After USC upset, Ohio State could miss CFP altogether without Julian Sayin
Offense struggles without Sayin
Ohio State gained 464 yards against USC, but needed more than 80 plays to do it and scored only 18 points. The offensive output has prompted concern about whether the Buckeyes can sustain their national title hopes without injured quarterback Julian Sayin.
The team had beaten the defending national champions earlier in the season, but losses to Texas and USC have put its playoff outlook under greater scrutiny. Another defeat could make an already difficult CFP path tougher.
Four games remain
Ohio State begins its final stretch at home against Oregon. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Buckeyes an 83.1 percent chance to win, and the article notes that playing in Columbus could help. Oregon has also dealt with quarterback injuries and recently beat Northwestern.
The Buckeyes then host Northwestern on Nov. 14, travel to Nebraska on Nov. 21 and finish at home against Michigan on Nov. 28. FPI assigns Ohio State winning chances of 86.2 percent against Northwestern, 75.2 percent against Nebraska and 89.6 percent against Michigan.
Playoff and conference stakes
Despite those individual game projections, FPI gives Ohio State a 35.1 percent chance of winning out and a 74.2 percent chance of reaching the CFP. The article questions how dependable that playoff estimate is if the offense remains limited without Sayin.
Ohio State is 4-1 in Big Ten play, behind UCLA at 5-0 and Indiana at 5-1, and slightly ahead of USC at 4-2. The Buckeyes hold a tiebreaker over Indiana if they finish level, but their loss to USC could matter if Ohio State needs another strong result to support its playoff case. The team is No. 11 in the AP poll.
Key points
- Ohio State scored 18 points against USC while gaining 464 yards over more than 80 plays.
- Julian Sayin’s injury is a central concern for the Buckeyes’ playoff chances.
- FPI gives Ohio State a 74.2 percent chance to make the CFP and a 35.1 percent chance to win out.
- Ohio State is 4-1 in Big Ten play and ranked No. 11 in the AP poll.