Ohio State Football: Opinions on Buckeyes’ fortunes vary
Opinions vary on how good this year’s Ohio State football team will be. A recent poll has the Buckeyes ranked No. 3, another Top 25 list has them at No. 9.
Many are now wondering how the Ohio State football team will perform this season because of the Urban Meyer situation. Could that be the reason there is a disparity of how the Buckeyes are perceived in two top 25 lists released since the head coach was placed on administrative leave?
Ohio State is ranked No. 3 in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll. Heading into the 2018 season Sports Illustrated has the Buckeyes at No. 9 in their list of the top 25 teams. That’s quite a gap.
First, here is a look at the Top 25 teams in the country according to the coaches.
- 1) Alabama
- 2) Clemson
- 3) Ohio State
- 4) Georgia
- 5) Oklahoma
- 6) Georgia
- 7) Wisconsin
- 8) Miami
- 9) Penn State
- 10) Auburn
- 11) Notre Dame
- 12) Michigan State
- 13) Stanford
- 14) Michigan
- 15) USC
- 16) TCU
- 17) Virginia Tech
- 18) Mississippi State
- 19) Florida State
- 20) West Virginia
- 21) Texas
- 22) Boise State
- 23) Central Florida
- 24) LSU
- 25) Oklahoma State
If you want to see the Sports Illustrated Top 25 click here.
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I only want to focus on the ranked Big Ten teams at the moment. Both the coaches and SI have Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State in the top 10. And each has Michigan State and Michigan ranked among the top 15 teams.
Here is where the two differ. Even with the current situation involving Urban Meyer the coaches still have the Buckeyes ranked as the third best team in the country. Sports Illustrated has Ohio State as the third best team in the conference behind No. 3 Wisconsin and Penn State at No. 7.
I find it interesting how people who cover college football and those who coach the game can look at a team, or a situation surrounding the program, and come to very different conclusions.
It should be noted that the article listing SI’s top 25 teams never mentioned the Urban Meyer situation. Who knows how that was factored into Ohio State’s No. 9 ranking, if any?
I guess we will soon find out whether the coaches were on the money having the Buckeyes as CFP contenders, or those at SI will be proven right in their assessment.
dark. Next. Candidates to replace Urban Meyer if he is let go
There are things concerning the Big Ten where the coaches and those who contributed to the Sports Illustrated list appear to be in agreement. First, there will be quite a battle to win the East Division title with four strong teams in the mix. And second, the Wisconsin Badgers will be waiting for the winner in the Big Ten Championship Game.