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Ohio State Football: 4th and Short, questions following Week 8

By Blake Biscardi

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeye drops back to pass the ball during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeye drops back to pass the ball during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – OCTOBER 13: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines looks to pass while playing the Wisconsin Badgers on October 13, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 38-13. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – OCTOBER 13: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines looks to pass while playing the Wisconsin Badgers on October 13, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 38-13. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Q: It [is] going to come down to the [Big Ten] and [Big XII]…(the SEC, the ACC, and Notre Dame are all but locks)…play out the [scenarios] please.

A: Assuming the SEC, Clemson, and Notre Dame all have representatives with their tickets punched to the playoff, one final spot will remain and I would see the scenarios playing out as follows (assuming these teams win out).

Michigan wins out. The Wolverines boast one of the top defenses in the country and are finally pairing a capable offense with it to win games. Michigan has been playing their best football as of late and finished the season strong en route to Jim Harbaugh’s first Big Ten Championship.

The Wolverines lone loss was a week one defeat to undefeated Notre Dame, which now seems to be one of the best losses in the country.

If Michigan wins out, they are in without a debate. The Wolverines have the most clear path to the playoff of the one loss teams.

Ohio State wins out. The Buckeyes had a strong resume through the first half of the season, but it was slowly downgraded due to the play of both TCU and Penn State. Ohio State was derailed by Purdue under the lights at Ross-Ade, but Urban Meyer and his staff finally righted the ship.

Following a huge home win versus rival, Michigan, and another Big Ten Championship, the Buckeyes are on the cusp of a third playoff berth.

If Ohio State wins out, I believe their strength of schedule and conference outweighs the gruesome loss to Purdue and also barely holds off Oklahoma. Ohio State is in the College Football Playoff as a one loss Big Ten Champion.

Oklahoma wins out. The Sooners and Kyler Murray have one of the most explosive offenses in the country, but the holes on defense still remain a concern. Oklahoma does not possess a top-tier resume, however, it is strong enough for a playoff berth given their loss is by three points to Texas, who they just defeated in the conference title game.

If Oklahoma wins out, the Sooners will still need a little bit of help. The Big XII is on the weaker side as a whole, plus the Sooners do not have a marquee out of conference win. Moreover, they have a common opponent with Ohio State in TCU, who the Sooners defeated by a greater margin. The win over TCU coupled with Ohio State’s ugly loss to Purdue may be just enough to elevate Oklahoma into the fourth spot.

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