With the realignment of the Big Ten in 2024, the conference introduced new tiebreaking procedures to determine which teams would compete in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Big Ten tiebreakers were revised to accommodate the expansion to 18 teams and to account for the conference’s non-divisional scheduling format, which had been in place since 2010.
First and foremost, the Big Ten standings are determined based on record against other opponents within the conference. No games against non-conference opponents are considered when looking at who competes in the Big Ten Conference Championship Game. In the event of a tie when it comes to conference winning percentage, the following tiebreakers are used.
To find out how PFSN’s analytics see the current Big Ten season playing out, visit our College FPM table to see every team’s percentage chance of making the Big Ten Championship Game. If you want to test out different scenarios of your own, then be sure to check out the PFSN College Football Playoff Predictor.
Big Ten Two-Team Tiebreakers
If two teams are tied for first place in the standings, they will both participate in the Championship Game. However, the tiebreaking procedure outlined below will be used to determine which team is considered the home team and which is considered the road team.
In the event of a tie for second place in the standings, the following process will be followed to decide who will play in the Big Ten Championship Game.
1) The winner of any head-to-head matchup between the two teams (if applicable).
2) Win percentage against common opponents within the conference.
3) Win percentage against common opponents based on the order of finish. This tiebreaker examines each opponent individually, progressing from top to bottom in the table, to identify a common opponent where one team has a superior result to the other.
4) The combined record of all conference opponents for each team. If, for any reason, one team has played fewer than nine conference games, the winning percentage will be used as opposed to the record.
5) The highest ranking by SportsSource Analytics’ Team Rating Score following the regular season
6) Random draw
This two-team tiebreaker was used in 2024 to determine the opponent for Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game. Penn State and Indiana both finished with 8-1 conference records.
The two teams did not play each other, and both lost their only game to Ohio State, resulting in an equal record against common conference opponents (both 4-1). Penn State advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game thanks to a superior record of its conference opponents (33-48 vs. 28-53).
Big Ten Three (or More) Team Tiebreakers
If, after any step in the following procedure, one or two teams are either superior or inferior to the others, they are removed from the tiebreaking procedure, and the remaining teams either go to the two-team tiebreaker or return to the start of the three-team tiebreaking procedure.
1) If all teams played each other, then the records for those teams in those games would be compared.
2) If all the teams did not play each other, but one team either defeated or was defeated by ALL the other teams, they shall be removed from the tiebreaking procedure.
3) Winning percentage of all teams against common conference opponents among all the teams involved in the tie.
4) The combined record of all conference opponents for each team. If, for any reason, one team has played fewer than nine conference games, the winning percentage will be used as opposed to the record.
5) Each team’s ranking by SportsSource Analytics’ Team Rating Score following the regular season.
6) Random draw.
If multiple teams are tied for top spot in the Big Ten standings, and two teams emerge as superior after any step, those two teams shall contest the Big Ten Championship Game. A two-team tiebreaker will be applied to determine the home and road designation.
