It’s that time of year again. Fans rush to social media and message boards, insisting that their team is deserving of a final playoff spot. While Ohio State Buckeyes supporters have not had a clear-cut year of dominance that they have been used to, comparing resumes is a comfortable position for any Ohio State supporter at the moment. With the likes of former Alabama Greg McElroy trying to elevate his alma mater over the Buckeyes, as things stand now, how deserving would this squad be for an invitation to a College Football Playoff game?
Ohio State Buckeyes strength of schedule
In a top-heavy Big Ten, Ohio State was in a position of not only needing to win a lot of games but also dominating in certain matchups. And they did just that! Against non-ranked teams, they won by an average margin of 28.6 points per game. This is a team that not only took care of business, avoiding the potential trip-up games but also grew stronger toward the end, as the scheduled opponents that they faced also became better.
Their first ranked win came on the road in a thriller in South Bend against the Fighting Irish. In a mostly defensive battle that could have gone either way, it was the Ohio State Buckeyes that proved clutch in the fourth quarter. Then, in a comfortable 8-point win against the Nittany Lions, the score was deceived on how close the game really was. Having out-gained and outplayed Penn State in all three phases, they showed that they were just a class above their Big Ten East opponents.
The most glaring blemish on their resume was of course “The Game” against Michigan. At the Big House, the Ohio State Buckeyes actually threw the ball for nearly 100 yards more than the Wolverines. With a matchup that, if played 100 times, would have 50 Buckeye wins, and 50 Wolverine wins, it would be overly harsh to penalize the Ohio State Buckeyes for providing an excellent product on the field.
Ohio State Buckeyes star player
College Football is ultimately a television product. And if there is a close call between two potential teams, it will come as no surprise if Marvin “Maserati” Harrison Jr. helps to get the nod over other teams. One of the most explosive and pro-ready wide receiver talents, he is good for an explosive play on any given down.
While receiving the game plan attention of opposing defenses and seeing multiple double teams in coverage, he is still amassing the top receiving yards and touchdown receptions in the nation. He is someone who wins on routes and is able to use his athleticism when covered to come up with huge gains. The most electrifying player in college football at the moment, voters and viewers alike will want to see him play on the biggest national stage.
Ohio State Buckeyes’ defense
What really sets apart any winning team, and especially this squad, is, of course, the defensive side of the ball. Having allowed only 13 touchdowns and 260 total yards a game, they rank in the top 5 of every major category on defense.
Led up front by Jack Sawyer with 3.5 sacks and Tyleik Williams with 3 sacks, this defensive line is not only great at pressuring the quarterback but also at stuffing the run. With 80 total tackles this year, Ohio native Tommy Eichenberg leads his team with 40 tackles from the linebacker position.
While there are other notable names on this squad, this three-headed monster spearheads a unit that is hard to score on and took three fourth-down conversions for a Wolverine squad to have any success against. Facing any other team in the nation, the Ohio State Buckeyes will have a very clear advantage and will be able to control the game from the line of scrimmage.
Ohio State Buckeyes bottom line
While Ohio State players will have to wait for the conference championship outcomes and hope for a couple of upsets, there is no question that they should be the next “man on deck.” This is a team that did not waver against weaker competition, that is dynamic in the passing game and is elite on defense. If deservingly selected for a playoff spot, this battle-tested team will likely go on a championship run.