Comfortably numbed by the Browns: While We’re Waiting…
November 25, 2015Johnny Manziel benched and Thanksgiving recipe tips – WFNY Podcast
November 25, 2015Following Ohio State’s upset loss against Michigan State on Senior Day in Ohio Stadium, Buckeye Nation’s dreams of winning back-to-back (and the first two) College Football Playoff championships all but went down the drain. But the Buckeyes, after falling to No. 8 in the latest rankings, still have a chance. They just need plenty of help. Here’s what needs to happen:
Step 1: Beat Michigan
In perhaps the best annual rivalry in sports, the Buckeyes will need to beat No. 10 Michigan in the Big House. While Ohio State has won nine of the last 10 games between the two, including three straight, the Wolverines look to be back to their good old ways under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Step 2: Penn State upsets Michigan State
If the Spartans beat the Nittany Lions, they will clinch the East Division in the Big Ten, thus excluding the Buckeyes from the Big Ten Championship game.
With their victory over the Ohio State, the No. 5 Spartans are juuust on the outside looking in in the College Football Playoff race. Connor Cook’s playing status is uncertain (again), but Michigan State proved that they can win without their star quarterback. They host the Nittany Lions at 3:30 Saturday afternoon; it will be Senior Day in East Lansing.
While it seems unlikely that Sparty will fall to Penn State, especially at home, Buckeye Nation needs to be Penn State’s biggest fans on Saturday.
Step 3: Beat Iowa in the Big Ten Championship (if Michigan State loses)
If the Buckeyes beat Michigan and Michigan State loses to Penn State, Ohio State will face Iowa in the Big Ten Championship. The Hawkeyes have one game left against Nebraska, but their spot in the title game is already sewn up as they have a two-game lead in the Big Ten West.
With a weak schedule, some have argued that the 11-0 Hawkeyes are undefeated by virtue of circumstance more than talent. But they have taken advantage of that schedule and are currently the final team in the College Football Playoff at No. 4.
Step 4: Baylor and Notre Dame (and even Oklahoma) get upset
If the first three steps go Ohio State’s way, they will have put themselves in a great position. They will still need some help. Neither Baylor, Oklahoma, or Notre Dame will play in a conference championship game. The Big 12 doesn’t have such a contest, and the Irish are famously independent. Depending on how the rest of the season goes, not having one more chance to impress the committee could either help or hurt their resumes.
Baylor has two games left, at No. 19 TCU and at home against Texas. While the Horned Frogs are without their star wide receiver Josh Doctson and possibly star quarterback Trevone Boykin, their high flying offense could still be able to keep up with the Bears’ uptempo offense. Texas has struggled for most of the year, but the Longhorns gave No. 3 Oklahoma their only loss of the season in the Red River Shootout. Keep in mind that due to injuries, Baylor has freshman Seth Russell behind center.
No. 6 Notre Dame has just one game left, at rival No. 9 Stanford. Both have a chance to make the College Football Playoffs, though the Cardinal’s chances are much slimmer. With Notre Dame a one-loss team and Stanford having dropped two, the matchup will be a good one on Saturday night.
In their season finale, third-ranked Oklahoma squares off against their in-state rival, No. 11 Oklahoma State. The Cowboys suffered their first loss last week against Baylor, but they are certainly capable of winning the Bedlam game, especially in Stillwater.
With their remarkable run to the first ever College Football Playoff championship, the reigning champs may be given the benefit of the doubt by the committee. The Buckeyes just need some help from other teams around the country. The first step, of course, is taking care of business on their end by beating Michigan.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance?
10 Comments
A $100 bet on OSU, PS, and Stanford would fetch you $1400. Baylor and TCU are moneyline.
Clemson, ND, and Bama are all definitively ahead of Bus even with UM and Iowa wins (should they happen).
Baylor should not be nor OkieState. OU is a tough call as they’d have more top wins but an easier rest of schedule.
Lions and Cowboys win, then it could be enough for Bucks to control their own destiny. Auburn shocks then it’s another interesting call if 1 loss Florida wins SEC (2 loss with FSU game seals up that fate though).
Really, I think only 2 things need to happen: State Penn beats Sparty; Buckeyes poleax Iowa, ala Wisconsin last year. If those 2 things happen, the committee will put us in. The latter will only happen if the former happens and OSU fixes the offensive coordinator problem. The former isn’t going to happen, so we’re all just wasting good, life-giving carbon dioxide talking about it.
That said, as it stands today, I don’t want this team anywhere near the playoffs, not unless they fix the offensive coordinator problem. On paper, we’re still the best team in the country; through headsets, we’re lucky to be #8.
LMAO at the “dumb & dumber” … that never gets old. that’s a lot of “steps” , but stranger things have happened. and hopefully the loss to MSU was a wake-up call for the boys.
hi MG … good point … and a lot can & will probably happen.
State University of Ohio is getting points this weekend. GETTING POINTS!
Take those points and get rich! Bet the house!
Oh crap, I forgot: Beat M*ch*gan. But that was obvious. As obvious as the scarlet blood that runs through my veins and the grey air I breathe (poetic license on that last one).
You forgot about the nuts. Never mind.
As if we need any other motivation…beating that sociopath Harbaugh would be nice. Did you see that nut cracking Buckeyes on the grave site of Bo S yesterday? Can’t make this stuff up. Lot of nuts.
I didn’t see that. That’s nuts.
And sociopath is a good word. My colleague/boss has a daughter that plays field hockey for TSUN. Apparently, Harbaugh gave them a “pep talk” right before the Big Ten tournament. Of course they love the guy, but I understand that is was comical in its meandering, indiscernible message.
Sources say he made three girls cry and slapped someone. He was also seen running in the streets the following morning screaming. http://www.theonion.com/article/jim-harbaugh-starts-day-early-morning-sprint-throu-51714
Also, here’s the graveyard “pep rally” item for your bizarre The Game week daily reading pleasure. Enjoy!
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2015/11/63948/photos-jim-harbaugh-speaks-at-bo-schembechlers-grave-smashes-buckeye