Dave Chappelle, ATCQ highlight the weekend: While We’re Waiting
November 14, 2016Cleveland Browns Week 10 Winners and Losers
November 14, 2016After one of the craziest weekends in college football in a very long time, one that included No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 all getting upset, the Ohio State Buckeyes have jumped to No. 2 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls.
Following their drubbing of Maryland Saturday afternoon, the Bucks are now only behind the Alabama Crimson Tide and have their highest ranking since they lost at Penn State just a few short weeks ago. With their No. 2 ranking, both polls believe that the scarlet and gray are the best one-loss team in the country, with Bama and Western Michigan (out of the MAC) as the only other remaining undefeated teams in D-I football.
With the Crimson Tide still undefeated, No. 2 will be the best the scarlet and gray can do unless Alabama loses in either their final two regular season games or the SEC Championship game, all three of which Bama will most likely be heavily favored.
There are five Big Ten teams who are ranked (all of which are in the top 20 in both polls), including the Buckeyes: (AP poll, Coaches poll)
- Michigan: No. 4, No. 4
- Wisconsin: No. 6, No. 6
- Penn State: No. 9, No. 10
- Nebraska: No. 19, No. 17
Michigan, who was No. 2 last week, was one of the three top four teams to lose this past weekend. The Wolverines were upset by Iowa, who was (and still is) unranked. But even with the loss, they only dropped to No. 4 in the rankings and almost certainly control their destiny to make the Playoff at the end of the season.
Like they have since making their season debut two weeks ago, the College Football Playoff rankings are what matter most in terms of who will make the Final Four at the end of the season. These two polls, however, give us a good sense of where teams will likely rank Tuesday night when the committee’s third rankings of the year will be revealed.
40 Comments
Crazy weekend of football. But, you KNEW it was coming sooner or later.
SUoO fans are now defacto now Rutgers and Sparty fans.
Always, always rooting for SEUoM to lose. 🙂
Nah. Ohio State wins out, and how do we not get in? I don’t buy that it would take the B1G championship to do it.
MMA has a saying…”Never leave it in the hands of the judges.”
Just saying.
Meh…I hear that it’s better to leave no doubt, but honestly, if they win out, who would be better/be placed ahead of them? Besides, the committee made the tough (and right) call in 2014. Last year, Sparty had the rightful claim to represent but was not a better team. I think the committee will use good judgment here…and it’s a much easier call than 2014. This all of course is IF we beat Michigan University.
I don’t trust the committee.
Kanell constantly makes the Best Team vs Most Deserving argument.
In this case it would be Best Team (buckeyes) vs Non-buckeye Conference Champ.
Those old guys will always go conference champ.
Have you watched UM? Colorado, Maryland and Iowa gave you the formula to beat them. Tempo, screens and perimeter runs. The LBs are slowwwwww, and the OL was exposed as soft…just like I’ve been saying all year.
I haven’t really watched much, but good to know there’s a formula to beat their D. And while I despise those skunks with every ounce…I don’t underestimate them. They are very good and will be prepared. And they haven’t won in Columbus in 16 years…they will be plenty motivated.
Same could be said for scUM if they beat the good guys in Columbus. Don’t know how the “committee” (if such a thing actually exists) keeps the skunk badgers out in that scenario. Which will be great, either way, because it will blow up the current playoff system in favor of another really bad, but NEW, playoff system!
I also learned this: Put your facemask near the M*ch*gan guy’s hand and jerk your head around in agony, European and South American soccer-style.
UM’s o-line was fine until Newsome got hurt. Braden’s not a natural LT, and Bredeson is a true freshman at LG. That side of the line has been ripe to get hurt by a legit DT like Iowa’s. They’ve been fortunate that the B1G has so much swill beyond the top 3/4 teams.
That facemask call was bs, but you don’t lose to a 24 point dog because of a blown call.
This. You can always count on John O’Neill’s crew to be terrible at least three or four times in a game. It’s your job to play that much better.
It was as a bad call, but it was a makeup call (that shouldn’t have been called in that pivotal situation).
Well, Speight is out for the year with a broken collar bone.
O’Korn is more mobile, and more of a gunslinger.
Work your QB magic Mr. Harbaugh…
if they beat Michigan:
2016 “Best Team” from B1G – Buckeyes
2016 “Most Deserving” from B1G – Buckeyes
Penn State has 2 losses
UM would have 2 if they lose to tOSU
Buckeyes would have wins against (current records):
7-3 Tulsa
8-2 Oklahoma
8-2 Wisconsin
8-2 Nebraska
9-1 Michigan
And, what if Wisconsin and Oklahoma win their conferences?
I’m just sayin…those old guys like conference champs.
hundred. If OSU win out AND if PSU win out, there’s nobody with a better loss than Ohio State. I can’t see a 1-loss OSU getting passed over just because they lost to the presumably top-3 ranked Big 10 champs on the road.
OSU controls their own destiny. Folks – I know we don’t understand this sort of bias in our pro sports but Ohio State is the bully on the block, the team that will ALWAYS get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to these sorts of things. Don’t you guys remember 2014?
too good.
There’s an argument for Ohio State to be ranked OVER Penn State, even in PSU win the B1G title game.
It would be tidier if Wisconsin wins out assuming the Nittany take care of business these last two weeks, but yes.
you forgot in overtime when Penn State had a bye week preceding and the Buckeyes were coming from Madison
This is the only thing that matters. Advancing the non-conference champ would delegitimize the conference system. They’re going to be loathe to do that, although nothing’s impossible.
