Latest Ohio State injury could be devastating for College Football Playoff chances

With TreVeyon Henderson already ruled out for the Indiana game, Ohio State running back Miyan Williams had to be carted off the field with a serious leg injury.

Cluster injuries in the Ohio State backfield could keep the Buckeyes out of the College Football Playoff.

While No. 2 Ohio State should improve to 10-0 on the season after beating 3-6 Indiana at home, a depleted running back room could not be coming at a worse time for the Buckeyes. They have two more conference games left at Maryland next week, as well as the de facto Big Ten East title game vs. arch-rival Michigan in The Horseshoe over Thanksgiving Weekend. It is beyond brutal for them.

TreVeyon Henderson was unable to play vs. the Hoosiers and Miyan Williams had to be carted off the field in the first half.

FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft reported Williams has indeed been ruled out for the rest of the game.

This means freshman Dallan Hayden will be tasked with carrying the ball for the Buckeyes now.

Ohio State running back room injuries may hurt College Football Playoff chances

Although the non-conference home win over Notre Dame looks better by the week, Ohio State still needs to win its final three regular-season games to feel good about its chances of making the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes are better than the Terrapins, but Mike Locksley’s Maryland team is bowl bound and his offense can put up points behind Taulia Tagovailoa, alright.

Not to say the Buckeyes will lose in The Shell next week, but arch rival Michigan is the No. 3 team in the nation. They have a balanced offensive attack led by first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Heisman Trophy hopeful running back Blake Corum. In short, a one-dimensional, pass-heavy Ohio State offense can be taken advantage of by a well-coached Michigan defense.

Furthermore, even if Ohio State were to beat Michigan in Columbus and then whoever comes out of the Big Ten West in Indianapolis, how sure are we the Buckeyes can win multiple playoff games without being able to run the ball? In all likelihood, Ohio State would have to beat Georgia to win its first national title since 2014. The Dawgs already handled a pass-heavy attack with Tennessee.

Ohio State can still win it all, but its pathway to doing so just got harder with the Williams injury.

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