at how each Big Ten team fared in the evaluation.

Ohio State

Ohio State, the favored team to win the Big Ten, finished the season with a 13-0 record. However, the committee evaluated their strength of schedule and head-to-head results to determine their relative strength.

• Strength of schedule: Ohio State faced a tough schedule, with several top-20 opponents on their schedule.
• Head-to-head results: Ohio State had a 3-0 record in head-to-head matchups, beating Michigan, Michigan State, and Iowa.

Michigan

Michigan, the runner-up in the Big Ten, finished the season with a 12-1 record. However, the committee evaluated their strength of schedule and head-to-head results to determine their relative strength.

• Strength of schedule: Michigan faced a strong schedule, with several top-15 opponents on their schedule.
• Head-to-head results: Michigan had a 2-1 record in head-to-head matchups, beating Michigan State and Ohio State.

Penn State

Penn State, the third-ranked Big Ten team, finished the season with a 11-2 record. However, the committee evaluated their strength of schedule and head-to-head results to determine their relative strength.

• Strength of schedule: Penn State faced a strong schedule, with several top-20 opponents on their schedule.
• Head-to-head results: Penn State had a 2-1 record in head-to-head matchups, beating Ohio State and Michigan State.

Iowa

Iowa, the fourth-ranked Big Ten team, finished the season with a 10-3 record. However, the committee evaluated their strength of schedule and head-to-head results to determine their relative strength.

• Strength of schedule: Iowa faced a tough schedule, with several top-20 opponents on their schedule.
• Head-to-head results: Iowa had a 1-2 record in head-to-head matchups, losing to Penn State and Ohio State.

Conclusion

The CFP tiebreakers decision was a comprehensive evaluation of each team's performance throughout the season. By considering strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and conference championships, the committee determined which Big Ten teams would make the cut to the four-team playoff. Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa emerged as the top contenders, with each team's strengths and weaknesses evaluated to determine their relative strength. The 12-team expansion of the CFP has brought more teams into