Instead, it was ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit who produced a heated talking point (and later apologized for it): The former Ohio State quarterback floated the idea that Michigan (2-4, 2-4 Big Ten) could potentially claim COVID-19 issues to opt out vs. No. 4 Ohio State on Dec. 12 — a move that would keep the Buckeyes (4-0, 4-0 Big Ten) below the league’s six game-minimum threshold to make the conference championship game.

The move, however petty, would nonetheless be disastrous for the Buckeyes’ Playoff hopes: It would not only limit them to six games, maximum, for the season, but would also place Indiana in the Big Ten title game. The Wolverines paused football activities on Monday, going virtual due to reported positive COVID-19 cases within the program.

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Rece Davis, anchoring Tuesday’s episode of the CFP rankings release, asked Herbstreit to clarify whether he actually thought the Wolverines would opt out simply to spite the Buckeyes. Herbstreit in response claimed to have spoken with coaches who thought teams used COVID-19 as an excuse to not play games.

“I don’t know all the numbers as far as COVID is concerned, but we live in such a strange world that (college football coaches) really feel teams are opting out to avoid playing games,” Herbstreit said. “They don’t want to get humiliated or lose with the team they have. They don’t want to get embarrassed. There’s a lot of that being talked about around the country.

“I have no idea what Michigan’s situation is,” Herbstreit added. “I’m saying they have the power to potentially say, “Hey, we can’t play next week.’ And there’s nothing Ohio State could do about it if they decide to say that.”

Davis, for his part, rightfully thinks that would be a disgraceful move on the part of Michigan — or any team:

“I’ll say this: Any team that does that, they’re not teaching you any kind of lesson,” Davis said. “They don’t stand for anything. They have no courage, they have no character, anybody that would do that just to purposely sabotage another team. Other than that I’ll say I don’t really have an opinion on that.”

Said Herbstreit: “It’s happening.”

Shortly after Tuesday’s rankings show concluded, Herbstreit issued an apology to Michigan and coach Jim Harbaugh on Twitter, saying he had no evidence the Wolverines would attempt the underhanded tactic and claiming he said what he did in part because of the tumultuous nature of the 2020 college football season.

“I had no business at all saying that. I have no evidence of that,” Herbstreit said. “It was completely unfair to the University of Michigan, to Jim Harbaugh, to his players and coaches. And I just wanted to apologize.”

Below is Herbstreit’s full message:

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While there certainly have been an influx of postponed and canceled games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic, there have been no confirmed cases of a team “opting out” simply to avoid getting beaten by a superior team. That said, this isn’t the first time the idea has been floated.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney — who coaches Kirk Herbstreit’s twin sons, Jake and Tye Herbstreit — concluded that was the case after his and Florida State’s respective medical teams could not agree to play their Nov. 25 game. A Clemson player received a positive test for the coronavirus after having traveled with the team to Tallahassee, Fla., to play the Seminoles.

Swinney, for his part, assumed the worst of Florida State: “This game was not canceled because of COVID. COVID was just an excuse to cancel the game.” That prompted a feud between Norvell and himself that will have to be addressed in 2021 after their game was canceled outright.

Only time will tell whether Michigan and Ohio State can play “The Game” on Dec. 12, and what potential consequences await the Buckeyes if they can’t.

This story has been updated from a previous version.