Ohio State, Alabama and Clemson all in the same tier
The talk of college football was about chasing Alabama, now it’s Clemson. But what about Ohio State? All three are in the same tier and here’s why.
The most interesting debate in college football over the last decade has been can anyone catch Nick Saban and Alabama? Naturally the first places you look are the next best coaches – Ohio State’s Urban Meyer and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.
Swinney and Meyer both managed to beat Saban’s Crimson Tide in the College Football playoff. The Buckeyes and Tigers join the Tide as the only teams to win a National Title during the playoff era.
In the first five years under the playoff format, there have been few surprise berths and a predictable final virtually every season consisting of mostly three teams. Why? Because Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State have separated themselves from the rest of college football. These three programs are the tier 1 elite football teams in the country.
After the shellacking that occurred just a few months ago in the National Championship Game, the world suddenly changed the narrative to Clemson being the program to catch as they have “surpassed” Alabama.
Such may be the case, but what about the Buckeyes? No, Ohio State is not the premier program in college football, but it’s one of them. The Buckeyes have posted a record of 62-6 during the playoff era.
Ohio State also won the inaugural College Football Playoff 42-20 over the Oregon Ducks while beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl prior. The Buckeyes have also posted a 5-1 postseason record since 2014.
Clemson has managed to go 65-7 (7-2) during that same timeframe and became the first team to ever go 15-0 in a single season. Alabama achieved a 67-6 (7-3) record and has two titles as does Clemson.
Evaluating those records make the gap between the three seem even closer than some may have originally thought. All three have elite coaches, recruit top classes year in and year out and consistently win big games.
Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State likely rank:
1a. Clemson
1b. Alabama
3. Ohio State
But the standings are ever-changing as each team has held that illustrious No. 1 spot at least once during the playoff era.
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None of the three teams show any signs of slowing down as they continue to lengthen the gap from the rest of the field. The Buckeyes, Tide and Tigers are in a league of their own and will remain there until proven otherwise or leapfrogged by another team.
Many of you may be thinking about Georgia – that argument can be laid to rest very quickly. Nick Saban does not lose to former assistants, sorry Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs have not won a title, and though they have been around they shrunk when it mattered most last season.
The SEC Championship and Playoff were theirs for the taking and Smart got too greedy and faked a punt on 4th and 11 that ended their season. Georgia is close but remains a tier 2 team with Oklahoma for now.
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Both teams will have an opportunity to change that this upcoming season. But for now, the college football world is chasing a three-headed monster in Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State.