Ohio State Will to Make CFP Even After Shaky Start
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud
Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State is now in the top 10 of the AP poll and have a 36% chance to make the college football playoff according to ESPN and have the ability to do so because of their schedule. Ohio State is currently ranked 6th, after they just won against a ranked Penn State team at home. They will also play Michigan and Michigan State, who are both currently top 10 teams. If Ohio State wins out the rest of the season, they will play Iowa in the Big Ten Championship. Iowa is currently ranked 9th in the poll and is a very good team even though they suffered a loss to unranked Purdue. In conclusion if Ohio State wins the rest of their games this season, they will be in the college football playoff. The question is, are they a good enough team to do this?
Ohio State is good enough to win the rest of their games this season. This is because they are better now than they looked at the beginning of the year.
The Buckeyes did not have a good start to the season including giving up a win to currently 8th ranked Oregon, and although beating but not destroying both unranked Minnesota and Tulsa. However, they have turned things around and soundly beat all their opponents since.
Ohio State’s offense is now incredibly good, and a lot of it has to do with their corps of receivers who are among the best in the nation according to The Washington Post.
The Buckeyes also have top running back TreVeyon Henderson, who is an incredible multipurpose back and is already one of the best in the country. Henderson already broke Archie Griffin’s 49-year-old freshman record by rushing for 277 yards in a single game.
Ohio State’s quarterback C.J. Stroud has finally figured things out after a shaky start to the season. He looked especially good in week 5 against Rutgers and went 17/23 for 330 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Ohio State’s defense, although still not a top defense in the nation, has done much better these last few weeks. This may be due to head coach Ryan Day demoting defensive coordinator Kerry Combs and promoting Matt Barnes as the new defensive play caller. Before this switch, Ohio State’s defense allowed and average of 33 points per game and is now down to 14. Ohio State is a much better team than they looked at the beginning of the season and will likely make the playoffs due to their recent performance.
Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson
AP
Although Ohio State has looked better in the last couple weeks, there are other teams that are likely playing just as well and may deserve a chance over the Buckeyes. It is likely that number 1 Georgia will lose to one loss Alabama, which means they will both secure playoff spots.
If unbeaten Oklahoma continues to go unbeaten, which is probable, they will also secure a spot. This could leave the decision between one loss Ohio State and unbeaten Cincinnati. Many people believe the Bearcats deserve a chance to lose the playoffs just as much as much as any big-name school. Ohio State is the only team to lose in the playoffs by 27 points or more twice, so does this mean that Cincinnati deserves a chance? This decision will be left up to the committee who in the past have chosen difficulty of schedule over wins and losses. This means they will decide that The Buckeyes performance, assuming they win out will be more impressive than Cincinnati’s undefeated season.