Mich QB is out for season with the RGIII
It moved the guys head and slowed him down. I think they have to call it like it or not. Grabbing any opening of the helmet should be called a penalty. The guy didn’t have to go high. This call will be made every time.
I think we have to root for Wiscy to win B1G championship. With 2 losses, one of them to OSU, no way they jump OSU in rankings.
Harballs? O’Korn is a JR and he does have experience. Helps that he has a warm up game (although it may be a tough one) this week before the big game.
Bingo.
A CFN writer put it thusly…
“Michigan could end up beating the Buckeyes in Columbus and go on to beat the Badgers – or Nebraska, if chaos really kicks in – on the way to the College Football Playoff and all will be tied up in a nice, neat bow. But now that the Wolverines have a loss, all Penn State has to do is beat Rutgers and Maryland, and Ohio State is out of the Big Ten title game and could be out of the College Football Playoff no matter where it’s ranked up until the final result.
We’re dealing in hypotheticals here, but if Alabama wins the SEC championship, it’s in. If Clemson wins the ACC championship and is 12-1, it’s in. If Washington wins the Pac-12 championship and is 12-1, there will be some screaming, but it’s in.
And, if it really is Wisconsin vs. Penn State or Michigan for the B1G, no way, no how, no chance, will the College Football Playoff committee tell the champion of the best conference in college football this season that it’s out.
And now I’m torn.
I still believe that 2015 Ohio State was one of the four best teams in college football at the end of the regular season, and win or lose vs. Michigan, I believe 2016 Ohio State is one of the three best teams this year.
As a fan, I really, really, really, really want to see Ohio State get to take its cuts, especially if it faces Alabama.
But last year, Ohio State lost the game it couldn’t lose, it didn’t win its division, and it didn’t win its conference – and it’s about to do it again. At the end of the day, yeah, if you’re not good enough to win your division, or your conference, no, you don’t deserve to play for the overall championship no matter what the eye-test might say.
But Ohio State’s resume is too good, and it really will be one of the four best teams if it goes 11-1.
So if this plays out, and it is Penn State vs. Wisconsin for the Big Ten title, the College Football Playoff committee might have its first real test, especially considering that the move made will set the precedent for all future seasons.
Take an 11-1 Ohio State – or, possibly, an 11-1 Louisville – that didn’t win its division or its conference, or put in a two-loss Power 5 champion for the first time.
It’ll be a historic choice either way.”
http://collegefootballnews.com/2016/cavalcade-of-whimsy-ohio-state-college-football-playoff-problem
I don’t think choices like that are following the CFP selection committees methods closely at all.
They do give extra for the conf. ‘ship, but not so much that they don’t have to have close schedules and overall “good wins” first. I don’t see how Wisconsin can possibly beat Ohio State. Nebraska is going to end up being their “best” win by record (beating Penn State gives them 3 losses). Then, a bunch of decent teams but none as good as the Buckeyes slate.
They lost to the two best teams they played. Including the Buckeyes. Part of the reason to have the CFP committee is for years like this one.
Buckeyes still need to beat Michigan. Penn State still needs to not slip up against Sparty (in a game that will be their bowl game — I’m not going to underestimate them pouring out their frustrations). We’ll see.
Indiana will be a shootout. So, I fully anticipate him throwing, and throwing, and throwing. No way UM’s running game can keep up with Team Chaos by itself.
Forget logic here. That’s the point.
Sure, they’re SUPPOSED to pick the best, but we’re dealing with dudes that would still have us playing in the OLD Bowl system if they could.
WE know the Conference Championship game is just a fabricated moneymaker, but to them the Conference Champion is king.
The system is young, but has demonstrated the need for some tweaks. It may take someone getting screwed…maybe twice… to make it happen.
#TeamEightTeamPlayoff
But, the CFP selection committee has already punished people for their schedules and has been quite willing to just tear up last week’s ranking to add on this week’s slate of games.
I think that is a gross miscalculation to what they have done thus far. They aren’t just following the AP poll, that is for sure.
or…even better….Nebraska
don’t underestimate the power of college football chaos
B1G ten west is getting messy fast! Don’t overlook Minnesota. That is a tough football team.
These rankings mean nothing. We know this.
All bets are off when you stick Conference Champion in front of a team name.
We will just have to curb this discussion until after the Conference Champions are officially named…when the rubber meets the road.
They proved last year that Conference Champions are king. We’ll see if they do it again.
I’m not arguing against the buckeyes simply because I despise them. I think they are #2. I’m simply pointing out that our logic doesn’t always apply behind those closed doors.
I believe the difference is last year the schedule stacking was close. Conference ‘ship decided things. I don’t think that will be the case this year.
but yeah, we’ll see. and, things could get cleared up any of 1000x ways before it happened anyway.
I would love for Minnesota to beat Penn State to win the B1G. They have gone through so much over the past few seasons that ‘if Bucks cannot win it’ then they are the team I would feel best about winning.
Who doesn’t secretly like the Gophers?
Their punter’s full-gainer that precipitated Bush’s targeting ejection was a thing of beauty…
http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/mgoupload/Game-Column_ED5/30967826475_fd8e563b02_z.jpg
Badger fans?
O’Korn also brings a wrinkle that Speight didn’t have: the ability to run as the QB. Speight was decent at avoiding pressure and extending plays a la Roethlisberger, but O’Korn has legit running ability. (Not Barrett-like ability, but enough that he can be used in the occasional bootleg or zone-read in addition to breaking the pocket.)