Despite Early Scare vs. Indiana, Ohio State Still Controls Its Playoff Fate

COLUMBUS, Ohio — If you were looking to pick apart sixth-ranked Ohio State this week, the Buckeyes’ 42-27 win over Indiana gave you plenty to work with.

Facing a 3-7 team on a five-game losing skid, Ohio State found itself trailing—at home of all places—until late in the third quarter, when a Jalin Marshall punt return touchdown jumpstarted a 28-7 Buckeyes run to make a two-score win look much more impressive than it actually was.

But all of Ohio State’s shortcomings—and there were plenty on Saturday—pale in comparison to the Buckeyes’ clinching of the Big Ten East championship, which will allow them to control their fate in their fight for a spot in the first-ever College Football Playoff.

“That’s what we talk about when it comes to November,” Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett said. “To go out there to compete for championships in November. We’re right on course for what we talk about each and every year.”

The Buckeyes’ worthiness of a playoff spot will be questioned by those who saw an Ohio State team lack “game control” against the lowly Hoosiers, surrendering 228 yards and three touchdowns to Indiana running back Tevin Coleman. Comparisons to TCU’s close call with Kansas last week are inevitable, especially after the Horned Frogs dropped from fourth to fifth in the playoff rankings three days later.

But it’s also worth noting that while TCU’s lack of style points didn’t help its cause, its drop in the rankings was more of a…

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