Despite finishing the 2012 season with a perfect record, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes were shut out of the national title game because of a postseason ban brought on by the NCAA violations committed under Jim Tressel.
The Buckeyes, still unbeaten, are eligible this season—but is last year’s bowl ban hurting Ohio State’s chances to make this year’s title game?
It shouldn’t, but it might be.
When the Week 12 BCS rankings were released, the Buckeyes came in at a distant third behind top-ranked Alabama and No. 2 Florida State. Ohio State’s position at No. 3 isn’t solid, either, as fifth-ranked (and undefeated) Baylor has the schedule to potentially leap the Buckeyes.
Those four teams hold the nation’s longest winning streaks. The Buckeyes, at 21, have the longest by a wide margin, yet some—like Yahoo’s Pat Forde—hold the opinion that they’re the weakest of the group.
Why is that?
Of the 21 teams Ohio State has beaten, none are considered elite.
Only two of the opponents Ohio State defeated last year—No. 25 Nebraska and No. 24 Michigan—finished the season ranked in the AP poll. The Buckeyes’ signature victory this year came over a two-loss Wisconsin team that’s currently ranked 22nd in the BCS standings.
Still, winning 21 consecutive games is impressive, but the Buckeyes haven’t looked as dominant against what is perceived to be weaker competition.
Baylor, for example, has only played one ranked team (a wildly overrated…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Will 2012 Bowl Ban Keep Buckeyes out of 2013 Title Game?
