Ohio State Still Can Make the College Football Playoff Despite Ugly Oregon Loss
A season on the brink
Ohio State has lost heavily in consecutive weeks and now has three regular-season defeats, a mark it had not reached since 2011. The team could finish unranked for the first time since 2001, putting its streak of 12 straight playoff appearances at risk.
Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey started against No. 23 Oregon after Julian Sayin was injured. Fahey threw an interception and did not score a touchdown in the 41-28 loss. The article says Sayin is likely out for the season, while Tavien St. Clair is another option at quarterback.
The route through Indianapolis
Ohio State needs to win all three remaining regular-season games. Indiana, USC and Oregon would each need to lose at least once for the Buckeyes to reach the conference title game in Indianapolis, where they could face UCLA, described as the current leader.
A victory over UCLA would make Ohio State’s playoff case difficult for the committee to reject, according to the article. A loss could still leave an opening, but the Buckeyes would need substantial help and a favorable committee decision.
Precedents offer mixed signals
Last season, Alabama received a playoff berth after taking its third loss in the SEC title game. The committee said it would not penalize a power-conference team for reaching its league championship game, a decision that could provide a precedent for Ohio State.
The article also points to Florida State’s exclusion from the 2023 four-team playoff. The Seminoles were undefeated, but starting quarterback Jordan Travis had suffered a season-ending injury. Ohio State’s quarterback situation could similarly influence the committee’s assessment of competitive strength.
A narrow, uncertain chance
A playoff selection for a team with four losses would draw criticism, the article says, particularly if other teams are viewed as more deserving. It also notes that Northwestern, Nebraska or Michigan returning to the Top 25 is considered practically impossible, limiting Ohio State’s potential argument.
The Buckeyes’ path depends on winning out, other teams losing, and the outcome of a possible conference title game. The article describes the chance of preserving Ohio State’s postseason streak as bleak and possibly unrealistic.
Key points
- Ohio State fell to Oregon 41-28 and now has three regular-season losses.
- The Buckeyes must win their final three regular-season games to keep their playoff hopes alive.
- Indiana, USC and Oregon would need to lose at least once for Ohio State to reach the conference title game.
- A possible playoff case faces competing precedents involving Alabama and Florida State.