Ohio State Football: All is not lost, Buckeyes can still make CFP
The Ohio State football team lost another scheduled game yesterday as its game with Illinois was canceled due to positive COVID-19 players and staff. This season is not over though.
The Ohio State football team is fighting its toughest battle of the season. COVID-19 is, unfortunately, making its way through the Buckeye locker room with multiple players and staff being affected by the disease.
Many have wondered if the second lost game of the season is enough for the College Football Playoff committee to forget about Ohio State as one of the four final teams in its ranking. I’m here to ease your minds.
With Northwestern losing yesterday, the Big Ten has run out of undefeated teams. And with Ohio State being in serious jeopardy of being able to qualify for the game due to the Big Ten’s ridiculous six-game minimum rule, no other Big Ten team would threaten to jump the Buckeyes in the standings.
Remember, even if Ohio State doesn’t qualify for the championship game, they would still play the Big Ten West’s runner-up. That would provide the Scarlet and Gray with another potential quality win.
Plus the committee, more this year than ever, has to take the eye test into account. Ohio State’s offense is clearly one of the tops in all of college football. Leaving them out seems unlikely as long as Ohio State can get at least two more games in.
I would expect the committee views Ohio State as one of the four best teams in the country, even with not being able to play against weaker Big Ten opponents in Maryland and Illinois.
Really the only threat to this logic is Florida. If the Gators run the table and beat Alabama in the SEC Championship game than Ohio State could be in serious trouble. But that should be the only scenario that a one-loss school not named Clemson get’s in over Ohio State.
Next. Ohio State Football still hopes to play Michigan State. dark
So let’s just see how this plays out. Hopefully, the Buckeyes can get back in action next Saturday against Michigan State and we can put this hellish week behind us. With two wins against the Michigan schools in back-to-back weeks, that should put Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game and in the driver’s seat for a CFP berth.