Each week at Sports on Earth this season, we’re taking a look at a team that greatly improved its layoff chances over the weekend … and a team that might be better off planning for other holiday accommodations. This week, we take a closer look at a pair of blue bloods and relish waking up today and not being LSU AD Joe Alleva. Rising: Ohio State You know Oklahoma became the first team to “clinch” a playoff bid. Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh’s arrival at Michigan was supposed to restore the balance of The Game, a rivalry the Wolverines lead by 11 games but have won just once since 2003. Saturday’s 42-13 Buckeyes win means Ann Arbor will have to wait at least another year for a satisfying end to Ohio State’s run, but it also re-introduced Urban Meyer’s team into the playoff picture. They’ll be at home on Saturday while Michigan State and Iowa play a de facto playoff quarterfinal game for the Big Ten title in Indianapolis, but if chaos reigns on the final weekend of the season, Ohio State will be waiting. Beating a top 15 opponent by 29 points on its home field is a strong closing argument to the committee, but that group gives favor to conference champions and Ohio State will need North Carolina to upset Clemson or Florida to upset Alabama to earn an opportunity to defend its national title in the playoff. A week after Ezekiel Elliott called out his coaching staff and introduced questions about Meyer’s control over the program, Elliott and Ohio State’s offensive line bullied a physical Michigan defense, grinding out 214 yards on 30 carries. It was most likely too little, too late and another reminder that when you lose is still the most important factor in any loss, but the Buckeyes at least placed themselves in position to be the playoff’s first alternate heading into Championship Saturday. Falling: Notre Dame Notre Dame’s loss both eliminated the Irish from playoff contention and, perhaps, controversy from the committee’s top four next weekend. If this week’s favorites hold, the playoff will be some order of Clemson, Michigan State, Alabama and Oklahoma…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Rising, Notre Dame Falling
