Joel Klatt updates his prediction for Big Ten championship game

If the regular season ended today, Joel Klatt would put No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 1 Ohio State in his Big Ten Championship game. Both teams have been dominant through the early season, and it could take a conference title game to prove who’s best.

Klatt revealed his thoughts on the potential matchup on the latest episode of the Joel Klatt Show. He also included his predicted winner between the Ducks and Buckeyes.

“It’s obviously not a foregone conclusion here, but Oregon and Ohio State, right now, up to this point, are the two best teams in the Big Ten,” Klatt said. “All do respect to Indiana, obviously, but those two would be my championship game participants. … I think Ohio State would be the winner there.”

Klatt pointed out that neither team plays the other during the regular season. Both teams are 4-0 to this point, so there’s a possibility where the Ducks and Buckeyes both qualify for the conference championship game undefeated.

Ohio State missed out on the Big Ten Championship game one year ago. The Buckeyes’ heartbreaking loss to Michigan in the regular season finale shoehorned Penn State into the title game against then undefeated Oregon. The Ducks would go on to defeat the Nittany Lions and claim the top overall seed in the College Football Playoffs.

Oregon is coming off an overtime victory over Penn State in Happy Valley this past weekend, placing the Ducks ahead of Penn State on the Big Ten totem poll. For now, the top spot is occupied by Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have been the nation’s No. 1 team since Week 2 after defeating Texas — the preseason No. 1 team — 14-7 during the season opener. In the three games since, Ohio State has looked every bit the part of a top-ranked team.

Ohio State dispatched of the rest of its non-conference slate by defeating Grambling 70-0 and Ohio 37-9. The Buckeyes went on a bye week before beginning Big Ten play against Washington on the road during Week 5. Some thought the Huskies could be a hurdle for Ohio State, but they won 24-6.

For Oregon, the Ducks will enjoy their bye this week but can’t look too far ahead. When they return to the field, it’ll be against No. 8 Indiana in Eugene. If Oregon can get past the Hoosiers, that appears to be the final major hurdle on their schedule before the postseason.