The College Football Playoff committee just dropped its initial rankings, and if you’re an Ohio State fan, you gotta be sweating. At a brutal No. 12, the message from the committee is crystal clear: lose one more game, Buckeyes, and your playoff hopes are officially toast. This isn’t just about their 6-2 record, it’s about *how* they look, and the committee is not impressed.
Why the Committee Is Giving Them the Cold Shoulder
Remember that 30-18 loss to Southern Cal? Yeah, the committee sure does. Ohio State looked deeply damaged in their first full game without injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin, and that’s a massive problem. Backup-turned-starter Luke Fahey just couldn’t ignite the offense, and with a defense suddenly crumbling plus a barrage of penalties, the Buckeyes basically shot themselves in the foot against a Southern Cal team that hadn’t been good defensively all season. Committee chairman Hunter Yurachek didn’t mince words, saying on ESPN, “They didn’t look like the same Ohio State team this past weekend against Southern Cal.”
It’s crazy to think about, but Ohio State is ranked seven spots *behind* Indiana, even though they beat the Hoosiers earlier this season. Why? Yurachek might not have said it explicitly, but the committee doesn’t trust the Buckeyes with freshman Fahey taking the snaps. Sayin was under center for that win against Indiana, and that’s the key difference. Sure, Ohio State has a sturdy strength of schedule, beating Iowa and Indiana and only losing to Texas by a single point on the road, but the committee is embracing the current reality. These aren’t the same Buckeyes, not with Fahey.
The Brutal Path Ahead (Or Lack Thereof)
So, what does it take for Ohio State to make the playoff now? A perfect 4-0 November, that’s what. The bad news? They are out of chances for marquee victories. No. 23 Oregon is the *only* ranked opponent left on their schedule. If Fahey and the Buckeyes drop another game, that loss will only confirm what the committee already suspects: a three-loss Ohio State team with Fahey at quarterback just won’t cut it for the playoff. The only Hail Mary here would be a miraculous recovery from Sayin’s arm injury, getting him back on the field by Thanksgiving weekend.
The committee *does* value strength of schedule, for sure. How else do you explain Alabama at No. 5 despite their record, right? Normally, with a schedule like Ohio State’s, they’d be right there with Texas as a contender for the playoff’s first 9-3 qualifiers. But Sayin’s injury changed everything for them. Florida State knows this script all too well. Just three years ago, the committee used quarterback Jordan Travis’ injury as the reason to reject an undefeated Florida State from the four-team playoff. It’s a harsh precedent, and the committee isn’t afraid to follow it.
What’s next for the Buckeyes? It’s simple: they *have* to win out. With No. 23 Oregon as their toughest test remaining, every snap with Fahey under center is basically a playoff game for them. They’re playing for their season right now, and the pressure is absolutely on to prove the committee wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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