Ohio State Football: Buckeyes against the world in College Football Playoff
The Ohio State football team is again slotted in the underdog role on the national stage which means it’s the Buckeyes against the world in the CFP.
The Ohio State football team suddenly isn’t being given much of a chance in the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson. If the Buckeyes were ranked No. 1, they would’ve been picked to win the whole thing. But facing the defending champions carries that much weight apparently.
No disrespect to the Tigers at all, they are immensely talented and very well coached, but the Buckeyes are the team being disrespected here. Some of the media is hard pressed on preaching the narrative of a 2016 repeat and others just say Clemson is flat out better and their experience and coaching staff will rule the day.
While those are obstacles Ohio State has to overcome, it seems as though Buckeye Nation is the only group that believes in Ryan Day and his 2019 football team outside of themselves.
Historically for the Buckeyes, that is a place of comfort and this year, as high stress of a feel as this game possesses, it oddly enough feels similar to 2014 before playing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
All year long, beginning in the preseason, the country has doubted Ohio State so why stop now? The Buckeyes have been the most complete and consistent team in the nation all season, but as soon as they’re mentioned in the same breath as LSU and Clemson they suddenly become inferior.
Joe Burrow won the Heisman and coach Ed Orgeron won Coach of the Year so by virtue LSU is a better team. Clemson won last year’s title and cruised to a 13-0 record against nobodies all year winning in dominating fashion with partially inflated statistics, plus they have the experience so now they’re also better than Ohio State.
The arguments don’t make any sense, but the Buckeyes aren’t letting it rattle them. Rather, Ohio State is using it as motivation whether it’s the coaches or players.
The health of Justin Fields’ knee will be crucial in this game as he will need to be decisive against the multiple looks and late shifts of the Clemson defense. But the Buckeyes have the coaching staff, athletes, and football players to beat the Tigers.
It feels like Saturday will be the culmination of everything Ohio State has worked for this season, but really since the gut-wrenching loss in the same building in 2016. After being snubbed from the CFP in the last two years, the Buckeyes enter this year’s semifinal with a chip on their shoulder looking to solidify they belong.
Next. This one is for the entire state of Ohio. dark
This game will prove Ohio State does in fact belong and can win the whole thing and apparently it will have to be in improbable fashion again. A team that has broken records left and right on a historic pace is the underdog to everyone outside of Buckeye Nation which means it’s, again, Ohio against the college football world.