INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State has made its case.
There are no more games to be played before the College Football Playoff committee releases its final rankings Sunday at noon when the top four teams that will be playing for a shot at a national title are revealed.
That’s it. It’s over. Now the eighth-ranked Buckeyes have to sit and wait. However, it’s not the originally-scripted scenario they would have preferred.
They took care of the challenge in front of them Saturday night, defeating undefeated and fourth-ranked Wisconsin to win their first Big Ten Championship since 2014 and keeping their playoff hopes alive by cracking open the final spot.
Yet, they didn’t take care of the larger challenge: leaving the playoff committee with no choice but to put them into the semifinals.
It’s two-loss conference champion Ohio State versus one-loss non-champ Alabama.
This is a situation the committee never wanted.
Ohio State had so many different chances to put the game away in the second half and couldn’t do it. The offense’s turnovers manifested itself into 18 of Wisconsin’s 21 points. The Buckeyes started the second half with the ball and went backwards, resulting in a punt. The next drive ended in a field goal, followed by three three-and-outs, an interception and another field goal.
A touchdown at any point in the second half would’ve sealed it for Ohio State, but that didn’t happen. And that’s what playoff teams do. They press down when they have their foot on the opposition’s throat.
Even after winning his first conference championship, Nick Bosa thought about the missed opportunities as he sat in the locker room less than an hour after hoisting the trophy.
“This game could have been a lot different if we executed the things that we should’ve,” he said.
It would’ve been easier for the committee to ignore an egregious 30-point loss with 55 points allowed to 7-5 Iowa had the Buckeyes dominated the No. 4 Badgers. That didn’t happen because Ohio State left the door open like they’ve done so many times before this season.
On its resume, Ohio State has wins over Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State with a conference title. Alabama’s only ranked wins on its resume are over a four-loss Mississippi State team, a three-loss LSU team, and Fresno State — a team that lost to UNLV, whom the Buckeyes beat by 33 points. The Crimson Tide lost its only game it had to win against Auburn, which now has three losses after losing to Georgia in the SEC championship.
However, that Iowa loss has to count for something. That’s if the committee thinks some of that Ohio State team is still in this Ohio State team that played Saturday night.
“We had two wins this year against top four teams, top four teams in America,” Urban Meyer said. “And I can’t imagine any other team doing that.”
“We beat Penn State when they were No. 2,” J.K. Dobbins said. “We just beat the No. 4 team. And we turned the ball over three times. We kind of gave them their points.”
The ranked wins will sit well the committee, but Ohio State didn’t dominate Wisconsin Saturday like it did in 2014 to make the playoff. It didn’t need a 59-0 win, but Ohio State could’ve buried Wisconsin and it didn’t.
Alabama coach Nick Saban went on “SportsCenter” and made his case for his team to host Scott Van Pelt, saying the Tide wouldn’t even be considered if it lost by 30 this season.
“I think if we lost to a team by 30 points, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation,” he said. “You wouldn’t even be talking to me.”
The Tide lost its toughest game on its schedule and didn’t get to play for a conference title because of it. Georgia lost to Auburn by 30, then beat the Tigers to win the SEC. So how does that affect Alabama and, by proxy, Ohio State? Who knows?
Ohio State could’ve made it easier on the committee with a dominant performance in a conference title against a top-four team, at the time.
So did Ohio State do enough? The committee will let the world know at noon Sunday.
But did the Buckeyes do everything they could? That’s definitely a no.
The last comment by Mike was spot on. I am sure JT is a fine person but he is not a great passer of the football he is tentative at best and given all day to throw we saw what he is capable of. He needed to get it done to give his team the best chance to advance and he just couldn’t do it. Then even urban went into a shell and started the Q B run game again which resulted in 3 3 and outs in a row and made it a ball game. He says he trusts JT but does he really? I would say his play calling says it all, he was trying not to lose in a game they needed to blow open. What happened to the lateral passes and the bubble screens we only ran 2 in the second half and both went for good yardage. They were playing way off our wide outs and we did not take advantage if it. Really poor scheme in the second half all the way around. My hats off to the defense I want to thank you for the big Ten championship you put the team on your backs and held strong in the end with no help from your Offense. Kudos also to the offensive line you did your job you gave J T all day to throw it is a shame he couldn’t reward your efforts with a few more accurate throws.
Love the team just venting a bit Go Bucks lets take it out on somebody in our bowl game and finish this year off right!
Now that we know it’s Bama and not us, I put the blame squarely where it belongs-on Urban Meyer. We could’ve made the playoff if we had a qb who could throw accurately down the field we would’ve beat Wisconsin by 4 td’s or more. Everyone on the team came to play, they sold out, but Urban let all of them down by playing JT. He overthrew at least 3 td’s by 10 yds for God’s sake! Guys streaking down the field wide open and he doesn’t even come close to them! I’m so sick of watching him play and seeing Urban Meyer’s stubborness in regards to him. And the terrible thing is, JT is a great guy, a loyal Buckeye who has paid the price to play, and will pay the price in pain the rest of his life. To JT: get out of football while you still have half a body and thank you for your sacrifice. To UFM: find a qb who can throw the ball with accuracy then run, not vice versa. Last night had to be the most frustrating victory in 60 years of watching OSU football. At least their uniforms looked like Ohio State!
