As we approach the midpoint of the college football season, (yeah, we are already there) the Buckeyes are stuck in a very difficult position. As we have seen with recent AP polling, SEC teams can do no wrong. IMO, TOSU has been the most consistent and dominating team thus far in the College Football season. However, after Georgia struggling the past two weeks with Kent St and at Mizzou, they still are proclaimed #1 in both polls, AP and Coaches, respectively. Clearly biased voting. As the title of this post states, the Buckeyes are going to be in a difficult uphill battle for #1 in not only the AP poll but possibly the CFP poll as well. Let’s break this down.
The SEC is getting overhyped. Seriously, it is happening again that more SEC teams are being shoved into the Top 25 to boost the SEC brand. Bama will get prime opportunities to beat highly ranked SEC foes in the next few weeks. Bama faces Texas A&M on Saturday (although not ranked the media will hype up as a great team), then until chicken sh*t Saturday and the annual Iron Bowl game Bama will get to face ranked teams every week. Georgia has a much weaker schedule but being they are at 1 currently, they are not going to be jumped unless they lose.
So how does Ohio State face an uphill climb? Well it starts for us with the schedule layout. Wisconsin and ND did us no favors this year, as both promptly crapped the bed. Our next chance for a ranked team is Oct 29 at Penn St. That may be in jeopardy. Before we get our shot at Penn St both Michigan and Minny will get their chance first. The Skunk Weasels will likely find a way to win and although Minny really looked bad against Purdue, could realistically beat Penn St before we do. Essentially, Penn St may be out of the Top 25 before we get our shot.
This is where it is a problem for the CFP rankings. Those ranking will come out on the Thursday after the Penn St game. In that timeframe Bama will have two chances against Top 25 and Georgia will get a chance at Florida which will somehow be inexplicably ranked when Georgia plays them. Unfortunately, the CFP committee tends to be influenced early on by the AP poll. It does tend to differ a bit as far as the “Outside looking in” but the Top 4 is normally step for step. There are some that say, “Why does it matter if we are in the Top 4?” Well, position does matter. It matters based on where you play and who you play. Let’s do a few scenarios.
Scenario 1: Bucks finish at 2 in the CFP ranking and Georgia loses to Bama in the SEC championship. Bama is undefeated and rankings are as follows
1. Bama
2. Buckeyes
3. Georgia
4. Clemson
In this scenario, I would rather play Clemson and get to choose the location closest to my fan base. Considering the economic struggles, it would be easier money wise for our fans to fill the stadium thus making it a less hostile environment. This scenario has us having to play Georgia right off the bat, which would be a tough physical game and with our struggles with injuries this season could exacerbate that. Meanwhile, Bama gets the much easier task of playing Clemson close to home.
Scenario 2:
Georgia beats Bama in Atlanta. We win out. Clemson wins out. Rankings are as follows:
1. Georgia
2. Buckeyes
3. Bama
4. Clemson
Here, Bama still in the committee’s eyes are a CFP team but with Georgia at 1 wouldn’t want a rematch of the SEC championship in the semifinal so we get Bama and Georgia gets Clemson.
Scenario 3:
Buckeyes are #1 and get in this scenario. Georgia beats Bama in Atlanta. And now we have a new team involved.
1. Buckeyes
2. Georgia
3. Clemson
4. Ok St
This scenario is favorable to us. Not only is Bama now out of the equation but we get to pick where we want to play.
Now, all of this is fluid right now. Anything can change, it is College Football. But the percentages point towards the Buckeyes only ranked win possibly being against SCum. What are your opinions?
Note: The CFP Semifinals are the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl. The Championship is at SoFi Field in LA. Also, Georgia is now 2.
