This season, college football has been in for the ride of its life as it pioneers the newest installment of the playoff saga. There have been winners and there have been losers, but all around the system seems to be working out quite nicely. Each week we get a new insight into the committee members’ thought process and it lets us know who we will most likely see in the playoffs.
But, one of the biggest toss ups this season is if we will see Ohio State in those inaugural playoffs or not. There is still hope for the No. 8 Buckeyes to grace the BCS championship stage, but it will require a little more than what they themselves have to offer.
The Buckeyes have had a long journey in regards to college football. After not being eligible for post-season play when Urban Meyer had an undefeated and impressive squad before him must have been tough. However, this season it seems that the same old Buckeyes aren’t out on the field every week.
Ohio State currently sits at the bottom of the one-loss barrel with an 8-1 record. This was a six-spot leap after their Michigan State triumph. There is no denying that this win over the Spartans was huge for the Buckeyes, but the rest of their season leaves something to be desired. The Buckeyes will take on Minnesota, Indiana and Michigan to close out the year, and while all these teams have upset potential, victories from Ohio State will do little to impress the playoff committee.
Going into the last few matches of the season, the Buckeyes will need to show what they can do every single game. While they may be facing less than intimidating opponents form the B1G, they can still make a case for their skills and their ability to move the ball down the field or halt the opposing team in its tracks. The Buckeyes need to be an unstoppable tour-de-force out on the field, if they want to catch the playoff committees attention.
Being a one loss team seems pretty important as we head into the postseason. However, Ohio State lost to Virginia Tech, currently 4-5 on the season. When one takes into account the likes of what other top ten teams have faced, Ohio State begins to look all the more dismal as a playoff hopeful.
That being said, there is a strong possibility that a two-loss team could go ahead of Ohio State in the polls. Whether or not they make it to the playoffs is another matter entirely, but strength of schedule as well as performance under said schedule is going a long way this season. Ohio State, while still managing wins, isn’t performing as well as those higher ranked teams.
So, for Ohio State to reach playoff glory, they will need more than one team above them to fall from grace. Four teams, Alabama and Mississippi State along with Oregon and Arizona State are each on roads that lead to a matchup out on the field. The ups and downs of their performances could play to the Buckeyes favor. Emphasis on the word could.
While the B1G conference always appears to be in a state of confusion as to which sport it is supposed to be playing, a team can still show their strength and their talent against any old team they face. There is a big difference between playing your heart out because you want something and playing a game you know you are going to win. Ohio State seems to be the latter at this stage in the game, and that is something the playoff committee will most certainly take note of.
This is college football, and as any fan knows, anything can happen. This is one crazy sport where a team can fall from grace faster than you can say fumble. Ohio State may be down, but they are certainly not out of the game. Expect Murphy’s Law to play a big part in the closing weeks of regular season, but most importantly look for the possibility of Urban Meyer and his Buckeyes to squeeze into a playoff spot, if by the skin of their teeth.
*Section Photo credit to Jamie Sabau, Getty Images ; Featured Photo (above) credit to Marvin Fong, Cleveland Plain Dealer
