The selection committee will release its second College Football Playoff Rankings today. As expected, the Buckeyes will be far down the list again.
Ohio State fans can scream all they want about SEC bias in the polls, but the truth is the Buckeyes deserve to be ranked low right now. A pathetic loss to Virginia Tech and a schedule littered with cupcakes is not worthy of inclusion by the committee. They will earn respect when their accomplishments on the field justify it.
The journey to get back into the Top 10 begins on Saturday for the No. 16 Buckeyes as they head to East Lansing for an 8 p.m. prime-time game against No. 8 Michigan State. Beating the Spartans will get Ohio State back into the playoff mix, but they are still a long shot for making it because the one-loss teams from the SEC, Big 12 and Pac-12 have much stronger arguments to be selected over the Buckeyes.
Beyond the one-loss teams, Florida State is hurting Ohio State’s chances too, as the Seminoles are almost guaranteed a spot unless they completely collapse over the next few weeks. That leaves three spots to share among four power conferences and Notre Dame. The Buckeyes need considerable help to get back in the chase, but there is a path.
Here are three things that must happen for Ohio State to make it into the playoff:
An SEC West Team Must Win the SEC Championship and Auburn Must Lose Again
Florida’s surprising win over Georgia created significant implications for the playoff race….
Continue Reading: Ohio State’s Playoff Chances Rest on Help from the SEC, Big 12 and Notre Dame
