Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Football: Could this year be similar to 2014 for the Buckeyes?

By Steven Koesterman

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 12: Head Coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes hoist the trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 42 to 20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 12: Head Coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes hoist the trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 42 to 20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with the crowd as time winds down in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Michigan 62-39. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with the crowd as time winds down in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Michigan 62-39. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Over the course of the last five years it is uncertain to decipher what the committee, now led by Rob Mullens, truly values in their selection process. But if one thing is for certain, the 2014 Ohio State Football set the standard for the committee’s emphasis on “style points”.

That year there was plenty of doubt the Buckeyes would make the playoff. However, the 59-0 victory over a #11 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship gave the Buckeyes the edge over TCU and Baylor. Even though both were arguably more consistent throughout the course of the season than the Buckeyes.

The Ohio State/Oklahoma debate has begun. Assuming Alabama beats Georgia in the SEC Championship, it will be up to the committee to choose either the Buckeyes or Sooners for that 4th and final spot.

The 2018 season has been a tumultuous roller coaster for Ohio State. I don’t think Buckeye Nation would have expected this potential scenario but fans across the country will be cheering on the #14 Texas Longhorns on Saturday in the Big 12 Championship against #5 Oklahoma.

Tom Herman and his team need to keep up with the high-lying Sooner offense and pull off the upset or let Oklahoma escape with a close win.

If the Ohio State football team plays with the emotion they did against Michigan and blows out Northwestern, the committee will perhaps honor their “what have you done for me lately” mentality. And value Ohio State’s “style points” over a close Oklahoma win against Texas for that 4th spot.

Say what you want about a 29 point loss to Purdue but Urban Meyer has the Buckeyes heating up at the perfect time, comparable to his 2014 team.

Home/Ohio State Football