Ohio State football: Winners, losers from OSU vs. Oregon

The Ohio State Buckeyes are now in danger of not making the College Football Playoffs, though all hope is not lost.

Ohio State still has everything in front of them, but they cannot afford to lose again, and they may need some help getting in. Looking back at the past might give us an idea of what needs to happen for the Buckeyes to get through.

First off, the Big Ten needs to ball out. Having Penn State, Iowa, and even Michigan keep winning will only help the Buckeyes’ strength of schedule at the end of the season.

Next, we can just about count on the winner of the SEC making the playoffs, so there is one slot taken. What Ohio State cannot have happened now is for the SEC to get two teams into the playoffs. That means the hope is that the SEC Championship features a game where the team that loses already has a loss entering the game.

Oregon either needs to win out and be a clear favorite or lose several and not even be considered. If Oregon and Ohi oSrtate are being compared the Ducks will win the head to head.

Clemson does not have a ranked team on their schedule, so if Oregon and Georgia are comparable at the end of the season the Buckeyes should stay on top given their ability to get quality wins.

The Big 12 poses a challenge if the winner goes undefeated, but a one-loss team might be seen as comparable to the Buckeyes.

Outside the Power Five, Ohio State cannot afford for Notre Dame or Cincinnati to jump over them and claim a spot which would mean only three conferences could get a team in.

So in summary, the SEC can only get one team in. Notre Dame and Cincinnati need to lose. And one-loss teams from the Pac-12 and Big 12 would help. Now, even if that doesn’t happen, Ohio State could still turn a corner and dominate from here on out and be a lock to make it, but they cannot play like they did against Oregon.

It happened in 2014, it could happen in 2021.