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Ohio State Football: Alabama simply had easiest path to the playoff

By Charlie Lockhart

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Ohio State had a much harder path than Alabama.

It’s not surprising Alabama finished 11-1 and made the College Football Playoff over Ohio State. After all, the Crimson Tide had a much easier path to do so.

Just take a look and see if you don’t come to the same conclusion.

First a look at the similarities in the paths for Ohio State and Alabama. The first third of the regular season schedule was similar. Ohio State and Alabama played one conference foe, and only one top-tier Power Five team.

Alabama had a slight edge in the overall records of conference teams they defeated, 43-41 vs. 46-50 for Ohio State. However, you have to factor in that some of the wins by their SEC opponents were against FCS teams. The Buckeyes had the edge in opponents conference records though, 29-43 vs. 18-37.

That’s about where the similarities end.

Anybody who has followed college football for any time knows the first half of the schedule sets a team up for a run at the title, but the how they perform during the second half is the real challenge. The Crimson Tide had a much easier path late in the season.

First lets look at Alabama’s schedule the last six games:

  • Arkansas  4-8  (1-7)
  • Tennessee  4-8  (0-8)
  • LSU  9-3  (6-2)
  • Mississippi State  8-4  (4-4)
  • Mercer  5-6  (FCS school)
  • Auburn  10-3  (7-1)

Now for Ohio State’s schedule:

  • Nebraska  4-8  (3-6)
  • Penn State  10-2  (7-2)
  • Iowa  7-5  (4-5)
  • Michigan State  9-3  (7-2)
  • Illinois  2-10  (0-9)
  • Michigan  8-4 (4-4)

Ohio State played two top 16 ranked teams and Penn State was ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll at the time. And although Michigan isn’t in the CFP top 25, all four of the Wolverine’s losses came to teams ranked in the top 16.

After that difficult stretch, Ohio State then had to defeat Wisconsin, ranked No. 4 at the time, in the Big Ten Championship Game to have a chance at making the playoff.

Alabama faced one team ranked in the top 16 and lost.

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And about the top-tier Power Five opponents each team faced early on, Oklahoma is in the playoff while Florida State struggled to become bowl eligible. I know the Seminoles had problems after losing their starting quarterback in the loss to the Crimson Tide, but finishing 6-6 leads one to think they may not have been as good as advertised at the beginning of the season.

And think if the Big Ten had the same model as the SEC. Only eight conference games and an open date late in the season to schedule whoever you want.

With only having to play two teams in the other division, which is the case in the SEC, possibly this season Ohio State wouldn’t have faced Iowa. The Buckeyes could then have scheduled a small conference team, or an FCS team like Mercer, and went 11-1 in the regular season like Alabama.

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You may believe the College Football Playoff Committee was correct when they decided who should be the fourth team included to play for the national title. But you have to admit Alabama had a much easier path to doing so than Ohio State.

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