Is Ohio State Being Overlooked?
College football is just a few weeks away and America is buzzing with previews and predictions.
There are metrics used by many different media outlets and different college football pages, trying to figure out who will be a playoff team this upcoming season. Everyone knows that Ohio State will have a different look to them without future hall of fame coach Urban Meyer, but are the Buckeyes being disrespected going into the 2019-2020 season?
With a new head coach and new starting quarterback it is not surprising to see some media outlets disrespect the Buckeyes, but when is it too much?
Ryan Day does not have the experience as a head coach that the rest of the league has. Also, Justin Fields does not have as much experience behind center as other quarterbacks in the Big Ten, or the nation.
However, when you dive into this Buckeyes team they are as talented as anyone in the country. Defensively was a struggle last year, but Jeff Hafley coming in as co defensive coordinator can only help the defensive backs after some struggles last season.
Just recently pick six previews on Twitter came out with their preview for first and second team All-Americans. They have been one of the most accurate college football page since 2012, but on their latest list they failed to have Chase Young as a first or even second team all American.
Young has been rumored to potentially be the number one pick in next year’s NFL Draft, so to see him off that list was shocking to say the least.
Will Ohio State fans ever get along with ESPN?
After seeing the FPI, and ESPN’s playoff predictor produced by ESPN I would say the answer is most likely no.
According to the FPI Ohio state is ranked 13th behind Michigan and Penn State, the Buckeyes also have a lower percentage chance of winning the big ten than Michigan State.
FPI is basically saying Ohio State has the 4th best odds to win the Big Tem out of just Big Ten East teams. ESPN’s playoff predictor gives Ohio State the 12th best odds to make the playoff at just 5%, meanwhile Michigan has a 42% chance of making the playoffs, which is third best in college football.
The Wolverines have not beaten Ohio State in their last seven tries. Penn State also has better odds than the Buckeyes according to ESPN’s playoff predictor at 8% which is 10th best.
The Buckeyes return more production from last year than both Michigan and Penn State. Meanwhile Bovada has given the Buckeyes the fourth best odds of winning the National Championship.
Is Ohio State being disrespected? You could definitely make the case. The Buckeyes open up their season on August 31st when they welcome Lane Kiffin and his FAU Owls into the Horseshoe.
Ohio State recently missed out on 2020 G Keon Johnson, who committed to Tennessee, in other news.
