Despite Being on the Outside Looking In, Ohio State Still Feels It's One of College Football's Four Best Teams

By Tim Shoemaker on December 3, 2015 at 8:35 am
Joshua Perry, Eli Apple and Tyvis Powell combine to make a tackle vs. Michigan.
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J.T. Barrett stood silent briefly, then took a deep breath. Ohio State’s quarterback had to collect his thoughts for a few seconds before delivering his answer.

Barrett was asked Wednesday if he was going to root for some chaos this weekend in college football. After all, a couple of upsets — North Carolina over Clemson or Florida over Alabama — would help bring his Buckeyes into the conversation for one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff.

After the momentary pause, Barrett gave his response.

“Yes,” he said. “I guess I’d be lying if I said no.”

Ohio State’s redshirt sophomore quarterback said he doesn’t have rooting interests when he watches other football games. He roots for some of his friends on other teams — Barrett said he’s buddies with Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and USC quarterback Cody Kessler — but doesn’t cheer for or against any specific teams.

Except, of course, when it benefits his own team.

Barrett was one of several Ohio State players who spoke to the media Wednesday about Ohio State’s chances at a berth in the College Football Playoff. None of them hid their feelings toward the Buckeyes’ current situation: They’re all rooting for chaos. They'd be lying if they said they didn't want to make the Final Four. 

But Ohio State also knows it is on the outside looking in this season. The Buckeyes don’t have a conference championship on their resume and don’t have another opportunity to impress the committee before it meets Sunday — OSU's last performance was a 42-13 blowout of Michigan.

So, Ohio State is stuck in campaign mode as the Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC and SEC decide their conference champions this weekend. The Buckeyes' campaign slogan? Well, that’s simple: Ohio State believes it belongs in the College Football Playoff because it feels it is one of the four best teams in the country.

“I do think we should be in the Playoff,” Barrett said. “I just feel like we’re one of the top teams in the country, one of the top-four teams for sure.”

Talent level is going to be Ohio State’s biggest point to the committee when it comes time for a final decision. Few would dispute the Buckeyes are one of the four most talented teams in college football, but the big question remaining is how much that weighs with the selection committee.

Ohio State has a loss and won’t have a conference championship on its resume. Will the fact the Buckeyes have an abundance of talent and the “eye test” be enough to get them in should Clemson or Alabama fall? Will the committee believe Ohio State is one of the four best teams in college football even though its resume may not stack up with some other candidates?

“I think what we showed the country on Saturday is what we’ve been waiting to see all year and that’s that we’re one of the best teams in the country,” defensive end Joey Bosa said. “If we get lucky enough to play in the Playoff, which I do think we deserve to be in, I’m going to be really happy.”

Ohio State needs help; it knows that. But all the Buckeyes can do now is state their case to make the College Football Playoff and they feel they are one of the sport's best four teams.

“I do think we’re one of the top-four teams in the nation, but I don’t think it’s right for them to just put us in there,” running back Ezekiel Elliott said. “To be in there, you gotta win all your games.”

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