Every other league is putting their Champ thru a final test, so those game are essentially play-in games now. And without one, the B12 will be looked at as a team afraid to test their champ.
The B12 might back in without hte game, but that will be the perception. Not that they play in to it, but that they backed in to it. And it will cost them as much as it helps them, even if it is OU or Texas because Bama, USA, tOSUs of the world are playing that game.