Next in the series, we look at Appalachian State and why they most resemble the defending National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes. When trying to decide what was the best CFB Playoff fit for Appalachian State, you had some interesting coincidences. App State runs up-tempo like Oregon, has won a lot of close games like Florida State and has very high expectations like Alabama. However, the fourth team, the one who won the whole magilla, is the best fit here. The Ohio State Buckeyes are the best comparison for App State and here’s why. 2014 Started Off Rough, Ended Great The first months of the season was one to forget for both teams. App State got trounced by Ohio State’s arch-rival Michigan to the tune of 52-14 in week one, making the all-time series tied at 1-1. Meanwhile, Ohio State was seemingly eliminated from the CFB Playoff in week two as they were upset at home by Virginia Tech 35-21. App State went on to start the season 1-5 while Ohio State struggled in wins over Cincinnati, Penn State, Indiana and Minnesota and wasn’t a serious CFB Playoff contender until their 59-0 beatdown of Wisconsin in the B1G Title game. Even when App State beat Troy, Georgia State and UL-Monroe at home on a last-minute field goal, they weren’t taken seriously. It wasn’t until they pulled off consecutive shockers at Arkansas State and UL-Lafayette that people realized the Mountaineers were legit. Ohioans Love App State This might have made the paper back then, but App State beat Michigan in 2007. For App fans, it remains a seminal moment in their football team’s history. And for fans of Ohio State, it gave them the perfect ammunition in their on-going war with the school up north. One Ohio State alum chapter shows the App State/Michigan game before the annual game with the Wolverines, which is amazing to think of. [embedded content] [embedded content] Power Rushing Despite being one of the early innovators of the Spread Option offense, head coach Scott Satterfield has turned the Mountaineers into a power rushing team that can push people around. No one expected App State to gash Arkansas State and UL-Lafayette, but it happened…
Continue Reading: Which College Football Playoff Team Is Your Sun Belt Team? Appalachian State Is Ohio State
