Fansided

Can Ohio State still make the College Football Playoff?

By John Buhler

Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /
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With the Ohio State Buckeyes falling to the Penn State Nittany Lions, is there any shot for the Buckeyes to reach the third annual College Football Playoff?

The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes have played well since their October 8th game against the Indiana Hoosiers. If the Buckeyes were going to play like that going forward, Ohio State was bound to lose a game this regular season. It just so happened to come on the road in a night game against the rival Penn State Nittany Lions on October 22nd, 24-21.

Ohio State will drop out of the immediate College Football Playoff mix, but is there a chance that the Buckeyes can still make it to the National Semifinals? Yes, they can and here is how they can do it:

Despite having one loss on the season, Ohio State still controls its Big Ten destiny. The Buckeyes have five conference games remaining: Northwestern, Nebraska, @Maryland, @Michigan State, and Michigan.

With Northwestern playing better and Nebraska and Michigan being top-10 programs currently, that is a Playoff-worthy resume should the Buckeyes finish at 11-1 (8-1) this regular season.

Ohio State has to win out and beat whomever comes out of the Big Ten West in the 2016 Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis. From there, it really comes down to how the other Power 5 conferences shake out.

A one-loss SEC team is getting into the College Football Playoff. One could argue that same would be true in the Big Ten. The Big 12 Champion has to be undefeated. Maybe a one-loss Washington Huskies get in from the Pac-12? The ACC would get a one-loss Clemson or Louisville in.

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The best thing that Ohio State has going for it is the top of the Big Ten is very strong. The Selection Committee will like that. If Ohio State wins the Big Ten, it probably gets into the Playoff. The Buckeyes probably won’t get the No. 1 seed. However, No. 2 is on the table depending on how the other Power 5’s shake out.

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