Alabama’s best wins are against a 4 loss Miss st and lsu–an lsu that lost to a team called Troy…OSU won the best or tied for best conference and have 3 wins that are superior to anything alabama’s weak schedule has…the team alabama lost to went on to lose by 3 TD’s the next week…….yes OSU is like jekyll n hyde–but on the field and taking the entie season into account–OSU easily deserves this over alabama…if the team in contention wasnt alabama and say…it was tcu–with all the same exact things alabama has done..we wouldnt even have this discussion.
With this team I don’t think you can make an argument for how good they are when they don’t make mistakes, or how they gave Wisconsin 18 of their points with unforced errors. This is who this team is, we’ve seen it all year. They play undisciplined, and make mental errors that keep less talented teams in the game.
There is no reason to think they’ll suddenly start playing disciplined football in the playoffs against better atheletes. The only argument I can make to get OSU into the playoffs is that Alabama has done literally nothing to earn their way in. I don’t think OSU making the playoffs this year is a good thing long term for the program.
Why would they put the 3rd best team in the SEC in front of THE Ohio State University.?
Forget the minute, here’s the dilemma for the committeee. The Buckeyes have much more explosive offence than Alabama, but, sometimes the bombs turn out to be duds. Ohio State is much more likely to get blown out than Alabama. But when the Ohio State offence is clicking they’ll beat anyone, like the 48=3 shellacking they put on #16 Michigan State. Given the relatively narrow margin of votaries Alabama had over 9-3 LSU #17, and Miss. St. (8-4) #24 I’m guessing Alabama looks like they have a better cache of playing solid competitive game. Ohio State coulee win 45-10 or lose 31-0 depending on what team turns up that day. The team where J.T. Barrett shows two picks leading to 10 points, of the game where Dixon, Victor catch the balls thrown their way, and J.T Barrett misses wide open receivers who are open for touchdowns. The offence against Wisconsin gave away 10 points and missed at leas 3 touchdowns that they worked for and a better team would have scored on. That is a 31 point swing based on the ineptitude of the offence.
SO to me, that’s the counudrom for the committee. Pick a solid Alabama team, I think would have serious trouble beating Wisconsin if in fact they were able to, or an Ohio State team that is likely to leave 21 points on the table and give away 10.
But to me, the thing is, if tOSU go out and play their best game, they’ll beat anyone. And if they play thier average game, they’ll lose to any playoff team and it won’t be pretty. And if they play their worst game they’ll get blown out by 30 or 40 depending on how many points the offence gives away. But, it’s just a two game playoff and they are completely capable for winning two in a row in a big way.
I think the committee should go with the team with a chance to win it all. But then I’m a little biased. Alabama is a team that has truly done nothing special. Bland steady, boring. Cannon fodder. And then, what about USC?
Love that we won the big10 championship and celebrating a big win…
However, this team is not a top 4 team and should not make the playoffs. Hoping we get a great bowl game vs. a great team and win. We would get killed in the playoffs
Clemson has the worst loss of the season but that is forgotten about. Oklahoma lost to a team comparable to Iowa, and from the same state, no-less. Not talked about. They also struggled mightily against the worst team in the Big 12, in Baylor. Not even mentioned. (I’m not saying they shouldn’t be I , just why is OSU judged harder?). Finally, Alabama this year is really a much more similar situation to Michigan last year, a top 3 team that lost its last game and couldn’t play for conference championship.
Who cares? The Bucks beat scUM and are Big 10 champs. That should be enough.
The game was symbolic of their entire season. This is a team with a lot of potential and a lot of talent, but they simply can’t get out of their own way. If they don’t make the playoffs they only have themselves to blame. Barrett did NOTHING to impress me! THREE turnovers, two as a result of horrible throws by JT, and penalties at the worst possible time either killed OSU drives or led to Wisconsin points. I just don’t know! The Buckeyes won with JT, and they win more convincingly with Haskins in my opinion.
While a agree with you about Haskins, against $16 Michigan State the team looked awesome. This is a jelly and Hyde team. Of the teams left after the top 3, tOSU has shown flashes of brilliance. If they play the game they did against Michigan State for two more games, they could win it all. If they play the game they did against Iowas against any one of the top three, they could lose 31-0. I hope they get in and believe they should because of their potential. They have a legitimate shot. I’m not seeing another potential #4 who doesn’t.
The buckeyes are 2-1 against the top 10, Alabama is 0-1 against the top 10, USC hasn’t played any tp 10 teams. Who are you going to put in that’s better?
Its likely not enough, and in reality it shouldn’t be. Truth is USC has at least as strong a case as OSU or Alabama. Bet the committee was rooting like heck for Wisky last night. What a mess!
The best thing OSU accomplished Saturday was denying Wisconsin embarrassment on a national stage in the play offs. Badgers are not very good.
In 2014, Cardale Jones stood tall in the pccket so the CFP selection committee could see him clearly. Yesterday, JT Barrett kept his head tucked down as if he hoped no one would notice he was in the backfield.
If (a big “if”) OSU makes the play offs and JT plays the game he played yesterday, we lose to Clemson again Shades of the Tressell Compter Poll Rankings years (2006-07) of scorn and shame after winning it all.
Live by JTB, die by JTB. He will be the reason they don’t make it in. His inaccuracy marred a brilliant performance by the rest of the team. Should not have been that close. Not interested in seeing a JTB lead team get smoked by Clemson again. Too bad. Would have loved to see what Haskins could do with that kind of O line protection.
Totally agree with you Mike. We blow them out with Haskins and make the playoffs. But you know Urban, he’s stubborn as a mule and J.T. is his man. Urban better get more ruthless like Saban if he wants another chance to win a national title.