Ohio State Football: What Tua’s injury could mean for Buckeyes, CFP

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a knee injury last week against Tennessee. Could this affect the CFP? Yes, yes it could.

Saturday’s knee injury to Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could prove to be catastrophic for the CFP Committee, and Ohio State, Oklahoma or Clemson if one were to lose.

With no official set timetable for his return, Tua could possibly miss the game of the year against LSU in three weeks. Or he could be active and play, just not at 100 percent which would favor the Tigers.

Last year, his knee tenderness didn’t matter as Tua torched LSU in Baton Rouge. However, the Tigers’ offense has been unstoppable this year and Joe Burrow has stepped into his own. Burrow leads the Heisman race and is completing 80 percent of his passes.

The odds of him maintaining that against the Tide are slim, but this offense will put up points. If Tua can’t step onto the field or isn’t at full strength and Alabama loses it’s going to get very interesting in the CFP Committee’s meeting room.

Let’s say Tua isn’t 100 percent and doesn’t play or does play while being injured and Bama loses. Then, what if the Tide proceeds to run the table and Tua is healthy by the end of the year? Does the committee forgive their loss to the SEC Champion LSU?

I see it playing out like this. If Ohio State, Oklahoma and Clemson all finish undefeated then sorry Alabama. I cannot see the Tide getting the nod in this scenario.

Now if Clemson was to lose then I can easily see an argument to justify Alabama getting in. I wouldn’t argue with the Tide being the fourth seed in the CFP. The Tigers haven’t been impressive, the ACC is lackluster and there’s no ranked win on their schedule.

If Oklahoma is the team with one loss it will depend on the margin and which team it was against. The Sooners have a much-improved defense and I think there would be some debate here. I would give the nod to Oklahoma though.

Lastly, if the Buckeyes drop a game I think they will still be fine. Their schedule is by far the toughest of the top teams, they just can’t lose in a blowout … again. I don’t see that happening so I think Ohio State will get in.

We have seen this movie before where non-champion Alabama gets in, but this would be extenuating circumstances that would warrant an actual debate this time rather than the good ole SEC bias.

Regardless of how this plays out, Tua missing the LSU game and then being back healthy finishing 11-1 would be an extremely difficult spot for the committee. They would be between a rock and a hard place and would have to make a tough call. Looking at you, Clemson.