Big Ten changes rule, allows Buckeyes to play in title game.

The Big Ten Conference dropped its six-game minimum requirement for the league championship game Wednesday, clearing that way for No. 3 Ohio State to take on No. 15 Northwestern in another chance for the Buckeyes to burnish their playoff credentials.

The Buckeyes (5-0) will try for their fifth straight conference title when they face the Wildcats (5-1) on Dec. 19 in Indianapolis. Ohio State finished the regular season with only five games after Michigan had to pull out of Saturday’s showdown because of COVID-19 issues.

The rule change had to be approved by the Big Ten Conference Administrators Council, which includes athletic directors, senior women’s administrators and presidents from all 14 schools.

“The decision was based on a competitive analysis which determined that Ohio State would have advanced to the Big Ten football championship game based on its undefeated record and head-to-head victory over Indiana, regardless of a win or loss against Michigan,” the Big Ten said in a statement.

The conference determined before the season that teams would have to play six of their eight scheduled games to qualify for the championship game. Ohio State — No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings and the conference’s only undefeated team — has missed three games because of issues with the pandemic.

The latest was the annual grudge match against Michigan, which canceled its trip to Columbus because of rising COVID-19 cases and players in quarantine. Falling a game short of the threshold set by the league, the Buckeyes would have been outside looking in.

Ohio State coach Ryan

Day said he was “appreciative” that other conference schools voted for the revision.

“A lot of changes have happened since that (sixgame) recommendation was put in place,” Day said in a statement. “I know making this decision was not easy, and I am thankful for the opportunity our players will now have to play in Indianapolis as an undefeated East Division champion.”

The Big Ten change was made at the expense of surprising Indiana (6-1), which would have gone to the title game if the six-game rule had remained intact. The No. 12 Hoosiers, who lost 42-35 at Ohio State this season, had Saturday’s game against rival Purdue called off because of COVID-19 issues.

Notable

LSU is self-imposing a one-year ban on postseason play for this season as part an effort to cooperate with an NCAA probe into rules violations.

Much of the NCAA’s investigation of LSU football pre-dates the promotion of Ed Orgeron to head coach during the 2016 season and hiring of current Athletic Director Scott Woodward in 2019.

Also, LSU freshman tight Arik Gilbert, the team’s leading receiver, has decided to opt out for the remainder of the season. Orgeron could not say whether Gilbert intended to return next season or transfer.

• SMU will be staying close to home to play in the Frisco Bowl. The Mustangs (7-3) accepted an invitation to be in the Dec. 19 game that will be played about a halfhour drive from their campus. Their opponent, likely from Conference USA, is still to be determined.

• The Mid-American Conference made it official by declaring No. 24 Buffalo as winner of the East Division title.