COLUMBUS, Ohio — Suddenly, the once-imposing closing stretch of Ohio State football’s season seems much more manageable. As of Monday morning, Ohio State knows it will play at least three currently ranked opponents in its final five games. A week ago, it appeared the Buckeyes were headed for three top-10 matchups, plus No. 25 Purdue tacked on for good measure. That bonanza began falling apart Saturday afternoon. With quarterback Sean Clifford compromised by injury, Penn State’s offense sputtered in a record nine-overtime home loss to Illinois. A couple of hours later, Wisconsin finished running Purdue out of the top 25 after one week, 30-13. So now the season-ending stretch includes the No. 20 Nittany Lions on Saturday, No. 8 Michigan State on Nov. 20 and No. 6 Michigan one week later. Either of those latter two teams could still plummet, beginning with the loss one of them will take on…
Continue Reading: History shows Ohio State’s championship path — or downfall — hinges on tough closing stretches: College football Monday Madness
