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Ohio State Football: Who Buckeye fans should root for this weekend

By Alex Austin

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: The mascot of the Ohio State Buckeyes performs before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: The mascot of the Ohio State Buckeyes performs before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 20: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during warmups prior to playing the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 20: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during warmups prior to playing the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Michigan vs. Penn State 7:30 PM ET: Rooting for Penn State

It usually doesn’t take much reasoning to convince Ohio State fans to root against Michigan, but I will give you a few more reasons on top of the typical “because they are the actual worst” mindset.

The reality: Ohio State ends up playing both teams, so there isn’t a strength of schedule argument on first glance. However, when we look at the talent level of the teams and the schedules the two teams have left,

The Penn State Nittany Lions have a much better chance of staying undefeated up until they play Ohio State. With the only ranked team Penn State will play before coming to Columbus is Minnesota (still a little bit of a mystery), that game is sandwiched between a trip to Michigan State and a home game against Indiana. All winnable games.

Michigan, however, hosts #8 Notre Dame in addition to traveling to Maryland and Indiana, and hosting Michigan State. A more difficult schedule combined with a team that has looked pretty bad in several of their outings does not give confidence that the Wolverines will win every game between now and when they host the Buckeyes.

Michigan has looked more like a 4-loss team than a contender for a national title all year.

Ideal for the Bucks: With a win this weekend, Penn State shoots up the polls and become a bigger, stronger opponent when facing Ohio State next month – potentially even creating a Top-5 matchup.

Next. College football mid-season recap. dark

The Logic: Thinking that Michigan will lose at least one more game before they play Ohio State means they will drop even further in the polls. The higher Penn State can climb, the more impressive the eventual Buckeye win will look to the College Football Playoff Committee. So rooting against the Michigan is not only the option that doesn’t make me sick, but also just happens to be the best choice for Ohio State.

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