Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Football: How Buckeyes stack up against other playoff contenders

By Blake Biscardi

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 14: Chris Olave #17 and Binjimen Victor #9 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after a safety in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 14: Chris Olave #17 and Binjimen Victor #9 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after a safety in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 07: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers throws a pass under pressure by Malcolm Roach #32 of the Texas Longhorns in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 07: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers throws a pass under pressure by Malcolm Roach #32 of the Texas Longhorns in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Georgia: I have taken a lot of flack for not being so high on the Bulldogs and I will continue to hold this opinion until Kirby Smart proves he can finish a big game against a tier 1 team.

Georgia is one of the most athletic teams in the country and can match the talent of Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State. The game between the Bulldogs and Buckeyes would bring a battle of young coaches mentored by legends. Which student would reign supreme?

My initial thoughts are truthfully Ryan Day and for these reasons. The pressure would be on Georgia and each time we’ve seen that they’ve folded late. The talent level is virtually even, but the major storyline would be Justin Fields facing his former team.

I think that competitive edge would swing toward Ohio State as Fields proves he belongs which coincides with the Buckeyes 2019 mentality of completing unfinished business.

LSU: Enter Joe Burrow. A huge fan favorite in Columbus, Burrow facing the Buckeyes would be something to behold. I think the Tigers are legit, but how legit?

We won’t know for sure until they play in Tuscaloosa. So at least for the next few weeks I will be high, but cautious on an evaluation of LSU.

Alabama is the standard, the game is away and it will be at night. A win or a loss by single digits will tell us all we need to know about Coach O and the Tigers. Not to mention, that would put a major monkey wrench in the playoff picture.

For these reasons plus the Buckeyes being more prepared for the game since they are used to seeing this type of offense every day in practice, I will pick Ohio State to win.

Alabama: This game would be the pinnacle of college football as the north battles the south. Reputations are at stake as is conference supremacy. The Crimson Tide are not as strong defensively this year due to major injuries so the Buckeyes will have the upper hand there.

Offensively we would get a fireworks display as Justin Fields and Tua Tagovailoa showcase their Heisman caliber talents. This game would be filled with guys you’ll see playing on Sundays.

The coaching advantage is clearly to Nick Saban as Ryan Day is just beginning his career which is what concerns me for the Buckeyes.

Not that Ryan Day isn’t capable, but when you see the greatest of all time standing across the field it’s a whole new world. Day though is no stranger to legendary coaches as he was mentored by Urban Meyer for two years.

I think Day would do well as long as he doesn’t allow for the moment to get too big.

Ohio State vs Alabama is certainly the showdown the college football world wants to see and hope they do come January. Time will tell, but I like the chances as things stand right now.

Lastly, the defending National Champs.

Home/Ohio State Football