The Big Ten Conference on Monday announced new tiebreakers for its football standings, beginning with the 2024 season – the conference’s first with 18 teams and no divisions.

So far, the Big Ten East and West champions have met in the conference title game, but since there are no divisions, the top two teams by conference record will face off in Indianapolis at the end of the season. But what if the Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Buckeyes or another team end up tied for a spot in the Big Ten championship game?

Playoffs in Big Ten football:

1. Direct comparison

2. Record against all common conference opponents

3. Record against usual conference opponents in order of best conference record

4. Average conference win percentage of Big Ten opponents

5. Highest ranking by SportSource Analytics after the regular season

6. Random drawing of all tied teams by the Big Ten Commissioner or his designee.

Overall winning percentage does not matter in the Big Ten’s tiebreakers. As a power conference, the winner of the Big Ten championship game will most likely receive an automatic berth and one of four byes into the first round of the new, expanded College Football Playoff.

The Big Ten football championship game is scheduled for December 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

— Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon Ducks and the Big Ten Conference for The Oregonian and is co-host of the Ducks Confidential podcast. Reach him at [email protected] or @RyanTClarke.

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