Penn State and Michigan both started the season ranked in the AP Poll and considered to be in the mix of potential at-large teams in the Big Ten behind the presumptive big three of Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon.
Unfortunately for fans, much of that group of contenders has fallen apart, leaving the Big Ten with a lack of marquee matchups. Well, it left the door open for CBS to select the Penn State-Michigan game for its marquee slot at 3:30 p.m. ET in Week 7, with the 3-3 Nittany Lions in Ann Arbor to face the 3-2 Wolverines coming off their bye.
The Big Ten is lacking the big-time matchups it expected
Michigan and Penn State aren’t the only teams that have been disappointing this season. Oregon is 3-2 after an ugly loss to UCLA in Week 6 that knocked the Ducks from the AP Top 25 after beginning the year as preseason No. 2. Washington has also been in freefall after starting the year at No. 17, now unranked at 3-3 and 0-3 in the Big Ten along with Penn State.
USC is still No. 19 after beating Penn State in Beaver Stadium on Saturday night, but Lincoln Riley’s Trojans have not shown themselves to be a clear contender for the Big Ten title, with a loss to Oregon already on their resume.
UCLA, by beating Oregon to remain undefeated, has risen into Big Ten title and College Football Playoff contention, but a matchup between the Bruins and Wisconsin, which also looks much better this year, still won’t draw the eyes that Penn State and Michigan will for CBS. At least that's the bet CBS made with their selection.
Penn State is seemingly going to maintain some level of notoriety despite its struggles because of the brand and familiarity of the program. The league’s broadcast partners were likely hoping the Nittany Lions would be much better, and after this week, if they fall to 0-4 in Big Ten play, there may not be another national spotlight game with no ranked or traditional powerhouse programs left on Penn State’s schedule.
Indiana-Ohio State is still the game of the year in the Big Ten
The only two teams that have lived up to their billing as CFP contenders in the Big Ten are Indiana and Ohio State, ranked No. 5 and No. 4 respectively. In Week 7, the Hoosiers will host the Buckeyes, which was selected by FOX as its Big Noon Kickoff Game. NBC went with Wisconsin and UCLA in primetime.
The Big Ten needs Indiana and Ohio State to play a competitive game because those two may be the only CFP teams from the league. There is a disaster scenario where the Big Ten is just a two-bid league and the SEC puts as many as six teams into the field.
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