Beat Northwestern.
Beat ttun in 2019.
That's all I hope our Buckeyes are thinking about.
We however get to make predictions. Talk through scenarios. And go on and on to our hearts delight or discomfort. It's part of being a fan. So let's breakdown the outcomes that will choose Ohio State's destination on championship Saturday.
Alabama vs. Georgia for the SEC Title.
What Should Be: This should be a de facto quarterfinal for the playoffs. The winner should be in and the loser should be out. It's that simple and cut and dry. No team should go into the playoff when their last game was a loss. Even less so this year because it could very easily produce a final or semifinal rematch that will have been far too recent for anyone to want to see. I think the fact that no one wanted to see us rematch with Oklahoma or Clemson last year was another reason we were left out.
What Is: If Alabama loses, both Oklahoma and Ohio State are probably out. The worship of Alabama is so strong by the committee and the media that they'll probably drop to number four and play number one Clemson and Georgia and Notre Dame will play each other. The only hope any true fan of college football will have in this case is if the committee doesn't want to see a late season rematch in the playoffs.
Oklahoma vs. Texas for the Big 12 Title
What Should Be: Assuming Bama beats Georgia, Oklahoma should have to win this big and have Ohio State either lose or barely get by Northwestern in a shoot out to get in. The teams they have played and will have beaten even with a win won't be as good as the teams Ohio State has played and will have beaten if we win in Indy on Saturday. Ohio State will have beaten five teams that were ranked at the time of their games. Oklahoma will have beaten two teams that were ranked at the time of their games. Ohio State's two best wins will have been teams that were ranked 4th and 9th at the time of their games. Oklahoma's two best wins will have been teams that were ranked 13th and 14th at the time of their games. Ohio State as the better resume and should get in over Oklahoma.
What Is: Oklahoma will get in if Georgia loses and they and the Buckeyes both have similar wins on Saturday. It'll come down to Ohio State being held out because of the Purdue game. Never mind that teams Ohio State plays are 2-9 after they play the Buckeyes this year. Never mind while we won a close one to Maryland they got taken to overtime by Army. Never mind that while they had a close loss to Texas we had a close win against PSU. I may be in the minority in this but when teams have the same record quality wins should matter more than ugly losses.
Notre Dame
What Should Be: This may be a radical position but Notre Dame needs to be left out of the playoffs if Ohio State and Oklahoma both beat their opponents soundly on Saturday. Every other team that is trying to get in is playing a 13th game this Saturday. Notre Dame should no longer be special and should have to as well. So either join a conference or play another independent team on championship Saturday. Play BYU every first Saturday of December. BYU would happily do it, and they would be a pretty sure win every year for the Irish. I follow BYU, they're program sub-par and it would be a sure win for Notre Dame more often than not and would at the very least give them the argument they are on the same footing as every other team in the country. I know if you're Notre Dame you want to end with your rival in USC, but tough. They shouldn't be rewarded for playing one less game than every other team trying to get in.
What Is: They're in. End of story. It's just a question of where.
Clemson vs. Pittsburgh for the ACC Title
What Should Be: Clemson is going to win and be in. If they lose they should be out, end of discussion. They have the easiest road into the playoff and easiest schedule of any of the top six teams.
What Is: I thought if Clemson lost and Ohio State and Oklahoma both won, Clemson would be out. It makes the most sense to me. I've heard however that some think even if they lost they should only fall to fourth. That is ludicrous to me. If you can't beat 7-5 Pitt, you shouldn't be in the playoff. They'll most likely crush the fighting Mark Mays but that I heard some say even if they don't they should be in is absurd.
Ohio State vs. Northwestern for the B1G Title
What Should Be: It should be a win and you're in for the Buckeyes. If Georgia upsets Bama, and Ohio State wins, we should get in over Bama. If not then it officially is the joke I heard about the playoff actually the Alabama Invitational and which three teams get invited to it. Again, that's absurd. If Oklahoma wins and Ohio State wins we should be in over the Sooners. The B1G even in a rough year has still been a ton better than the Big 12. We have better wins than Oklahoma and better wins should count more than better losses.
What Is: If we win and if Georgia wins we're most likely out. If we win and Oklahoma wins we're most likely out. The basic truth is we need help to get into the playoff. From probably Alabama, definitely from Texas, and a miracle from Pitt wouldn't hurt either.
All of that being said. Just beat Northwestern. Pat Fitzgerald is a very talented coach and his team is ALWAYS dangerous to anyone they ever play. They're sporadic, you don't know if you'll get the team that lost to Akron at home or the team that gave that team up north and Notre Dame all they could handle. Assume it's the latter team. Winning is first, but style points will matter. No kneeling or getting conservative if you're up big in this one. That being said, just win.
