The Big Ten Conference faces a critical crossroads in its College Football Playoff aspirations, and Michigan football might be the conference's last hope for securing four playoff spots. With the latest CFP rankings revealing Ohio State at number one, Indiana at number two, Oregon at number eight, and USC at number 17, we break down the exact mathematical scenarios that determine whether the Big Ten gets two, three, or four teams into the 12-team playoff field. We analyze why the Oregon-USC matchup becomes an elimination game, explain how Michigan's path to the playoffs runs directly through Ohio State, and reveal the financial stakes involved—$4 million per team, per round. The Wolverines jumped three spots in the rankings despite being on a bye week, positioning them perfectly for a potential playoff run if they can upset the Buckeyes in their season finale. Plus, we cover crucial injury updates affecting playoff contenders, highlight standout performances from Nebraska's Emmett Johnson and Wisconsin's freshman sensations, and unveil our updated Big Ten power rankings that reflect the shifting playoff landscape. Watch now to understand exactly what needs to happen for the Big Ten to maximize its playoff representation and avoid the embarrassment of sending just two teams to the postseason. Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/talkbig10 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkbig10 Website & Merch: https://talkbig10.com Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-big-10/ 📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! DoorDash With DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18. SupplyHouse Join the free TradeMaster program today and score serious perks like priority shipping, lower prices, and a dedicated support line. Visit SupplyHouse.com to sign up for free and use promo code SHCOLLEGE5 for 5% off your first order. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) #collegefootball #michiganfootball #collegefootballplayoff #cfp #CFPRankings #bigten #sec #powerrankings Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
