Urban Meyer’s 7-Team OSU Playoff

With the rest of the country clamoring about expanding the college football playoffs, I’ve gone ahead and created my own scenario. Unlike those other conversations, this playoff system only features Ohio State teams and takes place solely in my deranged, little brain. I’m, of course, referring to a tournament placing all of Urban Meyer’s OSU teams against one another. Spoiler: Ohio State wins it all!

Now, Urban could’ve done me a solid and stayed another year, thus creating a beautiful, eight-team bracket, but, alas, he did not. I’m working with a somewhat odd seven-team bracket, meaning somebody has to get a bye. Hindsight is a beautiful thing, so there’s an obvious choice there, but that takes away some of the fun of filling out a bracket. So, instead of seeding based on how we know they finished the year, I’ve ordered them by the initial AP Preseason Poll for that year and filled it out accordingly.

(Note: Final polls served as tiebreakers and I completed the bracket with the team’s final roster/depth chart in mind)

Quarter-Final Round

#4 2014 vs. #5 2018

Urban Meyer’s single-most productive offense ever against a team that lost its starting QB in the last week of the regular season? Seems like an easy choice, right?

Not so fast, my friend. The current Buckeyes ran into a juggernaut in the first round, and that’s a shame.

Both suffered ugly losses to mediocre teams and have identical records through 13 games, but the 2014 crew simply matches up better against the 2018 bunch. Cardale Jones has enough mobility to cause scrambling issues for an often out-of-position linebacker unit. On top of that, tasking a defense that gave up just shy of infinity-hundred rushing yards against Maryland with stopping a healthy Ezekiel Elliott seems like too much to ask. Now, throw in Cardale’s arm and Devin Smith’s speed and ball-tracking ability. Yikes.

The 2018 Buckeyes, led by record-setting QB, Dwayne Haskins, would put up yards and points. In fact, I think this year’s OSU team would test the national champs more than Oregon did in the Final. But, I’d still bank on a Bosa-ful defense versus a Bosa-less crew when push comes to shove.

Advantage: 2014

#3 2017 vs. #6 2016

This matchup may feature a lot of the same players, but the differences on the rosters are key. (I mean, obviously, otherwise it’d be a tie.)

Let me put that another way. You’re pitting two similar Buckeye teams against each other and one has Malik Hooker, Curtis Samuel, Pat Elflein, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, and Raekwon McMillan and the other, well, doesn’t.

While I think that J.T. Barrett had honed his skill set and was a bit more polished by his final year on campus in 2017, I don’t believe that was enough to outweigh the loss of the players mentioned above.

Advantage: 2016

#2 2013 vs. #7 2012

I’ll forever love the 2012 team. This group shouldered the burden and punishment thrust upon them by previous misdoings of others on campus. Because of that they were unable to play in a bowl game and their season ended after The Game. Not only that, most of them overcame the awful 2011 year that saw the Buckeyes fail to have a winning record. The team played with heart and never lost a game, even when having to move a fullback to linebacker or when losing its starting QB while trailing late in the game against Purdue.

Now, with all of that love and admiration out of the way… the 2013 would beat the 2012 team any day of the week. Braxton Miller had another year with Urban under his belt. Carlos Hyde hit his stride. Ryan Shazier was a man amongst boys.

Advantage: 2013

Semi-Final Round

#1 2015 vs. #4 2014

Oh, Lord, don’t make me choose.

This is likely a case of a championship game happening in a semi-final round. In my opinion, these are the top two teams that Urban Meyer has coached at OSU. A battle of what was and what could (should?) have been.

The 2015 team had identity problems as a result of two excellent QBs on the roster battling it out for playing time for much of the year. Once J.T. Barrett was re-established as the leader, the team was more of a cohesive unit. They were, without a doubt, one of the most talented teams that has ever laced up its collective Buckeye cleats. And yet, they were a last-second field goal loss away from getting to see their potential through.

On the other side, the 2014 team started off slowly and grew into a well-oiled machine. In addition, that machine surprised everyone when it showed the nation that you could essentially cut off its head (Barrett) and it would grow two monsters in its place (Jones and Elliott).

Once again, it’s that factor that pushes them over the top for me. Though Elliott’s remarkable skill for both bruising and breakaway runs may cancel out with these teams, it’s Cardale Jones’ ability to stretch the field that propels 2014 to victory.

Advantage: 2014

#2 2013 vs. #6 2016

Another tough one, and I think this game would be an exciting one. Both teams ultimately ended their seasons with losses against the same opponent, albeit in very different looking games. One wound down with a QB fighting to stay on the field despite not being 100% and a defense that had never seen a screen pass, and the other with the worst bowl performance of my lifetime.

But, enough of that Buzz Killington talk… back to the exciting matchup at hand.

Imagine Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde taking on J.T. Barrett and Curtis Samuel. Both offenses would “eat” as they say. Braxton would undoubtedly provide a couple of highlight reel plays, and Carlos Hyde would be a problem.

However, for me, the athleticism on the defensive side of the ball by 2016 would make all of the difference in this fictional contest. While Miller and ‘Los would move the ball on the ground, I’d take the 2016 secondary over the 2013 receiving corps without a moment’s hesitation. On the other side, Carlos is the better back between he and Mike Weber. And yet, it’s the triple running threat of Barrett, Weber and Samuel in combination with the efficient passing attack against a weak (relatively speaking) secondary that would swing this game in 2016’s favor.

Advantage: 2016

Championship

#4 2014 vs. #6 2016

A made-up game for all the marbles!! Urban’s two playoff teams make it to my final Buckeye-on-Buckeye matchup.

A motivated and fearless Cardale Jones smiles confidently across the field at a veteran J.T. Barrett. Joey Bosa makes eye contact with his younger brother, wishing him luck while also smirking, seeming to have the answers to a test before it’s begun… and then they both shrug. Devin Smith and Michael Thomas jump, stretch and dance to get loose, while Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore gameplan for stopping the explosive receivers. Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan mentally and physically prepare for the brutal task of trying to contain Ezekiel Elliott.

Tell me this doesn’t give you goosebumps, just picture these Buckeye titans lining up against each other.

As the close game progresses, the 2014 defense has honed in on the 2016 run game. Darron Lee has spied J.T. Barrett and Vonn Bell has matched up well with Curtis Samuel. Joey Bosa is wearing on the 2016 offensive line, and the 2014 team appears to be in command and still have plenty left in the tank.

The 2016 secondary has done a good job of limiting the receivers to possession plays, even negating Jalin Marshall with Denzel Ward in the nickel. However, it’s the fear of Jones to Smith on a deep route that has prohibited them from bringing Hooker and Webb up in run support. This, in turn, has allowed Ezekiel Elliott to continue gouging them for big gains.

Zeke continues to break through, opening the game to a ten-point lead late in the fourth. And then, it happens. On a play action fake to Elliott, Damon Webb gets caught with his eyes in the backfield long enough for Devin Smith to sink a double move and race down the field. Car-Dale Jones heaves the ball 60 yards in the air to an open receiver and the 2014 team wins, pulling away.