Ohio State football: OSU high in post-Spring polls

To no one’s surprise, the Ohio State football team is high on most post-Spring polls.

Now that teams have wrapped up their spring practices, websites that cover college football need something to talk about. So, we’re seeing some post-spring rankings appear. Come to think of it, I need something to talk about also, so let’s take a look at a few.

The Buckeyes are in the top five of the three I checked out. USA Today has them third, 247 Sports, fourth, and ESPN has them a not-so-surprising fifth. Hey, it’s ESPN. What do you expect when it comes to the Buckeyes. All three talk about the quarterback battle and that is probably the reason for the varied rankings. The questions around the defense are another reason why there’s no real consensus on where exactly OSU fits.

It’s not surprising to see Alabama ranked first in two of the polls, but there is a new darling team emerging. Everyone seems to love Oklahoma. ESPN has them first, while the Sooners are second in the other two. They point to Spencer Rattler returning at quarterback and a much-improved defense led by former OSU assistant Alex Grinch as to why they are so high on them. Clemson twice is listed third, while they’re fourth in another. Georgia is the only other team besides the four I’ve mentioned to crack the top five. ESPN has them third.

Ohio State football is clearly the king of the Big Ten

The most disturbing thing to me is the lack of another Big Ten team in the top ten. I don’t fault the three websites for this. I blame the remainder of the team’s in the conference. Indiana is 11th, 14th, and 17th. Wisconsin is 13th twice and 18th. Iowa 14th, 15th, and 19th. Penn State 16th, 18th, and 23rd. Not very impressive is it? Nope, not at all.

Now, are you ready for this? Michigan is not mentioned in any of the three. Coastal Carolina is ranked twice. The Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana are in all three. ALL THREE! But, the Michigan Wolverines are nowhere to be found. I know these polls are just opinions in mid-May, but this is a sad statement on the Big Ten.

Two of the three polls have the Ohio State football team’s week two opponent, Oregon, in the top ten (9th and 10th). The consensus is the Ducks are loaded on offense and have recruited very well on defense the last few years (they have).

So, what does all of this mean? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It fills up space on the websites and gives me something to write about. The fans have something to argue over on message boards and those on the various sports talk shows a reason to yell at each other.

All of those polls and $5 will get you an overly expensive cup of gourmet coffee served to you by a former Art History major, who is now reconsidering his life decisions and thinking he should have listened to mom and dad and gotten a business degree. It means absolutely nothing.

Let me give you some advice when it comes to polls. Don’t pay too much attention to them. Not now. Not during the season. There is only one poll to worry about and that’s the College Football Playoff committee’s, which won’t be out for another 5 ½ months. These other polls have no effect on how the committee votes. Take them for what they’re worth.