Ohio & Penn State Eligible to Win Division Title
The Big Ten determined that both Ohio and Penn State are eligible to be Leaders division champions, despite the fact that they would not appear in the Big Ten Championship game per Rittenberg.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
way to make total sense, B1G!
September 5th, 2012 at 1:10 PM ^
Leaders.
September 5th, 2012 at 2:33 PM ^
I need some sinsemilla after reading that
September 5th, 2012 at 1:13 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 1:39 PM ^
I think the Big 10 knows that having to look at a banner that says "Leaders Division Champion" would just be futher punishment.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
Like that really matters though. Is OSU gonna put a banner up if they win it? No, it means nothing.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:51 PM ^
I don't know.. it's almost like winning the AL Central. There's something worth recognizing there.. although it's not nearly as impressive. (that's all I got.)
September 5th, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^
Not really though, winning the AL central is more like winning the B10 since it puts you in the playoffs automatically (fits better to basketball, but maybe with football too soon)
September 5th, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
Go work, B1G.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^
Could they? If OSU can win their division, but then the runner up (Wisc?) of their division would play for the B1G title. In that case, if they win the game they'd still be B1G Champions... so i don't see anything wrong with that.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
I mean, an official division runner-up can win the National Championship, so.... yea.
September 5th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^
He appears to be letting out one impressive fart here.
September 6th, 2012 at 6:15 AM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^
DURRRRRRRRR
September 5th, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
Why does this make no sense to people?
OSU and PSU are banned from POSTSEASON play. There's nothing stopping the B1G from awarding them the title of REGULAR SEASON Leaders Divsion Champions.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:33 PM ^
It doesnt make sense because who plays in the (ALL CAPS) POST SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP GAME? (STILL CAPS) REGULAR SEASON DIVISON WINNERS!!!
So your going to feature a BIG championship game where you have awarded the title to a team thats ineligible so you get a 6-6 UCLA team playing against Oregon and getting smoked. Give the dang title to someone who's actually eligible to win in the first place and make it a non story at the end of the year.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^
wiggle room to dis Wisconsin for the B1G Championship Game if they don't win the Woody Division.
September 6th, 2012 at 12:51 AM ^
So a 6-6 UCLA team playing against Oregon and getting smoked is acceptable, only if UCLA is given the title????
This changes NOTHING. If Ohio or Penn State has the best record in the division, the second (or, theoretically, third if Oho & Penn State finish first and second) is going to the B1G Championship game. Who cares if the "division title" goes to the ineligible school in first place or the eligible school in second/third???
I just don't get your point about UCLA, at all. I don't even know if the Pac 12 gave the title to USC or UCLA, and it doesn't matter. UCLA was going to play in the title game regardless. And it's the same this year with Ohio & Penn State.
So, why, again, doesn't it make sense?
September 5th, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
Of course they are! Sepcial rules apply to programs like Auburn, Ohio State, and USC...
September 5th, 2012 at 1:39 PM ^
fantastic.
September 5th, 2012 at 2:36 PM ^
Incredible. Just, incredible.
September 5th, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^
Hardware Sushi's diary from about a year ago. If you made this comparison independantly I'm guessing you'll get at least a few laughs out of this (I cracked up at the time).
September 5th, 2012 at 8:54 PM ^
Just like B1G.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:33 PM ^
Lets confuse the issue. Common sense says that since they are banned from post season, they cannot play for the Big10 Championship...therefore they should not be eligible to win the division in which they play. THE END.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:38 PM ^
of a legendarily snark-worthy sort.
Doesn't the B1G provide the national media with enough good material already?
September 5th, 2012 at 1:39 PM ^
Under this ruling, Ohio or Penn State could be the Leaders Division champion and win the trophy. But someone else would play in the title game, and if that team beat the Legends Division champion, then the Big Ten champion would be someone other than a division champion. Champions galore!
September 5th, 2012 at 1:46 PM ^
If they finished in first place, they would have clearly won the division. Regardless of whether or not you give them the title, the runner-up (or third place finisher) would be playing in the title game. I'm sure UCLA isn't going around beating there chest saying they were a division winner last year with a 6-6 record.
September 5th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 1:45 PM ^
I don't understand how ruling bodies like the NCAA and B1G can make easy decisions seem so stupid. Break rules = punishment. Sure, there are lots of other considerations but bending to those just make you look stupid in the public eye and make people more likely to skirt rules than not. Just levy the punishment.
September 5th, 2012 at 1:54 PM ^
Ineligible (for anything) = potentially less revenue from ticket and merchandise sales. I mean c'mon, who wouldn't want a "B1G Leaders Division Champions*" jersey?
September 5th, 2012 at 2:01 PM ^
Jeeze now that they can actually win something OSU is going to be all over ESPN...
September 5th, 2012 at 2:05 PM ^
In addition, even though Penn State & Ohio aren't eligible to play in the championship game, if one of the two teams happen to win the leaders division, they will be allowed to play. However, if by chance one of those two teams win the championship game, the win won't be considered a win but will just be considered a big kick in the nuts to every other Big Ten team.
Jim Delany
September 5th, 2012 at 2:35 PM ^
I wonder what one would call a division winner that cannot play in the conference title game? Are Ohio and Penn State content with possibly being called "Leaders Division Champion Without Portfolio" if it came to that? How about "Division Champion, In Solo Nomine" (pardon the rusty Latin)? How kind of the Big Ten to ensure some form of patronage to all in the division despite everything.
September 5th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^
Under the old system, would a team under NCAA sanctions have been eligible to win the B1G title if they had the best record?
September 5th, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^
This won't matter after Wisconsin wins the division.
September 5th, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^
penn state will be "eligible" to go to a bowl game in four years.
doesn't mean they will.
September 5th, 2012 at 3:21 PM ^
This applies to Indiana every year.
September 5th, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
I hope they enjoy it while they watch another team play in their spot.
They won't even come close to winning it this year anyways so who cares?
September 5th, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 4:11 PM ^
Why would a team from the MAC be eligible to win the Leaders Division? I realize they beat PSU last week, but let's not get completely carried away with how good they are.
September 5th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
September 5th, 2012 at 6:42 PM ^
We want to fire Delaney? I know we don't like the division names (and who knows how much of that is on him) but starting the BTN and snatching Nebraska were both big deals, right? Just like Dave Brandon, I feel like people get worked up over the stupid things while ignore the big things they've done in their positions.