Monday’s slate of games kicks off the second-to-last week of regular-season women’s competition in the Big Ten, and multiple teams, Ohio State included, are vying to finish on top of the conference with a handful of games to go.
The Buckeyes are currently third in the standings with a 10-3 conference record (18-4 overall), trailing Michigan (20-4, 11-3) and Indiana (18-3, 10-1). Ohio State was 0-3 against those teams this season, getting swept by Michigan and losing a home matchup to Indiana.
Ohio State is tied in record by Maryland (18-6, 10-3) and Iowa (16-6, 10-3), but the Buckeyes defeated both teams earlier this season. Beyond these five teams, the next best record in the conference is Michigan State (13-11, 7-6), meaning five teams are in contention for the top four spots (and first-round byes) in the Big Ten Tournament.
With no more than four or five games remaining for teams, the conference is set for an exciting finish, as most of the teams among the top schools play each other over the next two weeks.
Maryland has the toughest path forward, facing Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan and Indiana to close the season. Ohio State, meanwhile, has the easiest path, with games remaining against Illinois, Maryland, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State, the majority of which reside in the bottom half of the standings.
Michigan will host Maryland and Michigan State before finishing the season at Iowa, while Indiana will face Nebraska and Northwestern before facing Iowa twice and Maryland to close things out.
While the Buckeyes have set themselves up for a nice finish, it would take a collapse from Indiana to cede control of the conference, effectively holding a three-game advantage over Ohio State. However, a win over Maryland on Feb. 17 would almost certainly lock in a first-round bye for the Buckeyes.
After the conclusion of the regular season on Feb. 27, the Big Ten Tournament begins March 2 and will run through March 6.
| Team | Conference Record | Overall Record |
| Indiana | 10-1 | 18-3 |
| Michigan | 11-3 | 20-4 |
| Ohio State | 10-3 | 18-4 |
| Maryland | 10-3 | 18-6 |
| Iowa | 10-3 | 16-6 |
| Michigan State | 7-6 | 13-11 |
| Nebraska | 6-6 | 17-6 |
| Northwestern | 6-6 | 14-9 |
| Purdue | 5-9 | 14-11 |
| Minnesota | 5-9 | 12-14 |
| Wisconsin | 4-10 | 7-17 |
| Penn State | 3-11 | 9-15 |
| Illinois | 1-7 | 6-13 |
| Rutgers | 1-12 | 8-17 |
