COLUMBUS – The back door to the College Football playoff is unlikely to be open for Ohio State or anybody else next weekend.
The Buckeyes fell to No. 6 in both major polls after losing to Michigan for the third straight year. Georgia, Michigan, Washington and Florida State are in the top 4, one week before the final CFP rankings are released.
The Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1, No. 2 CFP) will have until next Sunday to find out if they’ll be fortunate enough to earn a spot in the national semifinals, as they were last year after losing to Michigan.
“We’re all disappointed. We know what this game means to so many people and so, to come up short, it’s certainly crushing, not only because you invest your whole year in it – you know, at Ohio State, what this game means – and so there’s a locker room in there that’s devastated,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said after the loss in Ann Arbor.
Michigan turning getting caught cheating into overcoming adversity understandably feeds the ire of many fans. The Wolverines are a victory over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game away from a third straight playoff appearance.
Michigan’s players, acting head coach Sherrone Moore and athletic director Warde Manuel all refused to bite when asked if the victory validated three years of victories that some believe are tainted. The program is facing allegations of in-person scouting and sign-stealing that have led to an NCAA investigation and a three-game suspension of Harbaugh by the Big Ten.
“I think it proves that this team is a great team,” Manuel said. “And they can play through the adversity of their coach being suspended. Just really proud of their effort, the way they stick together. They’re passionate to play for each other. It’s just remarkable.”
For the rest of the teams on the outside of the top 4 and looking in: No. 5 Oregon has a chance to make the playoff in the Pac-12 by beating the Huskies, and Texas could get there out of the Big 12. Eight-ranked Alabama would have to beat No. 1 Georgia in the SEC.
A new top 4
A season defined by near-upsets and favorites finding a way continued during rivalry week, with CFP contenders withstanding unranked in-state foes Saturday.
No. 1 Georgia had to work harder than it has in years to beat Georgia Tech and complete a third straight perfect regular season.
No. 5 Florida State erased a double-digit deficit to beat Florida in its first full game without injured star quarterback Jordan Travis.
No. 4 Washington and Michael Penix Jr. used a bold fourth-and-1 play call and walkoff field goal to beat Washington State in the Apple Cup and stay unbeaten heading into the Pac-12 title game.
That was easy compared to what No. 8 Alabama needed to escape Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Jalen Milroe and Isaiah Bond connected for a touchdown in the final minute on fourth-and-goal … from the 31! And the Crimson Tide stayed in CFP contention as they prepare for the Southeastern Conference championship game against Georgia.