Ohio State Football: Can Buckeyes get to CFP unbeaten again?
The Ohio State football team wasn’t satisfied with the ending to the 2019 season. However, 2020 provides an opportunity to fulfill its hunger.
In Ryan Day’s first year as head coach, the Ohio State football team ran the table en route to a date with defending champion Clemson. The Buckeyes lost in heartbreak fashion in the Fiesta Bowl and it won’t soon be forgotten.
Ohio State is undoubtedly using the shocking loss as motivation for the upcoming 2020 season as it will fuel an uncontrollable fire inside the brotherhood. Buckeye Nation and the team alike believed they were the better team that December night in Phoenix, but poor execution and questionable officiating ruled the day.
The journey of having a goal of returning to the same national stage in 2020 begins September 5th against in-state foe Bowling Green with a trip to Eugene looming the next weekend. The Buckeyes will be tested immediately by the Ducks on the road, but a victory would give Ohio State a major advantage come selection Sunday.
Major Power 5 out of conference road wins have been valued highly when the CFP committee discusses their rankings and can virtually serve as a “pass” if a close conference loss is suffered later in the season.
After back to back wins against Buffalo and Rutgers, Ohio State gets its bye week before the Iowa Hawkeyes travel to Columbus. This game is going to be a showdown, and it would be safe to assume 2017 will be on the minds of everyone in The Shoe that day. The Buckeyes should again get the job done and earn a 5-0 start.
Continuing a tough stretch, matchups on the road against Michigan State and Penn State are on the docket in what will most likely be the Nittany Lions’ infamous Whiteout night in Happy Valley. The environment is incredible to see as a home fan or college football junkie, but not as a road team or fan. In fact, you cannot wait to get out of there.
Though Ohio State has won three straight over Penn State, it will be each team’s most difficult game as the Buckeyes get the Wolverines at home to end the season. Dates with Nebraska, Indiana, Maryland and Illinois ensue after the grueling three game stretch.
Then it will be time for The Game once again. I like the Buckeyes to enter it undefeated for the second year in a row with the best resume in the country assuming Oregon and the rest of the Big Ten live up to its expectations. As always, The Game will be a war and what better way for Ohio State to cap another historic regular season than with a win over its rival.
I think the Buckeyes do just that and head to Indy for a rematch of last year against the Badgers of Wisconsin. 13-0 will be difficult to complete yet again and if it’s done the road will have similarities, but also differences. After taking an early look at the schedule, entering the CFP undefeated is certainly feasible and attainable.
Next. Dobbins is right, OSU wins if he'd had been healthy. dark
My early prediction is Ryan Day keeps Ohio State laser focused week to week and avoids looking ahead and falling victim to trap games. The Buckeyes enter the CFP undefeated for the second year in a row and face the Florida Gators in the semifinal before seeing Clemson in the National Championship.