Buckeyes sneaking in…again?
Ohio State sits at 6, has a path to playoffs after losing to Michigan 30-24
Are the Buckeyes sneaking in…again? The college football world was up in arms last year when Ohio State “snuck” into the playoffs after missing the Big Ten Championship. That was until they nearly beat the eventual champs, Georgia. The Buckeye fatigue is back, and it feels different this year. Ohio State no longer has a marquee quarterback in CJ Stroud. Nobody outside of Ohio thinks they’ll win a title this year.
That didn’t stop the committee. Ohio State at 6 gives them a path, yet again, to make the playoffs without a conference championship.
Michigan #2, Biggest Favorite in Power 5 Championship Games (23 Points)
In Tuesday’s version of the College Football Playoff rankings, Michigan climbed one position to the second spot, just behind Georgia. This was due to their impressive victory over Ohio State. The top four for this week include Washington and Florida State. Florida State was ranked outside of the top four last week, but they managed to return after a comeback victory against Florida. However, that was without their injured quarterback Jordan Travis. If the Seminoles manage to win against Louisville this Saturday, they will be the ACC champions and presumably in the playoffs.
Florida State is not being judged on the field
According to Bryan Fischer of Fox Sports, CFP chairman Boo Corrigan stated on Tuesday that the current Florida State team is not the same as before. Their disclaimer is due to the absence of Jordan Travis, who was a difference-maker. Although it’s more than just one player, Jordan Travis’ absence has had a significant impact on the team.
On the other hand, Georgia managed to defeat Georgia Tech by 31-23 even though they were missing several key pass-catchers, including their star tight end Brock Bowers. The reigning national champions have an impressive 29-game winning streak, and they will face Alabama in the SEC title matchup.
The “O” Teams
In the latest college football rankings, the top six teams include Georgia, Michigan, Washington, Florida State, Ohio State, and Oregon. The Ducks, led by Bo Nix, had an impressive win against Oregon State and will now face Washington in the Pac-12 title game with playoff implications. However, Washington had beaten Oregon earlier in the season. According to ESPN’s Andrea Adelson, Oregon has been dominating with impressive performance on both offense and defense.
On the other hand, Ohio State has fallen to No. 6 after losing their third consecutive game to Michigan. The Buckeyes will not play in the conference title games next weekend, as Michigan will face Iowa for the Big Ten championship. ESPN predicts that Ohio State has only a 9% chance of making it to the playoffs.
Is Texas on the outside looking in?
Texas and Alabama held on to their positions at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively. Texas dominated Texas Tech with a 57-7 victory, while Alabama pulled off an incredible win against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Texas, which had previously defeated Alabama on the road this season, will now face No. 18 Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game on Saturday.
Tulane moved up one spot and is now ranked No. 22, continuing to hold the top spot among the Group of 5 teams. Liberty is the next highest-ranked school at No. 24, and is one of only five schools that remain undefeated with a record of 12-0.
Most fans think if Louisville beats Florida State and Oregon beats Washington, then either Texas and Oregon or some other combination that includes Washington should be the outcome. Many perceive Ohio State getting a bye two years in a row before the playoff as an unfair advantage.
Time will tell.
