Ohio State Football: Win should be enough to sway the CFP Committee
The Ohio State football team defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 45-24 but was that enough for the CFP Committee to include the Buckeyes in the playoff?
Ohio State was nursing a three point lead late in the third quarter before pulling away to a 45-24 victory over Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game. Was that performance good enough to persuade the CFP Committee to include the Buckeyes in the playoff?
It should be. The win over Northwestern was more impressive than Oklahoma’s 39-27 victory over Texas.
The Big Ten Championship Game looked as though it could be a blowout as Ohio State took a 24-7 lead to the locker room at halftime. However, quarterback Clayton Thorson scored on an 18 yard touchdown run and a threw a 2 yard TD pass and Northwestern closed the gap midway through the third quarter.
From that point forward, quarterback Dwayne Haskins took over throwing three of his five touchdown passes on the day. The Buckeye defense held the Wildcats to a field goal the rest of the way.
Haskins completed 34 of 41 passes and the offense piled up 607 total yards against a pesky Northwestern defense. That offensive output is one of the reasons why Ohio State should be included in the College Football Playoff.
After all, apparently the CFP Committee is enamored with the Oklahoma offense. Here is what College Football Playoff Selection Committee chair Rob Mullens said as reported by constantcontact.com.
"ROB MULLENS: Well, obviously we watch the games, then we look at the résumé. We also look at the statistics. When you look at the numbers, while their defense has been a challenge, their offense has been superior. They find a way to win the games based on the talent that they have. That lines up that the offense carries them."
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The Oklahoma offense wasn’t as impressive as Ohio State’s yesterday. So using the committee’s criteria shouldn’t the Buckeyes move past the Sooners?
Oklahoma put up 39 points and had 508 total yards against a Texas defense that isn’t exactly intimidating. And if the committee watched the game they will realize it was a battle.
Also, two of the Sooner’s points came on a safety and three on a field goal after a Longhorn penalty nullified an interception by Kyler Murray. A Texas defensive back was called for a facemask penalty on the opposite side of the field from where the pass was picked off.
Next. Multiple Buckeyes will have 1,000 yard seasons. dark
I’m sure Alabama hopes Oklahoma will be inserted into the fourth spot instead of Ohio State though. Not only will the Crimson Tide get to face the porous Sooner defense but they won’t have to face Dwayne Haskins and the potent Buckeye offense.