Ohio State could claim a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP), but that scenario would prove problematic for at least one Big Ten team.
According to a document obtained by ESPN, the Big Ten informed the athletic directors at its member schools that one bowl-eligible team may not get a bowl bid. With the new CFP system, the Rose and Sugar Bowls serve as semifinal games to the National Championship.
"Given this year's circumstances, and the new processes and procedures in place for the College Football Playoff, the Orange Bowl and our other contract bowl arrangements, the conference office felt it was necessary to reiterate the operational impact so that any hypothetical outcomes could be planned for and covered in advance," Mark Rudner, the Big Ten's senior associate commissioner for television administration, reportedly wrote in the memo.
If Big Ten teams get into the Orange Bowl and a CFP semifinal, the conference would have seven contracted bowl spots with eight eligible teams. Fifth-ranked Ohio State currently has the best chance to make the CFP and could slide on in if any of the top four teams stumble.
It is unclear who would be the odd man out, as the memo did not specify what would qualify for a bowl eligible team to miss their shot. Illinois, Rutgers, Maryland and Penn State figure to be on the fence, ESPN reported.
Eighth-ranked Michigan State currently has the best shot at making the Orange Bowl, as they and 10th-ranked Mississippi State figure to be locked into their rankings while inactive during championship week.
"The conference will not interfere or influence our contract bowls' selection rights, nor does it have any control over the CFP," the memo reads. "Unless a contract bowl selects a team that is over-exposed because of recent trips to the same bowl or same region, we will not interfere with the bowl's selection."
