Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Keys for Ohio State to make the College Football Playoff

By Peter Burtnett

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Raekwon McMillan #5 and Joshua Perry #37 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after the defense sacked quarterback Jake Rudock #15 of the Michigan Wolverines (not pictured) in the third quarter at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Raekwon McMillan #5 and Joshua Perry #37 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after the defense sacked quarterback Jake Rudock #15 of the Michigan Wolverines (not pictured) in the third quarter at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 2
Next
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 13: Pete Werner #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Jordan Fuller #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes team up to tackle Seth Green #17 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers short of the goal line in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 13: Pete Werner #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Jordan Fuller #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes team up to tackle Seth Green #17 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers short of the goal line in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

The 2019 college football season is right around the corner, and for Ohio State it brings another chance to earn a berth in the College Football Playoff. 

In college football’s 150th season, Ohio State is being overlooked by many of the experts, with Michigan being the favorite to win the Big Ten. However, I along with many others see this upcoming season as another chance for the Buckeyes to prove their dominance in the Big Ten.

In two previous articles I gave the keys for how Ohio State can win both the Big Ten East and the Big Ten. In this article, I will discuss the keys needed for the Buckeyes to earn their third appearance in the College Football Playoff, and first since 2016.

Bring the Juice every week (aka don’t overlook the Big Ten West)

In each of the past two seasons, Ohio State has dropped two milestone defeats at the hands of Iowa (2017) and Purdue (’18), who both throttled the Buckeyes in surprising fashion.

Ohio State also lost focus in games against Maryland (52-51 overtime win) and Nebraska (36-31 win), who both combined to go 9-17 in 2018.

For the Buckeyes to stamp their ticket to the CFP for the first time in 3 seasons, they must focus on every opponent and play to the best of their ability week in and week out, which is always expected but doesn’t consistently happen.

As much as the Committee may claim that style points aren’t that important, the difference between Ohio State and Oklahoma last season was the hideous 49-20 defeat against 6-6 Purdue, while the Sooners lost a close thriller against the Texas Longhorns who grabbed a New Year’s Six spot.

The Buckeyes may not have to win every game to make the playoff, but if they have another Iowa or Purdue game you can count them out.

To use the phrase coined by Urban Meyer and popularized by Columbus-based rapper Mekka Don, Ohio State will need to bring the juice every single Saturday (and Friday) in 2019.

Home/Ohio State Buckeyes